Mr. India, the beloved 1987 classic starring Anil Kapoor and Sridevi, remains one of Indian cinema’s most iconic films. But in a surprising revelation, veteran screenwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar recently shared that the role of the invisible hero was originally written for none other than Amitabh Bachchan. In an interview with Mid-day’s Sit With Hitlist series,, Akhtar opened up about how the legendary script was first crafted with Big B in mind.
Akhtar explained that director-producer Pramod Chakravorty had initially begun work on the project with Amitabh Bachchan in the lead. At the film’s muhurat (launch ceremony), Bachchan couldn’t be physically present, but his voice was played through a cassette. That moment sparked a creative idea in Akhtar’s mind—if the superstar’s voice was so instantly recognizable and powerful, why not create an “invisible man” around it? This way, Bachchan wouldn’t even have to be on set frequently, and most of his performance could be delivered through voice dubbing.
However, things took a different turn when the famous writing duo Salim-Javed parted ways. Following the split, the script remained with Akhtar, and the project changed hands. It was then that producer Boney Kapoor stepped in and picked up the story as a vehicle to launch Anil Kapoor alongside Sridevi. The rest, as they say, is cinematic history.
Interestingly, Akhtar also addressed rumors suggesting that Amitabh Bachchan might have played a role in the Salim-Javed fallout. In response to such speculation, he made a conscious decision not to work with the superstar for a decade. Their next collaboration didn’t happen until 1989, when they reunited for Main Azaad Hoon.
Mr. India ultimately became a cult classic, with Anil Kapoor’s portrayal of the humble, invisible hero and Amrish Puri’s villainous Mogambo becoming legendary in Indian pop culture. But now, fans are left to imagine a very different version of the film—one where Amitabh Bachchan could have been the invisible savior of India.
credit: Mid-day’s sit.