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By: Milestone 101 / 2025-01-29

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The Power Struggle Between Rajesh Khanna and Yash Chopra, Amitabh Bachchan

The power struggle between Rajesh Khanna, Yash Chopra, and Amitabh Bachchan defined Bollywood’s golden era. Khanna, India’s first superstar, enjoyed unprecedented success until Amitabh’s "angry young man" persona reshaped Hindi cinema. Yash Chopra, initially collaborating with Khanna, later favored Bachchan, intensifying industry rivalries. This battle symbolized Bollywood’s transition from romantic to action-driven narratives, influencing future generations. Explore the highs, lows, and lasting legacy of this epic cinematic rivalry.

Bollywood's Golden Era, spanning the 1970s and 1980s, was a time of great creativity and cultural change. It also saw new technical improvements in filmmaking, and films increasingly explored social issues, family problems, patriotism and romance.

A large number of action films, along with many tragic storylines, came to characterise Bollywood from the 1970s onward. That decade saw the important rise to prominence of immensely popular films such as 'Sholay' (1975), which achieved the status of a deeply influential cultural phenomenon. Raj Kapoor, Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Manmohan Desai, prominent directors, considerably affected Bollywood during the decade with their remarkably forthright and revolutionary filmmaking approaches. Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra and Hema Malini were prominent household names. During this period, the extremely popular "angry young man" persona emerged, a creation of Bachchan's that powerfully represented rebellion and justice.

This golden age witnessed many intense rivalries and an important battle for power. A highlight was the strong connection between Rajesh Khanna, India's first superstar, filmmaker Yash Chopra, and Amitabh Bachchan, who later became known as the "Shahenshah" of Bollywood. This powerful trio defined the era that profoundly shaped Bollywood, an era whose influence remains powerfully felt today. Nevertheless, a certain number of conflicts, misunderstandings and intense competition were experienced by the three people whose stories were twisted.

The blog deeply delves into what fueled this epic power tussle and its lasting effects on Indian cinema.

Rise of Rajesh Khanna

Understanding Rajesh Khanna's quick rise to fame is important before discussing the complicated power battle. People often called him the "Original Superstar," and Khanna's transformation from a young actor into a meaningful icon was without equal.

Khanna's entry into the film industry was exceptionally well-timed. By 1965, the huge popularity enjoyed by the three leading actors, Dev Anand, Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar, had begun to decrease. Shammi Kapoor was still a big name, but a degree of self-repetition was clear in his work. The audience felt a desire for change, and then Khanna arrived, introducing his exceptionally invigorating style. This style was an outstanding fusion of the three influences, enhanced with a touch of Shammi's charisma. Shammi and Khanna's collaboration in Andaz produced a strikingly noticeable contrast. People sincerely appreciated Khanna's outstanding freshness.

He first appeared in 1966's ‘Aakhri Khat’, India's first official Academy Awards entry in 1967; however, the 1969 hit movie ‘Aradhana’ made him a star.

Khanna's charming persona, impeccable acting skills, and uncanny ability to connect with many audience members resulted in an outstanding sequence of seventeen consecutive box office successes between 1969 and 1971—a record that remains unbeaten.

His climb to the top was rapid and characterised by professional, financial and social success. Such important success could have encouraged arrogance in even the most holy saints.

In the early 1970s, Khanna achieved his most incredible popularity. He starred in at least five highly successful films and became an important cultural phenomenon. His fans, often called "Kakaji" (which means a baby-faced boy in Punjabi) devotees, deeply adored his magnetic presence, his impressive style, in addition to his compelling screen appeal.

Rajesh Khanna's romantic screen presence, combined with his work alongside legendary singers such as Kishore Kumar and composers such as R.D. Burman, produced charming results. His fan base exceeded many demographic boundaries; women sent him at least several hundred letters written in blood, and his popularity reached a level of complete hysteria.

Khanna's special style of emoting, featuring his signature romantic dialogue delivery and soulful eyes, provided several layers of depth to his many roles. In the early 1970s, many people considered Rajesh Khanna to be Bollywood’s unrivalled leading man.

He was the top Bollywood star, unmatched at the box office, until the mid-1970s when newer actors such as Amitabh Bachchan became more popular.


The Visionary Helmer: Yash Chopra

Yash Chopra began his Bollywood journey in 1959 with his directorial debut 'Dhool Ka Phool', a melodramatic film about illegitimacy; however, he achieved major success with movies such as 'Waqt' in 1965 and 'Ittefaq' in 1969. Chopra, well-known for his outstanding storytelling and extraordinary talent for drawing subtle performances from actors, created films overflowing with emotion, compelling drama and exquisite aesthetics.

