From Rejection to Blockbuster: The Untold Story of Amitabh Bachchan's 'Don'

• The iconic film 'Don' was initially rejected by 12 producers and 3 superstars: Dev Anand, Dharmendra, and Jeetendra.
• Salim-Javed's script, featuring a grey-shaded hero, was deemed risky by many until Amitabh Bachchan embraced the role.
• Director Chandra Barot's 1978 crime thriller starred Amitabh Bachchan in a double role alongside Zeenat Aman and Pran.
• Producer Nariman Irani faced financial debt and tragically died during filming; his wife Salma Irani completed the film by mortgaging her house.
• Despite a slow start, 'Don' became a blockbuster through word-of-mouth, earning 7.20 crore worldwide on a 1 crore budget, and spawned remakes.

Why It Matters: 'Don' defied initial rejections to become a landmark film, changing Bollywood's narrative and cementing Amitabh Bachchan's stardom.