Nostalgic Nuggets: When Amitabh Bachchan became the 'angry young man'

Shashi Kapoor acted in his debut film ' Haseena Maan Jaayegi' in a double role for the first time in 1968. The film was a major hit. Since then, Prakash Mehra (1939-2009), launched a series of firsts. Four years later, in 1972, Dharmendra, the macho action hero returned to a double role again in 'Samadhi' with a Mehra film.

Buoyed by a series of hits, Prakash Mehra picked Amitabh Bachchan for 'Zanjeer' ahead of his contemporaries and seniors who refused the role. The film released in May 1973 was a super duper hit and launched the career of the big B as the 'angry young man'. It was a turning point for the dialogue writers Salim- Javed too who had turned the film industry into a new direction of action and drama with their film. Of course, Prakash Mehra became a golden director for the masala films he was directing and succeeding at the box office. In all, he had 25 films produced and directed in a career of 28 years.

His association with Amitabh was for over 15 years in which the combination churned out six blockbusters. May 17 happens to be Prakash Mehra's 11th death anniversary.