Throwback Tuesday: When Amitabh Bachchan faced trouble delivering Urdu lines | Hindi Movie News

Renowned actor and director Tinnu Anand recently delved into the behind-the-scenes stories of working with Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, shedding light on a particularly challenging incident during the making of ‘Kaalia.’ Recounting the four-year journey of creating the film, Tinnu shared an intriguing episode where his father, the esteemed writer Inder Raj Anand, took charge to guide Amitabh through a stumbling block.
In an interview with News-18, Tinnu Anand discussed the disagreements he had with the legendary actor, primarily revolving around dialogue delivery. He emphasized his father’s prowess in Urdu, making it clear that when it came to linguistic finesse, Inder Raj Anand was unrivaled.

The pivotal moment occurred during a party scene in ‘Kaalia,’ where Pran’s character delivers a powerful message to Amitabh’s character that though he has found success, the road to his victory will take him to the gallows. In reply to this dialogue, Amitabh Bachchan was supposed to say a line in Urdu – “Kya naza ki takleefon mein maza, jab maut na aaye jawaani mein. Kya lutf janaaza uthne ka, hargaam pe jab maatam na hoga.”
Anticipating Amitabh’s struggle with the Urdu lines, Tinnu went to seek clarification from his father about the intricate meaning behind the dialogue. Little did they know that this would lead to an unexpected turn of events. Inder Raj Anand told Tinnu to give a message to Amitabh that the lines that he has written have been penned keeping Sanjay Gandhi in mind. The mention of the late Sanjay Gandhi, a figure mourned by many, added emotional weight to the dialogue.

However, as expected, Amitabh found difficulty in delivering the lines during rehearsal. To everyone’s surprise, Inder Raj Anand, who was not on set until then, stepped in as director and expressed his disappointment, saying, Urdu must be spoken with some power. In front of 200 people he told Big B that he should be ashamed, as he is Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s son, and yet isn’t fluent enough in the respective language.
This led to a stunned silence on the set. Amitabh, visibly affected, requested a brief hiatus to collect himself. Tinnu, concerned about the potential fallout, approached his father, fearing that they might have just lost their star. However, Inder Raj Anand remained confident, stating, that Amitabh is Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s son and he won’t run away.
True to his Raj’s belief, Amitabh returned after ten minutes, having rehearsed the lines diligently with an assistant. This time, he flawlessly delivered the Urdu lines. Instead of calling for a “cut,” Inder Raj Anand went beyond professional boundaries, embracing Amitabh.