''Shahenshah'' () is a 1988 Indian
Hindi
Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been de ...
-language
vigilante
Vigilantism () is the act of preventing, investigating and punishing perceived offenses and crimes without Right, legal authority.
A vigilante (from Spanish, Italian and Portuguese “vigilante”, which means "sentinel" or "watcher") is a pers ...
action film
Action film is a film genre in which the protagonist is thrust into a series of events that typically involve violence and physical feats. The genre tends to feature a mostly resourceful hero struggling against incredible odds, which include life ...
starring
Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan (; born as Amitabh Shrivastav; 11 October 1942) is an Indian actor, film producer, television host, occasional playback singer and former politician known for his work in Hindi cinema. He is regarded as one of the most succe ...
in the title role, along with
Meenakshi Sheshadri
Meenakshi Seshadri (; born 16 November 1963) is a former Indian actress, model and dancer who worked primarily in Hindi films, with a few films in Telugu and Tamil. She made her debut with the film ''Painter Babu'' (1983) produced by Manoj Kuma ...
. The film was produced and directed by
Tinnu Anand
Tinu Anand (born Virender Raj Anand, 12 October 1945) is an Indian actor, director, writer and producer in Hindi cinema and a few Telugu and Tamil films.
Early life
He is the son of veteran writer Inder Raj Anand, brother of producer Bittu Ana ...
. The story of the film was written by Amitabh Bachchan's wife
Jaya Bachchan
Jaya Bachchan (''Birth name, née'' Bhaduri; born 9 April 1948) is an Indian actress and politician. She is a member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha from the Samajwadi Party, serving four terms since 2004. Known primarily for her work in Hindi ...
and the screenplay was written by veteran screenwriter
Inder Raj Anand
Inder Raj Anand (died 6 March 1987) was an Indian film dialogue and screenwriter in Hindi cinema, who worked on many Raj Kapoor films, starting with ''Aag (1948 film), Aag'' (1948), ''Aah (film), Aah'' (1953), ''Anari (1959 film), Anari'' (1959) ...
, who died before the film was released.
The film marked Bachchan's comeback to films after a three-year hiatus during which he had entered politics. Bachchan still had films releasing during the hiatus, as they were projects he had previously completed. The film became the second
highest-grossing film in 1988 . It is remembered for the famous dialogue "''Rishte Mein To Hum Tumhare Baap Hote Hain, Naam Hai Shahenshah''". The film is also remembered for
Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan (; born as Amitabh Shrivastav; 11 October 1942) is an Indian actor, film producer, television host, occasional playback singer and former politician known for his work in Hindi cinema. He is regarded as one of the most succe ...
's dual performances as a comic policeman and a crimefighting vigilante. Meenakshi Sheshadri performance as the leading lady was also appreciated. The advance booking shattered all the records and in Shiela Cinema (Delhi) a crowd of 20,000 people had gathered for the first show.
Plot
A corrupt and sniveling bank manager Mathur (
Prem Chopra
Prem Chopra (born 23 September 1935) is an Indian actor in Hindi and Punjabi films. He has acted in 380 films over a span of over 60 years. He has a soft-spoken diction despite being a villain in most films. His 19 films, with him as antagonist ...
) has illegally borrowed 2.5 million rupees and loaned them to crime baron J.K. Verma (
Amrish Puri
Amrish Puri (22 June 1932 – 12 January 2005) was an Indian actor, who was one of the most notable and important figures in Indian cinema and Theatre. He acted in more than 450 films, established himself as one of the most popular actors ...
). J.K orchestrates a bank robbery to bail him out. Inspector Anand Shrivastav (
Kader Khan
Kader Khan (22 October 1937 – 31 December 2018) was an Indian actor, screenwriter and film director. As an actor, he appeared in over 300 Bollywood films after his debut film in the 1973 film '' Daag'', starring Rajesh Khanna, in which he ...
) gets wind of this plot. He is about to crack the case when J.K. enlists an exotic dancer, Julie (
Aruna Irani
Aruna Irani (born 3 May 1946) is an Indian actress, who has acted in over 500 films throughout Hindi, Kannada, Marathi and Gujarati cinema, playing mostly supporting and character roles. She has won two Filmfare Awards for Best Supporting Act ...
