Amitabh Bachchan’s performance in Shahenshah is one of the actor’s most famous roles. The 1998 film was a comeback for the actor, who played both a cop and a vigilante who hunts down criminals. His portrayal of the vigilante with grey hair and a steel sleeve became an instant classic. Recently, the actor responded to a Saudi Arabian fan who thanked him for the jacket. He also stated that he would let him know how he could retrieve it one day.
On Twitter, a Saudi Arabian fan wrote, “@SrBachchan To the legendary and one of the greatest actors of all time, you are an honour to India and the entire world. Thank you so much for the gift; it means a lot.” He also shared emojis of the Saudi and Indian flags with folded hands. Amitabh responded to him and shared, “T 4591 – My dear and most considerate friend .. I am so honoured that you have received the gift of the jacket with the steel arm that I wore in my film SHAHENSHAH .. some day I shall tell you how I was able to retrieve it .. my love to you …@Turki_alalshikh.” Fans on Twitter praised the veteran actor for his generous gift while others wished the ailing Amitabh get-well wishes. One fan shared, “It is generous of you to share but shouldn’t that jacket be part of museum. It is historical.”
Director Tinnu Anand revealed Amitabh’s professionalism on set, despite his illness, in an interview with Rediff. “When he was working on Shahenshah, he had a muscular disease,” he explained. Even so, he insisted on wearing the cumbersome costume (the arm alone weighed 18 kilos!). He insisted on wearing it during all fight scenes. I tried to give him a lighter uniform, but he refused, claiming that it changed his body language. His dedication is immense, and his professionalism is unrivalled.”