The narrative of Amitabh Bachchan's rise to superstardom is intertwined with the vision of a filmmaker who, in his early days, toiled for a meager Re 1 per day. This is the story of Prakash Mehra, the director who first recognized Bachchan's potential to embody the "angry young man" persona that would redefine Bollywood in the 1970s.

Before Zanjeer (1973), Bachchan was a struggling actor with a string of unsuccessful films. He had made his debut in Saat Hindustani (1969), even winning a National Award for Most Promising Newcomer, but recognition remained elusive. He played supporting roles, including one in Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Anand (1971), but the "big break" was still awaited.

Meanwhile, Prakash Mehra, who would become the architect of Bachchan's iconic image, was also navigating his path in the film industry. Details of Mehra's early career are sparse, but his perseverance eventually led him to conceive Zanjeer, a film centered around an angry police officer. The script, penned by the legendary writing duo Salim-Javed, was reportedly turned down by several leading actors of the time, including Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, and Rajesh Khanna. They were the top heroes and seemed hesitant to take on such a role.

Salim-Javed then suggested Amitabh Bachchan, an actor they believed possessed the intensity and charisma to bring the character to life. Mehra, despite initial reservations, agreed to cast Bachchan. This decision proved to be a turning point for both the actor and the director. According to Prakash Mehra, the term "angry young man" was coined by the press to describe the character he brought to life through Amitabh. He envisioned the character as someone with an inner conflict, suffocating within a flawed system and yearning to fight against it.

Zanjeer was a box office success, catapulting Amitabh Bachchan to stardom and establishing the "angry young man" as a cinematic archetype. This character resonated with a generation grappling with social and economic changes, reflecting their frustrations and aspirations. Bachchan's portrayal of Vijay in Zanjeer was a departure from the conventional romantic hero; he was flawed, intense, and unapologetically angry.

Following Zanjeer, Prakash Mehra and Amitabh Bachchan collaborated on several more films that further cemented the actor's "angry young man" image, including Deewar, Sholay, Trishul, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar and Laawaris. These films, often written by Salim-Javed, explored themes of social injustice, corruption, and the struggle of the common man against a system rigged against him.

Director Namrata Rao, who is known for her work on Kahaani (2012), recently directed a docuseries called Angry Young Men, which explores the story of Salim-Javed. Rao acknowledged Bachchan's pivotal contribution, stating, "Amitabh Bachchan was the third Angry Young Man...His inputs were very, very important".

While Amitabh Bachchan became the face of the "angry young man," the contributions of Salim-Javed in creating the character and Prakash Mehra in bringing it to life on screen are equally significant. Mehra's early struggles and his reported experience of working for just Re 1 per day highlight the dedication and perseverance that underpin many success stories in the film industry.