Veteran actor Prem Chopra he explains the ups and downs of superstardom from a close-up view, recalling what the transition phase is like. Rajesh Khanna in the rise of Amitabh Bachchan it was far from easy.
“It’s hard to digest that defeat”
Talking about the phase when Rajesh Khanna’s career slowed down, Prem Chopra admitted that the superstar never spoke about it explicitly, his struggles were evident. “He didn’t argue, but I felt what was happening. It’s hard to digest that failure…accepting this position when he was already a top star,” Vickey told Lalwani.He also points out how often such phases affect the actors. “He was drinking before, but then he started drinking a lot. This happens everywhere: when this happens, an actor drinks more or something goes wrong, because they can’t stand what they were and what they are now.”
“The difference between him and Amitabh Bachchan is…”
Making a comparison, Prem Chopra highlighted what set Amitabh Bachchan apart. “The difference between him and Amitabh Bachchan is that Amitabh has admitted, ‘I’m not the hero of the picture.’He added that Bachchan’s ability to adapt is what kept him relevant. “He’s doing very central characters and that’s why he’s become so popular.”
“She went to Yash Chopra’s house for a job”
Reminiscing about Bachchan’s wrestling days, the actor shared a striking anecdote. “She has said she lost a lot of money, property and all that. But once she got into it, there was no looking back. She went from her house to Yash Chopra’s house for a role when she didn’t have a job. She went and said, ‘I want a job’.” Praising his discipline, he added: “He is a very hard-working actor. When he comes on set, he comes ahead of time and works on the character he is playing.”