Chopra's collaboration with at least one film featuring Rajesh Khanna commenced with the 1973 film 'Daag: A Poem of Love'. A melodrama about love, betrayal and redemption, the movie achieved an important level of success. Khanna's flexibility was presented, and in many instances, his status as a superstar was reaffirmed. Chopra's direction enhanced Khanna's several performances, resulting in a seemingly ideal collaboration. Nevertheless, this collaboration ended quickly because of meaningful alterations in the Bollywood environment.


The Towering Presence of Amitabh Bachchan

Rajesh Khanna was very successful, but Amitabh Bachchan was struggling to find his footing. another actor was having difficulty succeeding. Debuting with 'Saat Hindustani' in 1969, he experienced an extensive series of unsuccessful films early in his career. Bachchan's breakthrough role was not achieved until an essential number of films were released. It wasn't until the 1973 film Zanjeer. Director Prakash Mehra, who introduced the "angry young man" persona, was Bachchan's important departure from the many romantic heroes common at that time.

Bachchan's strong acting, imposing physical presence and deep voice are related with many people facing important social change and common disappointment. His "angry young man" persona powerfully enabled him to become a vocal champion for many ordinary people, and Bachchan's stardom subsequently grew considerably.

A profound weakness for Bachchan was romantic entanglements. During a 1990 interview for ‘Movie’, he confessed that he is terrible at romance. The 1976 Yash Chopra musical romantic drama 'Kabhi Kabhie' arguably stands as one of his most commercially successful "romantic" roles. In this film, he performed alongside two other actors famous for their romantic roles: at least two typical romantics, Shashi Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor.

After becoming a superstar, Bachchan experimented with his roles, showing a more sensitive side. Despite these efforts, box-office success considerably waned, importantly with 'Alaap' (1977), 'Jurmana' (1979) and 'Bemisal' (1982)—all directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee; along with 'Manzil' (Basu Chatterjee, 1979), as well as 'Silsila' (Yash Chopra, 1981).

Bachchan's enormous flexibility was evident in several flamboyant comedies, even though he is mainly known for his roles in many high-voltage drama and action films. A meaningful portion of the credit is given to Kader Khan for developing the star’s comedic abilities, most memorably presented in 'Amar Akbar Anthony' (Manmohan Desai, 1977), 'Mr. Natwarlal' (Rakesh Kumar, 1979), as well as 'Namak Halal' (Prakash Mehra, 1982). Following these directors, Prakash Mehra, Manmohan Desai, Ramesh Sippy, and Yash Chopra, considerably enhanced the Bachchan image until the mid-1980s.

People who saw his career's best times remember how a new Bachchan film was a huge event, almost like a festival. During ten years, approximately from the release of Deewar to the release of Coolie, Bachchan was, in the words of his contemporary Jeetendra, Bollywood’s ‘No. 1 to 10 star’.

Even his moderately successful movies, such as 'Do Aur Do Paanch' (Rakesh Kumar, 1980), 'Shaan' (Ramesh Sippy, 1980), 'Desh Premee' (Manmohan Desai, 1982), 'Satte Pe Satta' (Raj N. Sippy, 1982), and 'Shakti' (Ramesh Sippy, 1982), created far more excitement than his peers' successful movies.

How the Power Struggle Unfolds

Some initial indications of tension appeared during the mid-1970s. As with other film industries, trends drove Bollywood, and a meaningful portion of the audience's preferences started to change. Gritty narratives, focusing intensely on action and anti-heroes, gradually supplanted the romantic, idyllic stories that had propelled Rajesh Khanna to superstardom.

This transition was depicted by a meaningful number of Amitabh Bachchan's actions. The changing pulse of the audience was consistently and acutely perceived by Yash Chopra, a shift that they immediately recognised.

Actor Rajesh Khanna and filmmaker Yash Chopra had a falling out after two successful movies, 'Ittefaq'(1969) and 'Daag'(1973). 'Daag' was the director's first film as an independent producer. Each blamed the other for their fallout.

Yasser Usman's book ‘Rajesh Khanna, The Untold Story of India's First Superstar’ details the beginning of several important issues. These problems emerged when Yash Chopra selected Amitabh Bachchan for the starring role in his film 'Deewar' (1975), even though Rajesh Khanna had previously declared in an interview that he had initially received an offer for the movie.

Salim Khan, the film's co-writer, told the author that Rajesh Khanna was not considered for the lead role because it was written for Amitabh Bachchan. Following Deewar, Yash Chopra began planning his subsequent film, Kabhi Kabhie—a multi-starrer romantic drama that included two generations. This drama was spearheaded by a character who was a romantic poet, a role ideally suited for Rajesh Khanna.

