Amitabh Bachchan’s ascent to superstardom rarely happened. After being dropped from Duniya Ka Mela and watching 16 films fail at the box office the industry had counted him out. But as Raza Murad notes “When the luck was in his favour everything fell in place.” A lost opportunity for legends Before Zanjeer Prakash Mehra offered the film to titans like Dilip Kumar Dharmendra Dev Anand and Rajkumar—all declined. The movie’s heavy focus on one man scared them away. It took a recommendation from Jaya Bachchan (then Bhaduri) for Prakash Mehra to finally take a chance on Amitabh—and history was made. Luck over talent? In his chat with The Filmy Charcha Murad remained adamant: “You need 90% luck to succeed in the industry.” The right script meets the right actor—it’s rarely just hard work that gets the throne. Zanjeer’s enduring legacy For those of you who dont know Zanjeer was more than a career revival—it was a cultural shift. It introduced a gritty Vijay an honest cop driven by his past. It also elevated the Salim-Javed duo into legend and cemented Pran’s charismatic Sher Khan especially with unforgettable lines like “Yeh police station hai tumhare baap ka ghar nahin.” Salim-Javed’s writing paired with Mehra’s direction created a masterpiece. A hero forged from desperation Vijay’s journey from haunted soul to righteous crusader resonated deeply. Sher Khan’s legacy—in his Pathani attire and principled presence—left a permanent mark on popular culture. Zanjeer wasn’t just Amitabh’s resurgence—it was the moment Bollywood transformed. A showcase of how fate can pivot entire careers this film still stands as proof that sometimes success is born from surviving and seizing rare opportunities. Amitabh Bachchan’s net worth According to several media reports today his estimated net worth stands at a staggering Rs 1600 crore (USD 190 million approx) making him one of India’s wealthiest film icons.