Actor Amitabh Bachchan had once revealed that he ‘almost fell off the scooter’ that he was riding on seeing late actor Nutan cross the road. In an old interview in 2018, Amitabh also spoke about how Nutan would ’embarrass her colleagues with her punctuality’. He also recalled how she supported him during his ‘early years in the business’. Amitabh had said that having Nutan as his ‘leading lady was another miracle’ for the actor. (Also Read | When Rajesh Khanna said he ‘always envied’ Amitabh Bachchan after Deewar)
Amitabh and Nutan featured together for the first time in Sudhendu Roy’s Saudagar (1973). The film stars Nutan as Mahzubeen and Amitabh as Moti, in the leading roles. It also featured Trilok Kapoor, Padma Khanna, Murad, Leela Mishra, Dev Kishan, and Jugnu. The film was selected as India’s entry for the best foreign language film at the 46th Academy Awards, but did not receive a nomination.
In a 2018 interview with Filmfare, Amitabh had said, “A professional to the core, she would embarrass her colleagues with her punctuality and preparedness on the set. I did Saudagar with her and most of it was shot in a makeshift village at China Creek, miles out and off the road before the bridge was built on the creek. But for a 6 am shot, she was the first one to be there ready with make-up! A sensitive artiste, she gave me a lot of support during those early years in the business.”
He also recalled, “While still in the university in Delhi, I’d once seen her crossing the road with her husband (the late Captain Rajneesh Behl) in the very busy Connaught Place and almost fell off the scooter that I was riding! To have her as my leading lady was another miracle for me. Soft-spoken, she commanded respect the moment you were in her proximity. In the later years, she had begun performing on stage as a singer. At a function held near Delhi once, she was one of the participants where I had gone to make an appearance. Just before she went on stage, she asked me to walk along with her and present her to the audiences. It was a privileged and an honoured moment for me.”
Amitabh Bachchan will next be seen in Ayan Mukerji’s Brahmastra: Part One Shiva alongside Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Nagarjuna and Mouni Roy. The film is set to release on September 9. He also has Vikas Bahl’s Good Bye alongside Rashmika Mandanna, Neena Gupta, and Pavail Gulati in the pipeline. The film will release on October 7. He has also wrapped up his shoot for the upcoming project Uunchai starring Parineeti Chopra, Anupam Kher, and Boman Irani.