Amitabh Bachchan and Dilip Kumar shared the screen for the first and only time in Shakti, which was released on October 1, 1982. Initially, Amitabh had declined the film, feeling unsure whether he could match Dilip Kumar’s immense star power and legendary acting skills.
However, Dilip Kumar personally convinced him to take the role, expressing a desire to learn from him. At the time, Dilip Kumar was already a cinematic icon, while Amitabh, through his relentless dedication, went on to achieve global superstardom. Many fans even believed that Amitabh had succeeded Dilip Kumar as India’s superstar, with some suggesting he had surpassed his fame.
During an old interview, a fan directly questioned Amitabh Bachchan about being considered “bigger” than Dilip Kumar. The fan asked if, after rising to fame, he ever imagined becoming more successful than Kumar, though they noted his modest nature would likely lead him to say that his predecessors were greater. Amitabh responded with his characteristic wit and humility, simply replying, “Thank you, you have answered your question yourself.”
Despite the profound mutual respect between the two acting legends, Shakti remained the only collaboration between Amitabh Bachchan and Dilip Kumar in their illustrious careers.
