Indian superstar Rajinikanth has recalled how Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan overcame a devastating financial crisis by working up to 18 hours a day to clear debts reportedly amounting to Rs90 crore, reports NDTV.
Speaking at the audio launch of Vettaiyan in 2024, Rajinikanth praised Bachchan’s determination to rebuild his life after the collapse of his production venture, Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited (ABCL), left him facing severe financial difficulties.
According to Rajinikanth, Bachchan had reached the height of his acting career before venturing into business.
However, ABCL failed to achieve the success he had hoped for, plunging the actor into debt and forcing him to sell several properties in Mumbai, including his home in Juhu.
The financial setback also drew ridicule from sections of the film industry, Rajinikanth recalled. Despite the criticism and his health problems, Bachchan refused to give up and took on various assignments to repay his creditors.
Rajinikanth said Bachchan spent three years working for as long as 18 hours a day to settle his outstanding debts. He also recalled how the actor eventually bought back his former home and acquired two additional properties in the same lane.
Praising Bachchan’s resilience, Rajinikanth highlighted how the veteran star transformed a period of professional and financial hardship into an opportunity to rebuild his career and reputation.
Bachchan’s return to the big screen gained momentum when filmmaker Yash Chopra cast him in Mohabbatein (2000).
He subsequently found another major platform through the television quiz show Kaun Banega Crorepati, which helped strengthen his presence among audiences.
Rajinikanth and Bachchan share a long professional association, having appeared together in films such as Andhaa Kaanoon (1983), Geraftaar (1985) and Hum (1991).
They reunited after 33 years in the Tamil action film Vettaiyan, directed by TJ Gnanavel and released in 2024.
Bachchan, widely regarded as one of Indian cinema’s most influential actors, has continued to work across films and television despite his advancing age.
Rajinikanth’s recollection offers a glimpse into the determination that helped the veteran performer navigate one of the most challenging periods of his life.
