Rajesh Khanna's 1974 Comeback: Two Films Challenged Amitabh's Rise

• The 1970s marked a shift in Bollywood, with Rajesh Khanna's romantic era fading and Amitabh Bachchan's 'Angry Young Man' emerging after 'Zanjeer' (1973).
• In 1974, Rajesh Khanna released two successful films, 'Ajnabee' and 'Roti', which temporarily halted Amitabh's growing dominance.
• 'Ajnabee', a musical thriller with Zeenat Aman, reaffirmed Khanna's romantic appeal, while 'Roti' showcased him in an action role, venturing into Amitabh's territory.
• The success of these films led to speculation that Khanna might reclaim his superstar status, especially as some of Amitabh's 1974 releases had less impact.
• However, this 'coup' was short-lived, as Amitabh Bachchan's 'Deewaar' and 'Sholay' in 1975 solidified his superstardom and redefined Indian cinema.

Why It Matters: Rajesh Khanna's 1974 hits 'Ajnabee' and 'Roti' briefly challenged Amitabh Bachchan's rise before 1975's blockbusters cemented Amitabh's reign.