Amitabh is no less than a President: Shatrughan Sinha

For over ten years, veteran actors Shatrughan Sinha and Amitabh Bachchan were frenemies. PHOTO:FILE

The younger generation in Bollywood is all about envy, rivalry, catfights and star backgrounds. However, unlike the budding youth, the veterans seem to appreciate each other’s efforts and are always humble and modest in their approach.

Actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha, who has worked with co-star Amitabh Bachchan in films like Dostana and Raaste Kaa Patthar, says that the latter is no less than a President. “His personality, education and body language command acceptance. Barring a couple of exceptions, I think he is no less than any former President of India,” he said in an interview with the Times of India.

However, even these oldies seem to have had their share of rivalry during their heydays. According to Rediff.com, Sinha said that after a long friendship, Bachchan just did not want to do films with him and that Bachchan’s most popular role to date in Sholay was first offered to him. “There are certain things that people are not aware of. Amitabh’s role in Sholay was first offered to me. But I was emerging as the lead in those days. I didn’t want to play such a role,” he asserted. “Amitabh went ahead [in his career]. We started meeting less and less but we did do a few films together, like Naseeb and Shaan. I must say Amitabh did not want me to do these films. I think Kaala Patthar was the last nail in the coffin of our friendship. He was very against of me doing the film.”

Nonetheless, after a decade-long rivalry, it seems that Sinha is all set to put an end to it. Right after his bypass, Sinha aka Shotgun made sure that he attended Bachchan’s 70th birthday. “Yes [I did attend]. By the time I reached, I was very tired. All along the way, I felt very weak,” he said.

He has even expressed his wish to do a film with Big B but feels that he is restricted due to his political career. “If I do a film, I have no problems doing it with him. I don’t want to do a film and then have my political commitments keep the producer waiting. Many filmmakers have wanted me, the most recent one being Tigmanshu Dhulia,” Sinha said.