), to use the robbery as a backdrop and frame the honest inspector for corruption. Inspector Shrivastav is arrested by the
CBI and is imprisoned for three months. Inspector Shrivastav, the honest and innocent inspector, is so depressed about the false charges that he hangs himself at home after being released on bail. This creates a lasting and powerful impression on his young eight-year-old son, Vijaykumar. Vijay retains the noose his father used to hang himself. He vows someday restore his father's honour. Vijay and his mother leave their house and live in the house of another honest police inspector named Aslam Khan.
Years later, a young Vijay (
Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan (; born as Amitabh Shrivastav; 11 October 1942) is an Indian actor, film producer, television host, occasional playback singer and former politician known for his work in Hindi cinema. He is regarded as one of the most succe ...
) in the inspector uniform, grows up in the care of Inspector Aslam Khan (
Pran), Inspector Shrivastav's friend and partner, who has allowed Vijay and his mother to live with him, and Vijay becomes a cop himself. Vijay is friends with Shaheena, the daughter of Aslam Khan. Aslam Khan is an honest cop much like Vijay's father. Vijay is an obsequious and cowardly inspector, prone to bribery and generally scared of powerful criminals. It doesn't take JK long to find Vijay, get him on the payroll, and run his underworld crime empire (drugs, guns, racketeering) past the cops.
A new apparition bursts upon this scene who calls himself "Shahenshah", a costumed crime fighter (see movie poster). He has a left iron hand which is used to attack enemies and smash objects, and Shahenshah's other weapon is a noose. Oddly enough, it is the same noose Vijay's father used to hang himself with. This is because it is revealed later that Shahenshah is actually Vijay. When wearing Shahenshah's attire, Vijay describes himself as "one who doesn't hold a cop's job but does the same work; one who apprehends criminals himself, conducts the trials himself, and, pronounces and executes the sentences himself". So Vijay/Shahenshah's outward mission is to take out crime, but his real goal is to get to the guys who framed his father.
Shahenshah quietly breaks up several of J.K.'s gambling dens and illicit liquor distilleries. He also halts the demolition of a slum. This catches the eye of small-time trickster Shalu (
Meenakshi Seshadri
Meenakshi Seshadri (; born 16 November 1963) is a former Indian actress, model and dancer who worked primarily in Hindi films, with a few films in Telugu and Tamil. She made her debut with the film ''Painter Babu'' (1983) produced by Manoj Kuma ...
) who lives there with her aging and ailing mother Julie. J.K. had ordered her assassination after she helped frame Vijay's father; she has been on the run from him ever since, which becomes Shalu's motivation for seeking out and eliminating J.K. Shalu decides to infiltrate J.K.'s coterie by becoming an exotic dancer. One night, she attempts to kill J.K. by shooting him but is shocked when J.K. reveals he had been wearing a bullet-proof vest the whole time. Vijay lies to J.K. that Shahenshah's weakness is not letting Shalu die. He also lies that if J.K. returns Shalu to Shahenshah, Shahenshah will return J. K.'s goods worth millions. But J.K. is ultimately fooled. Shahenshah later detonates a bomb planted in J.K.'s truck.
J.K. murders an honest crime reporter Mohammed Salim (
Vijayendra Ghatge
Vijayendra Ghatge is an Indian actor in Bollywood film and television. He is known for his role of Lala Vrishbhaan in the TV serial ''Buniyaad'' that originally aired on DD National in 1986. Among other serials and several films, he is also kn ...
), who was about to expose J.K.'s crime ring. Salim was married to Shaheena (
Supriya Pathak
Supriya Pathak (born 7 January 1961) is an Indian actress who works in Gujarati and Hindi films and television. She has received multiple awards including three Filmfare Awards for Best Supporting Actress. She is mostly popular for playing the ...
