Amitabh Bachchan has possibly dabbled with every role cinema has to offer, and dazzled in nearly all. But even the legend couldn’t escape from the clutches of what we call as the ‘underrated characters,’ roles that deserved more applause and attention. Here are 10 of them.
Amitabh Bachchan Picture Courtesy: Mid-day Archives and AFP
To write something about the legendary Amitabh Bachchan can be tricky. What can one possibly write that hasn’t been written before? He has been hailed, critiqued, celebrated, and even (nearly) written off. But just like the screenplay of a blockbuster potboiler, Bachchan has always jumped back on the pedestal. His 52-year glory in cinema strikes a fascinating resemblance to the line his father, the great poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, wrote in his poem Agnipath- “Tu Na Rukega Kabhi, Tu Na Thakega Kabhi...”, the English translation means, "May you never slow down, may you never get tired".
The journey has been filled with blockbusters and bumps, he has been the most enigmatic star of the country and he has also tasted failure. His celluloid characters have been both invigorating and inspirational. But there are also some characters that didn’t receive the love they deserved. Even the legend of Amitabh Bachchan couldn’t escape from the clutches of what we have come to recognise as “Underrated Roles.”
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Here are 10 of those roles that deserve more, a lot more:
Parwana (1971)
Amitabh Bachchan Picture Courtesy: Mid-day Archives
In Parwana, Amitabh Bachchan plays his first negative role. Though the movie failed to make an impression in the box-office, the thriller is best remembered for the performance of Amitabh Bachchan. The actor turns and transforms into a cold-blooded and jilted lover with ease. His planning and plotting inspired filmmaker Sriram Raghavan’s Johnny Gaddaar, another solid whodunnit, and this was one of those thrillers that kept you glued and never insulted your intelligence.
Saudagar (1973)
Amitabh Bachchan Picture Courtesy: AFP
The year when Bachchan soared to stardom with the cult of Zanjeer was also the year when he did a film called Saudagar, where he played Moti, a jaggery trader. Bachchan puts up a solid performance. Moti's despair in the film drives him towards greed and deceit, but in the end, he witnesses a sense of enlightenment. Given the actor’s naïveté and rawness back in the early 70s, it’s not surprising he delivered a nuanced, understated act.
Agneepath (1990)
Poster of Agneepath, Picture Courtesy: Mid-day Archives
What an irony! The role that shaped the careers of tons of mimics across the country went (almost) unnoticed when it was performed on the celluloid. The low baritone, the suave persona, all helped Bachchan in giving him what has arguably become one of his most iconic roles- Vijay Deenanath Chauhan. Mukul Anand’s action-drama was a discomforting watch, given how the narrative was laced with violence and brutality. But at the core of this undeserving commercial failure was Amitabh Bachchan, his magnetic voice, and the legacy that would follow later. Who would’ve thought a voice that was first dissed and dismissed as a technical glitch in the audio would become the only way people mimicked him?
Sooryavansham (1999)
A still of Amitabh Bachchan and Anupam Kher from Sooryavansham, Picture Courtesy: Mid-day Archives
The star was at his nadir when this family drama released, which he also produced. It was yet another double role for the actor, a disgruntled father and his disobedient son. Bachchan essayed both the roles with aplomb. Sooryavansham is one of the most televised films in history. Who said history only has to be made at the ticket-windows?
Aks (2001)
Amitabh Bachchan Picture Courtesy: Mid-day Archives
This thriller is acquired taste. It’s the story of a cop and a psychotic criminal who quotes the Bhagwad Gita. There are multiple metaphors, twists, and two solid performances by Amitabh Bachchan and Manoj Bajpayee. There’s also an element of horror to amplify the hideousness of Bajpayee and the genius of Bachchan. The star plays a dual role, that of Inspector Manu Verma and Raghavan (the criminal in question whose spirit possesses his body). We had two Bachchans for the price of one, discover this idiosyncratic thriller if you haven’t.
Lakshya (2004)
Amitabh Bachchan and Hrithik Roshan Picture Courtesy: AFP
Lakshya is the story of a slacker who becomes a soldier. For many, this is the story of Karan Shergill (played by Hrithik Roshan), but for some, this is also the story of Col. Sunil Damle. The role that Bachchan played was written and performed with restraint. In a war film, you’d expect the hero and his senior mouth patriotic dialogues for wolf-whistles. Damle was a man of a few words, and only Bachchan could’ve nailed the nuances. When the Indian Flag returns to where it belonged, he cheers and cries, and shows that there are other sides to patriotism as well.
Viruddh (2005)
Amitabh Bachchan in a still from Viruddh Picture Courtesy: Mid-day Archives
Mahesh Manjrekar’s Viruddh is one of his most underrated dramas about a couple that has to come to terms with its only son’s death. Bachchan and Sharmila Tagore played the couple in question whose son, John Abraham, is killed by a minister’s son. Till the interval, Viruddh was a humorous, harmless family entertainer that established its characters, their bonds and conflicts. It’s only in the second half that we get to see how far a father will go for his deceased son’s justice. And when Bachchan finally weeps, we take out our hankies too. The box-office may not have smiled on this film, it did make a lot shed their tears.
Shamitabh (2015)
Amitabh Bachchan, Akshara Haasan and Dhanush Picture Courtesy: AFP
Is there any other actor who can pull off alcoholic characters as seamlessly as Bachchan? R. Balki’s unusual story of a mute actor in the Hindi film industry banking on someone else’s voice for stardom and success was both fun and frustrating. Dhanush speaking in Bachchan’s voice was an audacious, admirable attempt. Bachchan was at his unkempt best, and loses to irony in the end despite flashing conceit from start to finish. Shamitabh was a brave attempt, and a unique one, just like the moniker.
The Great Gatsby (2013)
Amitabh Bachchan Picture Courtesy: AFP
Bachchan’s tryst with Hollywood happened much before that of Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra. He was seen in The Great Gatsby, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobby Maguire. He played a gorgeous gambler named Meyer Wolfsheim. The star oozed both sexiness and sincerity in this part. Wish we talked about the legend’s Hollywood debut and celebrated it as much as we did with the aforementioned actresses.
Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy (2019)
Amitabh Bachchan Picture Courtesy: Mid-day Archives
In this extravagantly crafted multi-lingual historical, the star essayed the role of Gosaayi Venkanna, Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy's Guru. Narasimha Reddy was the first ruler to wage war against British rule. Bachchan left his fans in awe by his mere look that he carried in this juggernaut. Even though for a short time, it was heartening to see the legend with another legend Chiranjeevi in one frame. We don’t see too many legends together too often these days anyway.
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