Amitabh Bachchan and Kishore Kumar are two names that have become inseparable in the memory of Indian cinema lovers. The voices of Kishore Kumar in songs like “Yeh Dosti Hum Nahi Todenge,” “Khaike Paan Banaraswala,” and “Rim Jhim Gire Sawan” were not just hits—they defined eras. These iconic songs were picturised on Amitabh Bachchan and became a key part of his larger-than-life screen persona. Over the years, fans have often wished that the two would have collaborated not just musically but also on-screen as actors. That collaboration, however, never happened.
Kishore Kumar’s Wish to Act with Bachchan
As per the Indian Express, veteran lyricist Sameer has shared an interesting anecdote that revealed Kishore Kumar had himself expressed a desire to act with Amitabh Bachchan. After a recording session, Kishore reportedly said to Amitabh, “Amit, maine tujhe se kabhi koi baat nahi ki… par mere ek mann hai… main chahta hoon ki… maine sabko acting karte huye dekha hai… magar jab tujhe acting karte huye dekhta hoon… maine toh dekh acting chod di hai… par tujhe actor bante huye dekh… mujhe laga ki mujhe tere saath ek picture karni hai… tu mere saath ek picture karega.”
This was a rare moment where the legendary singer revealed his admiration for Amitabh’s acting, saying that watching him brought back his own desire to act again, despite having left that part of his career behind.
A Humble Refusal from the Superstar
According to Sameer, Amitabh Bachchan was visibly moved by the request but responded with folded hands, saying, “Dada, main hi ek bacha tha kya barbaad hone ke liye?” Kishore Kumar, surprised by the reaction, asked, “Arey tu kya bol raha hai? Barbaad matlab kyun?” Amitabh clarified, “Dada, main aapke saath 100 janam tak kaam nahi kar sakta… aap jo singing mein acting karte ho… woh mujhe expressions dene mein jaan nikal jaati hai… aapke jaise actor doosra paida nahi ho sakta… 500 Amitabh Bachchan aapke saamne kuch nahi hai… main aapke saath kaam nahi kar sakta.”
His words reflected not rejection, but deep reverence. For Amitabh, Kishore was an unmatched performer—an artist whose expressions through singing surpassed even the best on-screen performances.
Kishore Kumar: More Than a Singer
Amitabh Bachchan has spoken about Kishore Kumar in glowing terms over the years. In a resurfaced video, the actor shared his reflections on the multifaceted genius of the singer. He said, “Kishore Da ke bare mein kehna ya charcha karna bahut waqt lega. Kyun ki unke bare mein jo kuch kehna hai woh itna jyada hai, ki samay bahut chota hai.”
He went on to note that Kishore Kumar’s talents extended far beyond playback singing: “Kishore da ne playback singing, mere khayal mein, baad mein socha. Kyun ki, unke andar ek jo director tha, ek kalakar ka jo gunn tha, mere khayal se woh playback singer se kahin jyada tha aur kahin jyada jagrit tha.”
Amitabh reflected that playback singing seemed to have started accidentally for Kishore, despite his remarkable work for actors like Dev Anand and Rajesh Khanna. Still, what stood out most to him was Kishore’s human side: “Unke hridaye ke andar, ek insaniyat thi,” he said, pointing out that regardless of how busy or troubled he was, Kishore always remained deeply humane.
Despite never appearing together as co-actors, the partnership between Kishore Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan remains etched in cinematic history. Their collaborations through songa brought out the best in each other, creating timeless pieces of art. As Amitabh himself acknowledged, the singer’s voice helped preserve his presence in the hearts of the audience across generations.
Kishore Kumar’s Wish to Act with Bachchan
As per the Indian Express, veteran lyricist Sameer has shared an interesting anecdote that revealed Kishore Kumar had himself expressed a desire to act with Amitabh Bachchan. After a recording session, Kishore reportedly said to Amitabh, “Amit, maine tujhe se kabhi koi baat nahi ki… par mere ek mann hai… main chahta hoon ki… maine sabko acting karte huye dekha hai… magar jab tujhe acting karte huye dekhta hoon… maine toh dekh acting chod di hai… par tujhe actor bante huye dekh… mujhe laga ki mujhe tere saath ek picture karni hai… tu mere saath ek picture karega.”
This was a rare moment where the legendary singer revealed his admiration for Amitabh’s acting, saying that watching him brought back his own desire to act again, despite having left that part of his career behind.
A Humble Refusal from the Superstar
According to Sameer, Amitabh Bachchan was visibly moved by the request but responded with folded hands, saying, “Dada, main hi ek bacha tha kya barbaad hone ke liye?” Kishore Kumar, surprised by the reaction, asked, “Arey tu kya bol raha hai? Barbaad matlab kyun?” Amitabh clarified, “Dada, main aapke saath 100 janam tak kaam nahi kar sakta… aap jo singing mein acting karte ho… woh mujhe expressions dene mein jaan nikal jaati hai… aapke jaise actor doosra paida nahi ho sakta… 500 Amitabh Bachchan aapke saamne kuch nahi hai… main aapke saath kaam nahi kar sakta.”
His words reflected not rejection, but deep reverence. For Amitabh, Kishore was an unmatched performer—an artist whose expressions through singing surpassed even the best on-screen performances.
Kishore Kumar: More Than a Singer
Amitabh Bachchan has spoken about Kishore Kumar in glowing terms over the years. In a resurfaced video, the actor shared his reflections on the multifaceted genius of the singer. He said, “Kishore Da ke bare mein kehna ya charcha karna bahut waqt lega. Kyun ki unke bare mein jo kuch kehna hai woh itna jyada hai, ki samay bahut chota hai.”
He went on to note that Kishore Kumar’s talents extended far beyond playback singing: “Kishore da ne playback singing, mere khayal mein, baad mein socha. Kyun ki, unke andar ek jo director tha, ek kalakar ka jo gunn tha, mere khayal se woh playback singer se kahin jyada tha aur kahin jyada jagrit tha.”
Amitabh Bachchan on Kishore Kumar @SrBachchan #KishoreKumar
— Moses Sapir (@MosesSapir) August 3, 2024
pic.twitter.com/0eHBDor7b2
Amitabh reflected that playback singing seemed to have started accidentally for Kishore, despite his remarkable work for actors like Dev Anand and Rajesh Khanna. Still, what stood out most to him was Kishore’s human side: “Unke hridaye ke andar, ek insaniyat thi,” he said, pointing out that regardless of how busy or troubled he was, Kishore always remained deeply humane.
Despite never appearing together as co-actors, the partnership between Kishore Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan remains etched in cinematic history. Their collaborations through songa brought out the best in each other, creating timeless pieces of art. As Amitabh himself acknowledged, the singer’s voice helped preserve his presence in the hearts of the audience across generations.
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