Amitabh Bachchan with Prakash Mehra

Movies of Amitabh Bachchan directed by Prakash Mehra

Movie: Zanjeer (1973)
Starring: Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bhaduri, Ajit, Bindu, Pran, Iftekhar, Om Prakash, Keshto Mukherjee
Directed by: Prakash Mehra
Music by: Kalyanji-Anandji

Without a doubt, Zanjeer was the most defining movie in Amitabh’s career. It is now almost a legend that after a series of flops, Amitabh was returning to his hometown and that’s when he got this opportunity from Prakash Mehra. Prakash Mehra had approached many big stars such as Dharmendra, Dev Anand, Raj Kumar etc., to play the lead in Zanjeer but all of them had turned down this role. In one of his TV interviews, Pran had said that he suggested Amitabh’s name to Prakash Mehra and made Prakash watch Amitabhs’ action scenes in Bombay to Goa. After that, Prakash Mehra offered Amitabh the role of Inspector Vijay in Zanjeer, which role made him the angry young man, which image stayed with him for almost two decades. All odd’s were against Amitabh succeeding as a lead actor. He wasn’t good looking, he had no songs in the movie, he was not a recognized / established actor to pull in the crowds. But still, the movie did rocking business and catapulted Amitabh to a star status. Memorable performances from Pran, Jaya Bhaduri and Ajit. The script of Zanjeer was one of the many by Salim-Javed in their ‘Angry Young Man’ scripts that they wrote for Amitabh.

Movie: Hera Pheri (1975) Review
Starring: Amitabh Bachchan, Saira Banu, Vinod Khanna, Shabana Azmi
Directed by: Prakash Mehra
Music by: Kalyanji-Anandji

One more hit from Amitabh – Vinod. The movie was a complete entertainer as it had music, romance, action, drama. It was amazing the number of formula films that clicked in the 70’s and 80’s. But more than anything, it was the magic of Prakash Mehra – Amitabh Bachchan combination alongiwth the Amitabh Bachchan – Vinod Khanna pairing that clicked for this movie.

Movie: Muqaddar Ka Sikander (1978)
Starring: Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna, Rekha, Amjad Khan, Shreeram Lagoo
Directed by: Prakash Mehra
Music by: Kalyanji-Anandji

Once again, one of the more memorable roles of Amitabh and most definitely one of my favourite films. Amitabh as Sikander and Rekha as Zohra were just perfect for the roles and no one else (during that time) could have pulled it off better than them. The music of the movie was a great hit especially “rote huye aate hai sab” and the unforgettable “salaam-e-ishq”. I don’t think anybody could have matched the on screen chemistry of Amitabh and Rekha in that song as well as in the movie. Amitabh continued to succeed with the trend of his character dying in the end.

Movie: Lawaaris (1981)
Starring: Amitabh Bachchan, Rakhee, Zeenat Aman, Suresh Oberoi, Ranjeet
Directed by: Prakash Mehra
Music by: Kalyanji-Anandji

One more hit from this combination. Great star cast and great music.

Movie: Namak Halaal (1982)
Starring: Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Smita Patil, Parveen Babi, Waheeda Rehman, Om Prakash
Directed by: Prakash Mehra
Music by: Bappi Lahiri

One of Amitabh’s extremely popular comic performance. And who would have thought that an art cinema actress like Smita Patil could actually pull off a rain dance (“Aaj Rapat Jaaye”) and actually look sensuous. Music by Bappi Lahiri was first rate with “Pag Ghunghroo Baandh Meera” becoming a rage and is still being re-mixed by the disc jockeys. Parveen Babi’s sizzling act in “Raat Baaki” and “Jawani Jaaneman” are still sensuous by today’s standards as well. Good performances from Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Smita Patil, Parveen Babi and Waheeda Rehman.

Movie: Sharaabi (1984)
Starring: Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Prada, Pran, Om Prakash
Directed by: Prakash Mehra
Music by: Bappi Lahiri

Inspired by the Hollywood flick “Arthur” (starring Dudley Moore), this movie had Amitabh playing the perpetual drunkard who is the son of a rich industrialist played by Pran and both father and son do not get along. Pran as the rich industrialist father and Amitabh as the spoilt drunkard son were good. Another notable performance was Om Prakash’s “Munshi ji”. The music by Bappi Lahiri was once again first rate. Kishore Kumar’s rendition of “Intehaan Ho Gayee” was flawless and “Jahaan Chaar Yaar” was playful. To top it was Asha Bhonsle and Kishore Kumar’s “Mujhe Nau Lakkha Manga De Re” which is one of my favourite songs.

Movie: Jadugar (1989)
Starring: Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Prada, Aditya Panscholi, Amrish Puri
Directed by: Prakash Mehra
Music by: Kalyanji-Anandji

Must have been a huge regret for both Amitabh Bachchan and Prakash Mehra. Not worth mentioning.