Did you know Abhishek Bachchan and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra were to start their careers together in 1998 with a film titled 'Samjhauta Express'?

By Tanmayi Savadi

on June 22, 2020

Abhishek Bachchan, in eight days, will complete 2 decades in Bollywood. Celebrating this milestone, the actor has been sharing unknown facts and anecdotes through a special series titled Road To 20. Sharing a roadmap of events that took place in his acting career, Abhishek went down the memory lane and recalled working with Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra in Delhi-6. Abhishek revealed that in 1998, Rakeysh and he had planned to start their careers together with a project called Samjhauta Express. However, with nobody willing to launch them, the film was then shelved.

Abhishek recalled the time when no director or producer was willing to launch him. He added that Samjhauta Express was 'conceived' because Rakeysh and he knew each other. With the film not receiving support, Rakeysh then directed Amitabh Bachchan's Aks and J.P. Dutta noticed Abhishek. The Bunty Aur Babli actor added that J.P. Sahab was to direct him in a film called Akhri Mughal but then, they did Refugee after the former got shelved.

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#Roadto20 Year-2009 #Delhi6 #Paa Many don’t know that in 1998 @rakeyshommehra and I wanted to start our film careers together. Him directing me in a script we both worked on called “Samjhauta Express”. Both not able to get anyone to launch us despite trying very hard. I forget how many producers and directors I met and requested to give me an opportunity to act. But to no avail! We both were friends and decided that we would develop something that Rakeysh could direct and I would act in and that’s how Samjhauta Express was conceived. Alas, the film never got made ( a regret we still have in our hearts ). Rakeysh went on to make Aks with my father and I was luckily spotted by JP saab. He liked my “look”, I had grown my hair long and a beard for SE. JP saab was thinking of making Akhri Mughal ( a historical ) and was on the lookout for a young fresh face... I got lucky. He never made Akhri Mughal but made Refugee instead. Over 10 years later Rakeysh and I finally managed to work together in the beautiful and still oh-so-relevant Delhi 6. Such a beautiful cast. We were all like one big family, always together even after wrap. Great senior actors that I could have only dreamt of acting with. Such a special experience. @sonamkapoor in only her second film. My second with the stunning Waheda Rehman aunty. And my first with an actor I was always a fan of and was praying I would get the opportunity to work with. Mr. Rishi Kapoor. Although Chintu uncle and I had just a few scenes together, they were so memorable to shoot! Paa, saw me reunite with my Pa! Our 6th film together. My first with Balki and second with @balanvidya also my first film as a Producer. It was such a unique concept and so sensitively handled. Only by the quirky mind of Balki! The film went on to great box-office success and won several awards for everyone. We also managed to win 3 National Film awards. @amitabhbachchan for best actor, Arundhati Ji for supporting actress and yours truly, as producer, for best film (Hindi) all of it entirely due to Balki. None of it would have been possible without his vision and conviction. I’m told dad and I even hold a Guinness book of world record for our film.

A post shared by Abhishek Bachchan (@bachchan) on Jun 21, 2020 at 10:08am PDT

Talking about teaming up with Rakeysh for Delhi-6, Abhishek went on to gush over the star-cast including Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, Waheeda Rahman and Rishi Kapoor. Abhishek then mentioned winning National Awards for Paa which marked his maiden outing as a producer.

Workwise, Abhishek is currently gearing up for the release of Anurag Basu’s Ludo and his web series debut Breathe Into The Shadows. He will be seen in the film Bob Biswas too.

(Source: Instagram)