Amitabh Bachchan shines as an emblem of Bollywood stardom, widely recognized as the original “angry young man,” but stories of its origins speak of a different icon who preceded him in this famed role. A star whose journey from playing minor parts to surpassing even Bachchan’s fame is a tale of struggle, success, and an eventual surprising career turn.
The actor central to this less celebrated narrative is none other than Shatrughan Sinha. With a Diploma in Acting from the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, under his belt, Sinha ventured to Mumbai with dreams of silver screen success. His ambition found initial footing with an opportunity in Dev Anand’s “Prem Pujari,” paving the way for him to secure side roles in films such as “Sajan,” “Gulzar,” and “Khilona,” and to portray villains in “Pyar Hi Pyar,” “Banphool,” “Raampur Ka Lakshman,” “Bhai Ho Toh Aisa,” “Heera,” and the thriller “Blackmail” by Vijay Anand.
Despite his talent, Sinha’s early years as a lead between 1970 to 1975 witnessed a box office impasse. The tide turned in 1976 with the film “Kalicharan,” which cemented his path to stardom. As lead roles in “Ab Kya Hoga,” “Khan Dost,” “Yaaraon Ka Yaar,” “Dillagi,” “Vishwanath,” “Muqabla,” and “Jaani Dushman” followed, Sinha not only found fame but also earned the title of the original “angry young man” of Bollywood by the 1980s. His magnetic screen presence and compelling performances turned him into a reliable action hero.
However, as it runs in the celluloid world, his luck did not hold indefinitely. A stream of flops shadowed his career until a collaboration with Rajesh Khanna drew him back into the spotlight with acclaimed films like “Dil E Nadan,” “Aaj Ka M.L.A Ram Avtaar,” “Maqsad,” and “Paapi Pet Ka Sawal Hai.”
The rapport between Sinha and his contemporary Bachchan was noteworthy. Though Sinha surpassed Bachchan’s early fame, there existed no discord between the two. This was humorously highlighted in an anecdote shared by Bachchan during an appearance on Sajid Khan’s chat show, where he recalled an episode of them pushing Sinha’s car after a breakdown while the latter remained seated inside, eliciting laughter from the audience.
Bachchan eventually took up the mantle of the “angry young man” through his breakthrough performances in “Zanjeer” and “Agneepath.” As Bachchan continued down the cinematic path, Sinha charted a course into politics, now serving as a Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, from Asansol constituency, representing the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC).
The Sinha legacy in the art of acting did not end with Shatrughan. His daughter, Sonakshi Sinha, followed in his footsteps, successfully debuting in Bollywood alongside Salman Khan and garnering appreciation for her role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Heeramandi.”
The curiosity and interest in the lives of these cinematic giants are as vibrant as ever. Enthusiasts seeking to delve deeper into the riveting journey of these personalities can now do so by downloading the DNA app from the Google Play Store, bringing the latest insights and stories right to your fingertips.
