Dharmendra's 'Mistake' Revived Amitabh Bachchan's Flailing Career: The Zanjeer Story

• Amitabh Bachchan faced 12 consecutive flops and was ready to leave Mumbai for Allahabad in the early 1970s.
• Dharmendra, the superstar of that era, was initially offered the lead role in 'Zanjeer' by Salim-Javed and Prakash Mehra.
• Due to scheduling conflicts and other commitments, Dharmendra opted out of 'Zanjeer', a decision that proved pivotal.
• After rejections from other stars, Amitabh Bachchan was cast in 'Zanjeer' as a last resort, a do-or-die opportunity.
• The 1973 release of 'Zanjeer' was a massive hit, transforming Amitabh into the 'Angry Young Man' and saving his career.