), the daughter of Aslam Khan. Vijay now decides to turn around his image as a cowardly cop. He openly defies J.K. Julie agrees to testify against J.K. Shalu provides ancillary evidence. And J.K. prepares for an all out war against Shahenshah/Vijay, Shalu and the lot of his enemies. At Salim's funeral, only one of the many witnesses of his death were present. He was about to reveal J.K.'s name, but a sharpshooter shoots him to death.
There is a veritable bloodbath on the streets as Inspector Vijay tries to get Julie into the courthouse. And there is a final showdown where Shahenshah reveals his secret identity and becomes the nemesis for all the culprits. To give himself a chance to escape, J.K. abducts Shalu. The showdown leads Shahenshah chasing J.K. to the roof of the courthouse where J.K. is pleading his case, because his cover is blown. J.K. falls through a hole in the roof and is clinging on for dear life, with the whole court looking in astonishment. Shahenshah then reveals before the whole court that he is actually Vijay. Vijay throws the noose down to J.K., and he gratefully accepts it, but J.K., being the ruthless man that he is, attempts to attack Vijay. Vijay lets go of the noose, which slips around J.K.'s neck, and before the whole court, J.K. Verma is hanged, avenging Inspector Shrivastav and Salim the reporter, Shaheena's husband.
Cast
*
Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan (; born as Amitabh Shrivastav; 11 October 1942) is an Indian actor, film producer, television host, occasional playback singer and former politician known for his work in Hindi cinema. He is regarded as one of the most succe ...
as Inspector Vijay Shrivastav / Shahenshah
*
Meenakshi Sheshadri
Meenakshi Seshadri (; born 16 November 1963) is a former Indian actress, model and dancer who worked primarily in Hindi films, with a few films in Telugu and Tamil. She made her debut with the film ''Painter Babu'' (1983) produced by Manoj Kuma ...
as Shalu
*
Pran as Inspector Aslam Khan
*
Aruna Irani
Aruna Irani (born 3 May 1946) is an Indian actress, who has acted in over 500 films throughout Hindi, Kannada, Marathi and Gujarati cinema, playing mostly supporting and character roles. She has won two Filmfare Awards for Best Supporting Act ...
as Julie
*
Prem Chopra
Prem Chopra (born 23 September 1935) is an Indian actor in Hindi and Punjabi films. He has acted in 380 films over a span of over 60 years. He has a soft-spoken diction despite being a villain in most films. His 19 films, with him as antagonist ...
as Bank Manager Mathur
*
Amrish Puri
Amrish Puri (22 June 1932 – 12 January 2005) was an Indian actor, who was one of the most notable and important figures in Indian cinema and Theatre. He acted in more than 450 films, established himself as one of the most popular actors ...
as J.K.
*
Kader Khan
Kader Khan (22 October 1937 – 31 December 2018) was an Indian actor, screenwriter and film director. As an actor, he appeared in over 300 Bollywood films after his debut film in the 1973 film '' Daag'', starring Rajesh Khanna, in which he ...
as DCP Shrivastav
*
Rohini Hattangadi
Rohini Hattangadi (''née'' Oak; born 11 April 1955) is an Indian actress, known for her work in Hindi, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Kannada, and Gujarati films, and Marathi soap operas and theatre. She has won two Filmfare Awards, one National Film ...
as Shanti Shrivastav
*
Supriya Pathak
Supriya Pathak (born 7 January 1961) is an Indian actress who works in Gujarati and Hindi films and television. She has received multiple awards including three Filmfare Awards for Best Supporting Actress. She is mostly popular for playing the ...
as Shaheen
*
Vijayendra Ghatge
Vijayendra Ghatge is an Indian actor in Bollywood film and television. He is known for his role of Lala Vrishbhaan in the TV serial ''Buniyaad'' that originally aired on DD National in 1986. Among other serials and several films, he is also kn ...
as Editor Mohammed Salim
*
Jagdeep
Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed Jaffrey (29 March 1939 – 8 July 2020), better known by his stage name Jagdeep, was an Indian actor and comedian who appeared in more than 400 films. He played Soorma Bhopali in ''Sholay'' (1975), Machchar in ''Purana Mandir ...
as Tarachand Badlani
*
Sudhir Sudhir is an Indian given name, Indian masculine given name. The Sanskrit word ' means "very wise", "resolute".
