Copyright news18
An old video of late actor-writer Kader Khan sharing how his friendship with megastar Amitabh Bachchan evolved over the years after the megastar forayed into politics has surfaced on social media. On the Samay television program ‘Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya,’ Khan emphasised how friendships that were formed on movie sets gradually deteriorated as new roles were added. Under Dilip Kumar’s guidance, Khan established himself as a screenwriter and actor. He worked with Bachchan on a number of films, such as Benaam (1974), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978), and Naseeb (1981). Khan claimed that their friendship, which developed during the 1970s, changed after Bachchan was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) on the strength of his reputation. From “Amit” to “Sir ji” Khan recalled that during the early years of their friendship, he would simply refer to Bachchan as “Amit,” a gesture that reflected a camaraderie formed via their shared filmmaking. However, Khan recalled in a later interview that things took a different turn after Bachchan entered politics and was elected to the Parliament. Khan claimed he noticed a shift when a producer asked him if he had “met sir,” referring to Bachchan, and advised him to address him as such, as per the Indian Express. The incident that Khan referred to as the turning point transpired when a producer asked Khan, “Did you meet sir?” referring to Bachchan. The word “sir” hit Khan hard. “Who, sir?” he enquired. The producer gestured to Bachchan. “Why would I call him sir?” Khan said, before adding, “I have always addressed him as Amit.” Khan noticed that Bachchan’s demeanour had changed from that of a friend to one of deference. “After that incident, our paths diverged. He became ‘Sir ji’, and I remained ‘Kader ji’. My heart did not allow me to suddenly start calling a friend ‘sir’. That man simply began avoiding me because I wouldn’t use that title,” Khan recounted. Khan thought that Bachchan’s changed behaviour, which was driven by his political position, marked the end of their close friendship. “It hurt me deeply because I had even left other film projects just because he wanted me to work on his. His changed behaviour did not sit well with me, and our bond ended there,” Khan remembered. Reflection on friendship, status and the film world After making his professional debut in 1970, Kader Khan quickly became close to Amitabh Bachchan, who was then on the rise to the top of the film industry. Their relationship lasted almost two decades, from Benaam (1974) to Hum (1991), until a shift in Bachchan’s personality caused a split between them. As Khan noted, a connection that needed sincerity on a human level could not be sustained by professional experience alone.
