Bobby Deol recently opened up about a major turning point in Bollywood history, the story of how his father, veteran actor Dharmendra, had to let go of ‘Zanjeer‘, the iconic 1973 film that catapulted Amitabh Bachchan to superstardom.
Speaking in an interview with Suno India, Bobby explained the emotional reason behind his father’s decision, shedding light on a deeply personal family moment.
A personal promise that changed Bollywood history
Bobby shared that Dharmendra was originally set to do ‘Zanjeer’, but a sudden plea from a close family member forced him to step away. “We had a cousin sister in the family who had some issues with Prakash Mehra ji (the director of Zanjeer),” Bobby revealed. “One day she came to our house and told my father, ‘You have to swear on me, if you do this film, you will see my dead body.’” Bound by the emotional weight of her words, Dharmendra chose to honor her request and walked away from the project.
A man of family and generosity
The ‘Animal’ actor also spoke about his father’s compassionate nature. Recalling another instance, he mentioned how Dharmendra did Satyakam for his brother-in-law, and even gave him ₹25 lakh during a time of financial distress. “I don’t know if that was the exact amount,” Bobby added, “but my father has always been someone who takes care of people.” These anecdotes paint a picture of a man guided not just by professional choices, but by loyalty and love for his family and friends.
The rise of a legend through another’s sacrifice
‘Zanjeer’, directed by Prakash Mehra and written by the legendary duo Salim–Javed, eventually went to Amitabh Bachchan, a casting decision that changed the course of Indian cinema. The film’s massive success marked the birth of the ‘Angry Young Man’ and the start of Salim-Javed and Bachchan’s storied collaborations. While Dharmendra’s sacrifice might seem like a loss on paper, it played a vital role in shaping Bollywood history in unexpected ways.