Notable people with the name include:
*Sudhir (Pakistani actor) (1922–1997), Pakistani actor
*Sudhir (Hindi actor) (1944–2014), ...
as J.K's Man
*
Avtar Gill
Avtar Gill is an Indian actor who appears predominantly in Hindi and Punjabi language films and television serials. He has done many plays with Indian People's Theatre Association Mumbai.
Selected filmography Films
* ''Noorie'' (1979)
* '' ...
as Corrupt Police Officer
*
Anjan Srivastav
Aanjjan Srivastav (born 2 June 1948) is an Indian film, television and stage actor, associated with Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) in Mumbai of which he remained Vice-President for several years. Outside theatre, he is best known as ...
as Corrupt Politician
*
Sharat Saxena
Sharat Saxena (born 17 August 1950) is an Indian actor who appears in Hindi films along with Telugu, Malayalam and Tamil films. He has acted in more than 250 Bollywood films.
Saxena started his career in the early 1970s and has mainly played su ...
as Abdul
*
Praveen Kumar Sobti
Praveen Kumar Sobti (6 December 1947 – 7 February 2022) was an Indian hammer and discus thrower, film actor, politician, and soldier with Border Security Force. As a 20 year old he joined then newly raised Border Security Force from whe ...
as Mukhtar Singh
*
Dan Dhanoa
Dan Dhanoa (born ''Inderpreet Singh Dhanoa''; 28 February 1959) is a former Indian film actor and a sailor (master mariner) in the Merchant Navy.
He is known mostly for portraying cult villainous roles in Hindi cinema in the 1980s and 1990s, ...
as J.K.'s Goon
*
Goga Kapoor
Ravinder Kapoor (15 December 1940 – 3 March 2011), popularly known as Goga Kapoor, was an Indian actor, who appeared mostly in Bollywood films. He has acted in over 120 films, majorly known for playing supporting roles of that of villain's h ...
as J.K's Lawyer
*
Dinesh Hingoo
Dinesh Hingoo (born 13 April 1940) is an Indian actor who plays comic & supporting roles in Hindi films. He had appeared in over 300 films, from ''Taqdeer (1967)'' to ''Be Careful (2011)'', and is known for his laughter and impersonations inclu ...
as Shalu's Friend
*
Sameer Khakhar
Sameer Khakhar is a Bollywood film and television actor.
Career
Khakhar's notable TV serial roles include the one of the drunken character Khopdi from yesteryears milestone TV serial '' Nukkad'' in 1986, directed by Kundan Shah and Saeed Akhtar M ...
as Shalu's drunkard Friend
*
Murad
Murad or Mourad ( ar, مراد) is an Arabic name. It is also common in Armenian, Azerbaijani, Bengali, Turkish, Persian, and Berber as a male given name or surname and is commonly used throughout the Muslim world and Middle East.
Etymology
It ...
as Judge
*
Yunus Parvez
Yunus Parvez (1931/1932 – 11 February 2007) was an Indian actor who played supporting roles in over 200 films from the late 1960s to the 2000s. He is best known for his roles in films like ''Garm Hava'' (1974), ''Deewaar'' (1975), '' Trishul' ...
as Journalist
*
Aftab Shivdasani
Aftab Shivdasani (born 25 June 1978) is an Indian actor, producer and model known for his works in Bollywood and also working for Tamil and Kannada film industry.
Shivdasani was selected as the Farex baby at the age of 14 months and eventually ...
as Young Vijay
Development
Tinnu Anand, who had made the very successful film ''
Kaalia
''Kaalia'' is a 1981 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film, written and directed by Tinnu Anand, and produced by Iqbal Singh. The film stars Amitabh Bachchan (in the title role), Parveen Babi, Asha Parekh, Kader Khan, Pran, Amjad Khan, ...
