When Salim Khan Threatened To ‘Destroy’ Rishi Kapoor’s Career Like Rajesh Khanna: ‘Created Amitabh Bachchan…’
Rishi Kapoor had rejected Trishul. Salim Khan said that he and Javed Akhtar created Amitabh Bachchan, who destroyed Rajesh Khanna’s career. Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar were the most prolific writing duo of their time. They delivered several hits like Don, Sholay, Zanjeer and Seeta Aur Geeta among others. Back then, no one had the audacity to refuse their films. However, when a new actor, Rishi Kapoor, rejected Trishul, he was subjected to Salim Khan’s ire. In his autobiography, Khullam Khulla, Rishi Kapoor recalled how Salim-Javed were furious at him for rejecting Trishul. When Salim Khan saw Rishi Kapoor at a hotel after the rejection, the writer even walked up to him and threatened to destroy his career. Rishi Kapoor wrote, “I was playing a game of snooker when Salim sa’ab walked over and asked me, ‘How did you have the guts to refuse Salim–Javed?’ Not one to be intimidated, I shot back, ‘I didn’t like the role.’” Rishi continued, “Salim sa’ab boasted to me, ‘Do you know that to this day nobody has said …