The man Amitabh Bachchan called godfather: How Mehmood and Big B’s relationship soured

Mehmood received 25 Filmfare nominations for his work in Bollywood, out of which he won five. Here he is seen with comedian Polson. (Photo: Express Archive)

Mehmood was also instrumental in helping other actors pave their way to glory, the most prominent being, his then-protege, Amitabh Bachchan.

He foresaw a shining future for Amitabh Bachchan, perhaps before anyone else did. Calling himself Bachchan’s ‘second father, as the one who taught him how to make money’, he often said that he helped Bachchan on his path to success, and even let him stay at his place during his struggling days. He got him the leading role in Bombay To Goa, a film which got him noticed by the iconic duo Salim-Javed, and that landed Bachchan with Zanjeer (1973), a turning point in his career.

During his lifetime, Mehmood worked in over 300 Hindi feature films. (Photo: Express Archive)

Ameen Sayani, the radio broadcaster, once asked him about his horses. “The fastest horse is Amitabh,” Mehmood replied. “The day he picks up speed he will leave everyone behind.”

Yet, the affection soured in years to come and he would express his bitterness with Bachchan in interviews. Bachchan, on the other hand, kept a dignified silence. Yet, Mehmood always wished him well and hoped that he scaled greater heights. In July 2004, after Mehmood’s demise, Bachchan remembered his kindness and large-heartedness in his blog. “He always helped in establishing myself as an actor. Mehmood Bhai was one of the helpers in the graph early in my career. He was the first producer who gave me the lead role – in ‘Bombay to Goa’. After several consecutive flops, I made a plan to go back home, then Mehmood Sahab’s brother Anwar stopped me,” he wrote.

Film star Mehmood and Nanda in Gumnaam. (Express archive photo)

While acknowledging that Amitabh Bachchan had great respect for him, Mehmood was perturbed by Bachchan’s actions. “A man who has success, has two fathers—the biological father, and the one who taught him to make money. The biological one is Bachchan saab of course, and the one who taught him, is me, who gave him a place to stay, and got him films. He respects me a lot, if he is sitting and he would hear my voice, he would instantly get up.”

He continued, “Although Amit respects me a lot, one of his actions shocked me a bit. When his father Harivansh Rai Bachchan fell, I went to Amitabh Bachchan’s house to see him, but when I had bypass surgery, Amitabh came to Breach Candy Hospital with his father but he did not come to see me. Amitabh proved there that the real father is real while the fake father is fake. He didn’t even meet me, wish me, or send me a get-well soon card, a small flower, even though he knew I was in this hospital. I forgave him and didn’t wish him ill. I hope he doesn’t do this with anyone else.”

Mehmood passed away in 2004, in Pennsylvania, leaving behind an unmatched legacy of comedy.