'' (1981) with Amitabh, wanted to make another movie with him during the early 1980s. The story of ''Shahenshah'' was written by Amitabh's wife, Jaya Bachchan and further refined by Tinnu Anand's father Inder Raj Anand. Even though Anand signed up Bachchan in 1983, the film could not commence shooting because only three days before shooting was to begin in Bangalore, Amitabh fell seriously ill.
After a thorough medical examination it was revealed that he had developed
myasthenia gravis
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a long-term neuromuscular junction disease that leads to varying degrees of skeletal muscle weakness. The most commonly affected muscles are those of the eyes, face, and swallowing. It can result in double vision, dro ...
, a rare chronic autoimmune disease marked by muscular weakness without atrophy.
Due to Amitabh's illness and his commitments to other movies, the start of ''Shahenshah's'' shooting was delayed until 1985.
By this time, the female lead of the film,
Dimple Kapadia
Dimple Kapadia (born 8 June 1957) is an Indian actress predominantly appearing in Hindi films. Born and raised in Mumbai by wealthy parents, she aspired to become an actress from a young age and received her first opportunity through her father ...
, was replaced by
Meenakshi Sheshadri
Meenakshi Seshadri (; born 16 November 1963) is a former Indian actress, model and dancer who worked primarily in Hindi films, with a few films in Telugu and Tamil. She made her debut with the film ''Painter Babu'' (1983) produced by Manoj Kuma ...
.
The now iconic costume that Amitabh donned in this movie weighed almost 18 kg, and despite his illness, Amitabh insisted on wearing the costume in all of his fight scenes. During shooting, Amitabh and Tinnu got into a disagreement over one particular scene in which Tinnu wanted Amitabh to wear his police uniform but Amitabh insisted on wearing a blazer instead. The argument got quite heated and with neither of the two willing to change his stance, shooting was temporarily halted. It was not until Tinnu's father, Inder Raj Anand, intervened and convinced Amitabh to wear the police uniform by explaining its significance in the scene that the shooting resumed.
The shooting eventually wrapped up in October 1987. Even though the film was initially planned to be released in November, the release date kept on being pushed back due to the threat of a boycott of the movie by some opposition political parties.
These parties had had some conflict with Amitabh while he was a Congress MP and they maintained bitterness towards him even after he had retired from politics.
''Shahenshah'' was finally released on 12 February 1988 and went on to become a huge blockbuster earning over 6 crores by its fifth week.
The film performed very well at the box office despite strong competition from other big-banner films like ''
Tezaab
''Tezaab'' () is a 1988 Indian Hindi-language action romance film starring Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit in lead roles. The film gave Dixit her first big break, making her an overnight star. in addition to reaffirming Kapoor's star status, afte ...
'' and ''
Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak
''Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak'' (), also known by the initialism ''QSQT'', is a 1988 Indian Hindi-language romantic musical film, directed by Mansoor Khan, written and produced by Nasir Hussain, and starring Aamir Khan (in his leading film debut) a ...
'', both of which were targeted towards the newer generation.
Music
Lyrics:
Anand Bakshi
Anand Bakshi (21 July 1930 – 30 March 2002) was an Indian poet and lyricist. He was nominated for the Filmfare award for Best lyricist a total of 40 times, resulting in 4 wins.
Early life
Anand Bakshi (Bakshi Anand Prakash Vaid) was born ...
Awards
;
34th Filmfare Awards
The 34th Filmfare Awards were held in 1988, after a 2-year gap.
''Tezaab'' led the ceremony with 12 nominations, followed by ''Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak'' with 11 nominations and ''Khoon Bhari Maang'' with 7 nominations.
''Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak ...
:
Nominated
*
Best Actor –
Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan (; born as Amitabh Shrivastav; 11 October 1942) is an Indian actor, film producer, television host, occasional playback singer and former politician known for his work in Hindi cinema. He is regarded as one of the most succe ...
References
External links
*{{IMDb title, id=0093949, title=Shahenshah
1988 films
1980s Hindi-language films
Indian vigilante films
Indian action films
Films about organised crime in India
Indian courtroom films
1988 action films
1980s vigilante films
Hindi-language action films