Amitabh Bachchan’s reputation for discipline and sincerity has long been echoed by those who have worked closely with him. Adding another personal anecdote to that legacy, veteran actor Ranjeet recently reflected on Bachchan’s habits during the early years of his career, recalling how deeply rooted the superstar was in routine, family values, and preparation.Speaking to Alpha Neon Studioz, Ranjeet went back to the time they first worked together on Reshma Aur Shera, only the second film of Amitabh’s career after Saat Hindustani. The two shared living space during the shoot, which gave Ranjeet a close look at the young actor’s daily life. “We worked for the first time in ‘Reshma Aur Shera’. That was his second film. He had earlier worked in ‘Saat Hindustani’. I was in the same tent as him, with two more people. He used to write something every night and recite prayers in the morning,” he said.
Curious about Bachchan’s nightly routine, Ranjeet eventually asked him about it. The answer, he recalled, reflected the actor’s grounding and discipline even before stardom arrived. “One day, I asked him what he writes at night, he shared that ‘I write letters to my parents everyday and read Gita in the morning.’ That was his daily routine.”The conversation then shifted to a much later phase of their careers, particularly a memorable comic moment from ‘Namak Halaal’. The host brought up the iconic scene where Amitabh’s character attempts to speak English while applying for a job, delivering the now-famous line, ‘Bhairon becomes Baron and Baron becomes Bhairon because their minds are very narrow…’ Ranjeet revealed that despite the effortless humour on screen, the scene was the result of intense preparation.Recalling the shoot, Ranjeet explained how committed actors were in that era, often refusing to compromise on performance. “Every actor used to get involved in the scene during that time, they were obsessed. Shooting happened on the first day and if you have seen the film, I was wearing a wig in that scene. But, when the second shot was completed, there’s no wig, I only wore it while entering,” he shared.What followed, according to Ranjeet, perfectly summed up Bachchan’s work ethic. “We started shooting and he went to his makeup room after a while. Then, we got the news that the shoot has been packed up for the day. He actually said that he will memorise this properly and do it tomorrow. He came the next day and the first shot was okay, there was no cut. This is the kind of work that used to happen.”Over the years, Ranjeet and Amitabh Bachchan have collaborated on several popular films, including ‘Muqaddar Ka Sikandar’, ‘Namak Halaal’, ‘Laawaris’, ‘Suhaag’, and ‘Yaarana’. The actor’s recollections offer a glimpse into not just Bachchan’s professionalism, but also the quiet discipline that shaped one of Indian cinema’s most enduring legends.
