When Vidhu Vinod Chopra Refused to Collaborate With Amitabh Bachchan on a Doordarshan Assignment

Legends in the Hindi cinema business include Amitabh Bachchan and Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Though no one can match Big B’s adaptability, Vidhu Vinod Chopra is renowned for his powerful movies. The movie director recently said that he had previously declined the chance to collaborate with Amitabh Bachchan when presented with a more favorable situation.

In a Zee Studios video, Vidhu Vinod Chopra reminisced about the day when Hrishikesh Mukherjee showed Amitabh Bachchan his student film Murder at Monkey Hill, which won a national prize. The actor wanted to collaborate with Vidhu Vinod Chopra since he was so pleased. He said, “I felt my fight was done when he stated that. He assisted me in overcoming my insecurity. I told him, “I don’t have money, give me about ₹1200,” after writing anything. However, he insisted that I compensate him since I am the director and writer. When I informed him I was broke, he agreed to give it some thought.

“You do anything for us,” Doordarshan’s head called me while he was still pondering, he said. I promise not to question you. A total of ₹4,500 was allotted to me: ₹1500 for directing, ₹500 for dialogues, and ₹500 for clothes. I was also provided a car to use for commuting, and I inquired as to whether I might use the automobile immediately. I went straight to Mohan Studios to visit Amitabh after taking a seat in that white ambassador. I informed him that I wouldn’t be working with him on that movie since I had a better offer.

Amitabh Bachchan questioned Vidhu, “You will not make a film with me, but you will make one for Doordarshan?” when he heard this news.

The filmmaker responded by saying that the channel had promised him he “could do whatever,” to which Amitabh had said, “Are you crazy? You are free to do anything you want with me. You are Amitabh Bachchan, I corrected. Anything you say now, you’ll say no later. In that case, what would happen to me?” said Vidhu Vinod Chopra.

After a three-year break, renowned director Vidhu Vinod Chopra, known for critically acclaimed films like Parinda, 1942: A Love Story, and Mission Kashmir, made his eagerly awaited comeback to the director’s chair with the Vikrant Massey-starring picture 12th Fail.

Based on the best-selling book by Anurag Pathak, which details the amazing adventures of IRS officer Shraddha Joshi and IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma, 12th Fail tells their story. A look into the life of candidates studying for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examinations is provided by the video. It extends beyond the boundaries of a particular test and motivates candidates to keep going after failing rather than giving up.