He was once more overlooked for the role, a meaningful casting oversight; Amitabh Bachchan was selected instead, a decision driven by Bachchan's pre-existing, powerfully created image as the ‘angry young man.’

Yash Chopra brushed aside rumours of a rift with Khanna and said he chose Amitabh Bachchan for 'Kabhi Kabhie' and 'Silsila' because they worked well together. Still, Sagar Sarhadi, the films' writer and Rajesh Khanna's friend from their theatre days, asked Chopra why he did not work with Khanna again after Daag. Chopra responded that working with Khanna was very difficult.

Chopra stated that his producers were summoned to his residence, where he drank copiously until late into the night. Producers were required to maintain their presence until Khanna desired to sleep. When he subsequently departed the town for a shooting trip, the producers were to transport him to the airport and greet him upon his return. Chopra said he couldn't handle these superstar tantrums regularly.

Rajesh Khanna, though, gave a reason for not working with Yash Chopra after their first successful film. Following 'Namak Haraam' (1973), he developed an insecurity about Amitabh. During a trip to Khandala to write a particular script, Sagar Sarhadi encountered Rajesh Khanna. A question was then posed by Sarhadi to Khanna regarding a specific reason for a lack of film collaborations with Yash Chopra. He responded with irritation that he considered Yash, a poor director, and he made him strenuous hard labour from the morning until the evening.

Following the success of the 1975 film Deewaar, in which Amitabh Bachchan played an important role, Chopra started casting Bachchan. This event initiated an important professional partnership, to the large dismay of Rajesh Khanna.

Meanwhile, several challenges began to affect Khanna's career. Several films, such as 'Mehbooba' (1976) and 'Chhaila Babu' (1977), did not perform well at the box office and his many personal problems, which included a highly troubled marriage to actress Dimple Kapadia, frequently eclipsed his professional successes. During this time, Bachchan starred in at least three consecutive blockbuster films: 'Sholay' (1975), 'Amar Akbar Anthony' (1977) and 'Muqaddar Ka Sikandar' (1978).

The Breaking Point

Yash Chopra's decision to cast Amitabh Bachchan in the 1978 film Trishul marked a turning point in this power battle. Shashi Kapoor and Hema Malini also starred in the film, which was a massive success. Chopra's constant faith in Bachchan's abilities as a leading man strengthened, and their subsequent collaborations yielded extraordinarily iconic Bollywood films, including 'Kaala Patthar' (1979) and 'Silsila' (1981).

Rajesh Khanna, however, felt more and more alone. Bachchan's increasing dominance caused the man who had once ruled Bollywood to become less prominent. Khanna's several performances in films such as 'Amar Prem' (1972) and 'Anand' (1971) remained ageless; however, these achievements were insufficient to maintain his leading position in the film industry.

"I never thought it would end," Khanna once said to Rauf Ahmed, the editor of the film monthly 'Super'. "I had no reference points on how to handle such success. No one had
experienced it." Khanna, Rauf said, made many mistakes.

The Bachchan era of the 1970s ended Khanna's reign as a top star. Javed Akhtar, who, with his scriptwriting partner Salim Khan, is credited with creating the angry young man persona for Bachchan, a persona that supposedly reversed the Khanna phenomenon, stated that Khanna experienced an unmatched level of popularity, a level that no one had ever seen or imagined. From 1969 to 1973, he dominated the race.

Akhtar said he and Salim caught the era's angst and anger in films such as Sholay (1975) and 'Zanjeer' (1973); however, it wasn't a well-thought-through strategy to bring down Khanna. "We didn't think about it when we did it; perhaps because we were of the same generation, we just reflected it. Until then, Khanna's was an unprecedented run of success."

Work Ethics

Asked about Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna and how punctual they were, Prem Chopra responded, "Amitabh Bachchan was always an intelligent and punctual actor. Rajesh Khanna was also a great actor, but he had this habit of always reaching late. Not everyone would take it when he landed late on sets. Hours after everyone reached and got ready, he would reach the sets. The producers even asked him to have lunch before the shot, but he ensured he completed the day's work."

Prem Chopra explained that Rajesh Khanna's reluctance to accept roles that did not represent him as a superstar created hurdles. "He continued using the same style (as when he was a superstar), and those films did not work either. That is why he had to (suffer a downfall in fame). He could not face that thing - where I was and where I am now."

"Amitabh Bachchan had this thing - he took up character roles. What great character roles did he get? Rajesh Khanna would have also gotten great character roles if he chose to take them up. Amitabh remains so busy even now - I am surprised he is much more busy than he was at a younger age." Prem mentioned that Bachchan continues to work on TV, accepts cameo roles in films, and is active on social media.


