Newsbytes
  • India
  • Business
  • World
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Auto
  • Lifestyle
  • Inspirational
  • Career
  • Bengaluru
  • Delhi
  • Mumbai
  • Videos
  • Visual Stories
  • Reviews
  • Phone Reviews
  • Fitness Bands Reviews
  • Speakers Reviews
  • Find Cricket Statistics
Hindi
More
In the news
Netflix
Cannes Film Festival
Marvel
Taylor Swift
Doctor Strange
KGF
BTS
Newsbytes
Hindi
Newsbytes
User Placeholder

Hi,

Logout


India
Business
World
Politics
Sports
Technology
Entertainment
Auto
Lifestyle
Inspirational
Career
Bengaluru
Delhi
Mumbai
Videos
Visual Stories
Reviews
Phone Reviews
Fitness Bands Reviews
Speakers Reviews
Find Cricket Statistics

More Links
  • Videos

Download Android App

Follow us on
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
 
Home / News / Entertainment News / 40 years of 'Don': A film Bollywood rejected, people accepted
Entertainment

40 years of 'Don': A film Bollywood rejected, people accepted

40 years of 'Don': A film Bollywood rejected, people accepted
Written by Rajashree Seal
(Sourced from PTI)
May 10, 2018, 03:20 pm 2 min read
40 years of 'Don': A film Bollywood rejected, people accepted
Credits:

"Don" was a Salim-Javed script that many big stars in the industry had passed on but Amitabh Bachchan, Zeenat Aman, and director Chandra Barot decided to take on the "difficult" project to pull one of their friends out of debt. Released on May 12, 1978, "Don" featuring Bachchan in a double role, that of a mafioso and a simpleton, went became a blockbuster.

The film
Bachchan ate 40 'paans' just to get a scene right

Director Chandra traces the birth of "Don", how several stars rejected the film and how he once made Bachchan eat 40 "paans" just to get a scene right. Chandra was the long-time assistant director of Manoj Kumar and became friends with Bachchan and Zeenat during the shooting of "Roti Kapda Aur Makaan". He also developed a close bond with the film's cinematographer Nariman Irani.

Debt
We decided to make a film for Irani: Chandra

In 1972, Irani produced Sunil Dutt-Waheeda Rehman starrer "Zindagi Zindagi", but the film bombed and Irani found himself in debt. "Because we all were working together, Amitabh, Zeenat, and Pran saab, we were friends. We decided to make a film for Irani to help him come out of the financial mess. Even Manoj suggested the same. But we didn't have a script," Chandra says.

Script
Salim Khan was approached for a script

As luck would have it, Irani's wife was Waheeda's hairdresser and knew writer Salim Khan. "We asked her to put in a word for us. When we met Salim, he didn't have a script ready but told us, 'There is one subject which no one understands'. In the '70s, we had 'thakurs' and no one had heard the word 'Don'," the director said.

Information
It was called 'Don waali script': Chandra

"Dharmendra, Jeetendra, and Dev Anand refused the film. But we said, 'We don't care, we just want 'Salim-Javed' on the posters'. It was a ready script and we took it immediately. It didn't have a title so all called it 'Don waali script'," Chandra recalls.

Songs
The songs became a talking point of the film

The film's first day was to begin with the shooting of "Yeh Mera Dil Pyaar Ka Deewana" but they did not have enough money, so Chandra took Rs. 40,000 cash from his sister, singer Kamal Barot, and the set was created. It wasn't just Helen's "Yeh Mera Dil" which became popular, Bachchan's "Khaike Pan Banaraswala" also became a talking point of the film.

