Amitabh Bachchan’s 11 films have made Rajinikanth a superstar of the South – 11 films of amitabh bachchan made rajinikanth superstar
Rajinikanth has often shared his inspiration with Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan. The two have also worked together in Bollywood films like ‘Andha Kanoon’, ‘Hum’ and ‘Giraftar’. There was a time in the 70’s and 80’s when Rajinikanth made a name for himself by acting in Tamil remakes of Amitabh Bachchan’s Hindi films. It started with the 1978 film Shankar Salim Simon. It was in fact a Tamil remake of Amitabh’s 1977 film ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’. Nan Vazhavipain, released in 1979, was a remake of Bachchan’s 1974 film Majboor.
The remake of ‘Don’ made Rajinikanth a superstar
Rajinikanth has acted in the Tamil remakes of 11 of Amitabh Bachchan’s films, which sparkled his career. The films that benefited Rajinikanth the most were Bachchan’s ‘Don’, written by Salim-Javed. That being said, that was the time when Rajinikanth almost decided that he would quit acting. But his film career was saved by ‘Billa’ released in 1980. Rajinikanth played a double role in ‘Billa’ and it became his first major commercial hit film.
Rajinikanth became No. 1 after beating Kamal Haasan
The success of ‘Billa’ gave a new twist to Rajinikanth’s career. Opponents who claimed that Rajinikanth’s career was over were also defeated. It is true that the remake of Amitabh’s ‘Don’ ‘Billa’ made Rajinikanth the No. 1 star in South Indian cinema. He beat Kamal Hassan with the success of this film.
These 11 films of Amitabh Bachchan shined Rajinikanth’s fortune
1. Don-Billa
Amitabh Bachchan’s 1978 superhit film ‘Don’ was released in Tamil in 1980 under the title ‘Billa’. It is considered to be one of the best films of Rajinikanth’s career.
2. Amar Akbar Anthony- Shankar Salim Simon
Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor and Vinod Khanna starrer ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’ was twice remade with Rajinikanth in the South. In 1978, Rajinikanth remade the film in Tamil with the title ‘Shankar Salim Simon’. Vijay Kumar played the role of Shankar, Jai Ganesh played the role of Salim and Rajinikanth played the role of Simon. It was later remade in Telugu as ‘Robert, Ram, Rahim’. In it, Krishna played the role of Robert, Rajinikanth played the role of Ram and Chand Mohan played the role of Rahim.
3. Murder Sweat- Shiva
Amitabh’s 1977 superhit film ‘Khoon Pasina’ was released in Tamil in 1989 with Rajinikanth and ‘Shiv’.
4. Trishul- Mr. Bharat
In 1985, Amitabh’s blockbuster film ‘Trishul’ was also remade. Released with the title ‘Mr Bharat’. Rajinikanth was in the lead role in this film. The film was also a blockbuster in the South.
5. Lavaris- Pankaran
Amitabh Bachchan’s brilliant acting in the film ‘Lavaris’ is still praised today. Released in the year 1981, the Hindi film was released in 1990 with Rajinikanth titled ‘Pankaran’.
6. Mard-Maviran
Released in 1985, Amitabh Bachchan’s film ‘Mard’ is still very popular for its dialogues. The film was remade in the South in 1986 with the title ‘Maverine’. Rajinikanth was in the lead role.
7. Namak Halal- Velaikaran
Amitabh Bachchan and Shashi Cooper’s superhit film ‘Namak Halal’ was released in Hindi in 1982. It was remade in Tamil as ‘Velayikaran’. Rajinikanth also played the role of Amitabh Bachchan.
8 Khuddan- Padikathavan
Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Mehra and Parveen Babi starrer ‘Khuddar’ was remade in Tamil in 1985 as ‘Padikathavan’. Rajinikanth played the role of Amitabh Bachchan in the lead role.
9. Wall-D
Yash Chopra’s ‘Deewar’ worked magic on the silver screen. Amitabh Bachchan and Shashi Kapoor were in this Hindi film. Rajinikanth remade the film in Tamil and played the role of Amitabh Bachchan. The film was titled ‘The’.
10. Majboor- Nan VazhavaiPen
In the year 1974, Ravi Tandon directed ‘Majboor’. Amitabh Bachchan was in the lead role. Five years later, in 1979, Rajinikanth remade the film in Tamil as ‘Nan Vazhavaipain’.
11.Kasme Vaade- Dharmathin Thalaivan
Rajinikanth’s ‘Dharmathin Thalaivan’ is also a remake of Amitabh Bachchan’s film. While Randhir Kapoor was with Amitabh in Bollywood’s ‘Kasme Waade’, Prabhu, Suhasini and Khushboo were in the lead roles with Rajinikanth in the Tamil version of the film.