Personal Dynamics

Khanna and Bachchan's professional competition frequently affected their relationships. Reports surfaced of at least several cold vibes on the sets, and there were at least a few instances where the two avoided each other. Yash Chopra, situated between at least two meaningful forces, carefully managed these complex relationships. Chopra respected Khanna's large talent and essential contribution to Bollywood; however, his practical approach led him to collaborate with Bachchan, the industry's most prominent star then.

Interestingly, there were also times of friendship. In several interviews, Bachchan has expressed his admiration for at least some of Khanna's extensive skills and his important influence on Bollywood. Khanna also recognised a meaningful portion of Bachchan's enormous appeal. But the presence of competition was always intensely felt.


The Legacy of the Struggle

Rajesh Khanna, Yash Chopra and Amitabh Bachchan engaged in a vital power battle that affected more than their careers; it represented a significant shift in Bollywood. That signified the romantic hero's reign ending and the beginning of the action hero's rise, a hero with moral complexities. This shift showed the evolving aspirations and frustrations of Indian society during the 1970s and 1980s.

Yash Chopra's adaptation to many changes over several decades secured his lasting relevance. His many later collaborations with Bachchan and ultimately with at least several actors, such as Shah Rukh Khan, confirmed his position as one of Bollywood’s greatest filmmakers.

This period undeniably cemented Amitabh Bachchan's status as a legendary figure. His ample flexibility and wide-ranging longevity remain unmatched, and he is still an essential force in Bollywood. Challenges did not prevent Rajesh Khanna from remaining an important icon. People celebrate his many contributions to Indian cinema, and his large influence on at least two subsequent generations of actors is clear.

Yash Chopra and Rajesh Khanna collaborated once more on the 1988 drama film 'Vijay', whose plot was inspired by Chopra's own 1978 film 'Trishul; it was a box office failure.

The Takeaway

Bharathi S Pradhan, the Film Street Journal's editor, believed Yash Chopra supported Rajesh Khanna only as long as he needed him, then found a replacement in Amitabh Bachchan. If not, she believed, Yash Chopra “would have continued doing whatever Rajesh Khanna asked of him.”

A deeply important chapter in the history of Bollywood was shaped by the intense power battle between Rajesh Khanna, Yash Chopra and Amitabh Bachchan. Ambition, several shifting dynamics and a persistent pursuit of a meaningful degree of excellence were the subjects of the narrative.

Khanna appeared out of nowhere, an outsider in the world of Hindi films. Within five years, he experienced humungous success, resulting in the necessity of adopting a new vocabulary to adequately describe him: superstar, phenomenon, and megastar, to name a few. An overwhelming tide of fanatical devotion engulfed him: shrieking women, automobiles adorned with excessive lipstick and gravely ill children brought by their mothers seeking miraculous cures, among other passionate displays.

He treated a few important people with callous disregard, estranging many people, such as Yash Chopra, with whom he had previously enjoyed a close relationship. Amitabh, accompanied by his brother Bunty (Ajitabh), strengthened his position in the film industry. He then developed a small group of at least two producers and directors, including Prakash Mehra and Manmohan Desai, who provided him with several successful films.

After the spectacular rise, Khanna witnessed a decline. Seventeen consecutive box office successes were followed by seven resounding failures; these seven failures were as mortifying as they were mystifying. Following this, a deep silence descended, a cessation of all attention and adulation, and a collection of memories and several regrets appeared.

It was a fantastic run with screaming girls, fans fainting, blood-soaked marriage proposals and commotion everywhere. "Today, words like superstar and icon are loosely used. But he truly was a megastar. And before he got lost in a whirl of his caricature, he knew his acting chops," said Jitesh Pillai, Filmfare's editor, the magazine that introduced Khanna, a middle-class Mumbai boy from Thakurdwar, to films in 1965.

"The king of romance, he was quite the Casanova. Girls wrote to him in blood, and he made no bones about being king of the screen and tabloids -- he had the shortest but most mammoth spell as a superstar," Pillai added.

Although Khanna's star may have faded and Bachchan's rose to a greater height, both these actors had an essential and lasting effect on Indian cinema. The legacies of several people were guaranteed to undergo by Yash Chopra, a visionary who connected their many worlds. Their combined adventures narrate the story of Bollywood itself: a blend of many dreams, rivalries, and the enchantment of storytelling.

Khanna's legacy as the "first superstar" of Indian cinema is cemented, and his many meaningful contributions to Bollywood's golden age are acknowledged even today.


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