Share this timeline
Facebook
Whatsapp
Twitter
Linkedin
Rajashree Seal <br/><i>(Sourced from PTI)</i>
Rajashree Seal
(Sourced from PTI)
Mail
Latest
Amitabh Bachchan
Zeenat Aman
Manoj Kumar
Salim Khan
Dev Anand
Related
Latest
Process Green Cards within 6 months: US presidential panel
Process Green Cards within 6 months: US presidential panel World
7 highlights from Amber Heard, Johnny Depp defamation trial
7 highlights from Amber Heard, Johnny Depp defamation trial Entertainment
Here's why homestays are becoming extremely popular
Here's why homestays are becoming extremely popular Lifestyle
IPL 2022, MI vs SRH: Rohit Sharma elects to field
IPL 2022, MI vs SRH: Rohit Sharma elects to field Sports
Keeway enters Indian market with 2 scooters and a motorcycle
Keeway enters Indian market with 2 scooters and a motorcycle Auto
Amitabh Bachchan
5 famous Bollywood actors who have faced financial crisis
5 famous Bollywood actors who have faced financial crisis Entertainment
'Project K': Disha Patani joins Prabhas-Deepika Padukone starrer
'Project K': Disha Patani joins Prabhas-Deepika Padukone starrer Entertainment
'Runway 34' review: Aviation thriller suffers from bad second-half syndrome
'Runway 34' review: Aviation thriller suffers from bad second-half syndrome Entertainment
'Jhund' and 'The Matrix Resurrections' finally hitting OTT next month
'Jhund' and 'The Matrix Resurrections' finally hitting OTT next month Entertainment
Jaya Bachchan: 5 iconic movies before she became 'Bollywood's mom'
Jaya Bachchan: 5 iconic movies before she became 'Bollywood's mom' Entertainment
More News
Zeenat Aman
Amitabh Bachchan remembers 'Don', as the classic clocks 42 years
Amitabh Bachchan remembers 'Don', as the classic clocks 42 years Entertainment
Arjun's special gesture for sister Anshula will win your heart
Arjun's special gesture for sister Anshula will win your heart Entertainment
Arjun Kapoor trolls Katrina Kaif for wearing sunglasses at night
Arjun Kapoor trolls Katrina Kaif for wearing sunglasses at night Entertainment
Want to know how an 80-year-old Arjun Kapoor would look?
Want to know how an 80-year-old Arjun Kapoor would look? Entertainment
6 famous Indians who found love in Pakistani celebrities
6 famous Indians who found love in Pakistani celebrities Entertainment
More News
Manoj Kumar
ICU isn't good: Journalist's final message shows infrastructure is crippling
ICU isn't good: Journalist's final message shows infrastructure is crippling India
Muzaffarpur bank robbed; masked men escape with Rs. 8 lakh
Muzaffarpur bank robbed; masked men escape with Rs. 8 lakh India
Man arrested for trying to break in Akshay Kumar's house
Man arrested for trying to break in Akshay Kumar's house Entertainment
Shatrughan Sinha shares a funny incident on Kapil Sharma's show
Shatrughan Sinha shares a funny incident on Kapil Sharma's show Entertainment
Rakesh Asthana will be probed in bribery-case, Delhi-HC rejects plea
Rakesh Asthana will be probed in bribery-case, Delhi-HC rejects plea India
More News
Salim Khan
I once envisioned documentary on dad as private docu-drama: Arbaaz
I once envisioned documentary on dad as private docu-drama: Arbaaz Entertainment
Salman, Farhan, Zoya to produce documentary on Salim-Javed
Salman, Farhan, Zoya to produce documentary on Salim-Javed Entertainment
Netflix to buy streaming rights of documentary drama on Salim-Javed?
Netflix to buy streaming rights of documentary drama on Salim-Javed? Entertainment
Salman Khan and family test negative for coronavirus
Salman Khan and family test negative for coronavirus Entertainment
Salman Khan isolates himself after staff members contract COVID-19
Salman Khan isolates himself after staff members contract COVID-19 Entertainment
More News
Dev Anand
Tina Ambani shares heartfelt post on Dev Anand's death anniversary
Tina Ambani shares heartfelt post on Dev Anand's death anniversary Entertainment
Veteran actor Nimmi passes away; Bollywood pays tribute
Veteran actor Nimmi passes away; Bollywood pays tribute Entertainment
Six Bollywood celebrities who have strong educational background
Six Bollywood celebrities who have strong educational background Entertainment
When Ayushmann was asked to show his c*ck in audition
When Ayushmann was asked to show his c*ck in audition Entertainment
Poetry in songs has died down, says Tochi Raina
Poetry in songs has died down, says Tochi Raina Entertainment
More News
Related
'ABCL abandoned me after 'Tere Mere Sapne',' says Arshad Warsi
'ABCL abandoned me after 'Tere Mere Sapne',' says Arshad Warsi Entertainment
'Jhund': What do we know of Amitabh Bachchan-starrer so far?
'Jhund': What do we know of Amitabh Bachchan-starrer so far? Entertainment
5 South Indian actors who have collaborated with Amitabh Bachchan
5 South Indian actors who have collaborated with Amitabh Bachchan Entertainment
'Project K': What we know of Prabhas-Amitabh Bachchan's film
'Project K': What we know of Prabhas-Amitabh Bachchan's film Entertainment
Next News Article
Next News Article

Love Entertainment news?

Subscribe to stay updated.

Entertainment Thumbnail
India News Business News World News Politics News Sports News Technology News Entertainment News Auto News Lifestyle News Inspirational News
Career News Bengaluru News Delhi News Mumbai News Mukesh Ambani Indian Premier League (IPL) Karnataka Samsung Xiaomi West Bengal
Bihar Virat Kohli Rohit Sharma Haryana Narendra Modi Arvind Kejriwal Tamil Nadu Gujarat Yogi Adityanath YouTube
Instagram Hollywood News Uttar Pradesh Kerala Netflix Bollywood News Mamata Banerjee Maruti Suzuki Rahul Gandhi Elon Musk
Shah Rukh Khan Chelsea FC OPPO Akhilesh Yadav Indian Cricket Team Apple Manchester United Salman Khan Cryptocurrency OnePlus
Amitabh Bachchan ICC Women's World Cup Vivo India vs Sri Lanka
About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us Ethical Conduct Grievance Redressal News News Archive Topics Archive IPL 2022 Schedule IPL 2022 Points Table Find Cricket Statistics
Follow us on
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Youtube
All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2022