Mumbai, August 18, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has recalled facing harsh criticism and rejection during his early years in the Hindi film industry, including being told he was too tall to become an actor and being thrown off a film set after arriving late for a shoot.
Bachchan opened up about his struggles while interacting with Commonwealth Games 2026 gold medallists Lovlina Borgohain, Jhandu Kumar, Sharmila Dhankar and Asmita Dey during a special episode celebrating India’s sporting achievements.
When Asmita asked whether actors, like athletes, are sometimes reprimanded by their coaches or directors for mistakes, Bachchan laughed and recalled the criticism he faced while trying to establish himself.
“Humko badi daant padti hain, shuru-shuru mein toh bahut padi thi. ‘Tumko kuch aata nahi hai, acting-wacting, tum bahut lambe ho, jaake ghar jaao’,” he said, recalling how he was told that he knew nothing about acting, was too tall and should go home.
Even after he began getting acting opportunities, Bachchan said the criticism continued. He recalled being asked to stand in a particular place and deliver his dialogue, only to be questioned about his manner of dialogue delivery.
He said the repeated criticism and corrections gradually helped him improve as an actor.
Bachchan also recounted an incident when he arrived late for a shoot during his struggling days. He said the director was waiting outside the set when he arrived in someone else’s car because he did not own one at the time.
By then, the shoot had been called off, and the director told him to “Get out from here” before asking him to leave the set.
Bachchan’s association with cinema began as a voice-over artist before he entered acting. In 1969, he lent his distinctive baritone to Mrinal Sen’s Bhuvan Shome, a landmark of Indian parallel cinema. Around the same time, he auditioned for a newsreader’s position at All India Radio but was rejected.
He made his acting debut that year with Saat Hindustani, which did not perform well at the box office. His breakthrough came with Zanjeer, which established him as Hindi cinema’s iconic “angry young man”.
He subsequently delivered major hits including Deewaar, Sholay, Don, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Trishul, Kaala Patthar and Agneepath.
Over a career spanning more than five decades, Bachchan has continued to work across genres and generations, with films such as Mohabbatein, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Black, Paa, Piku, Pink, 102 Not Out and Jhund adding to his extensive filmography.
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