Abhishek Bachchan, a well-known name in the film industry today, once struggled to find success in his cinematic journey. He made his debut in 2000 with JP Dutta’s film “Refugee,” which performed averagely at the box office. Despite his talent, Abhishek faced a string of failures, with a total of 11 of his films flopping before he finally tasted success.
It wasn’t until four years into his career that Abhishek achieved his first major hit. By that time, he had already showcased his acting skills in 13 films, with 11 classified as flops and two doing average business. The turning point came with the blockbuster film “Dhoom,” which not only marked a significant turnaround in Abhishek’s career but also elevated co-stars Uday Chopra and John Abraham, who had also faced their share of setbacks.
The Connection Between ‘Dhoom’ and Amitabh Bachchan
“Dhoom” is an action-thriller film produced by Yash Raj Films (YRF) that featured Abhishek as a police officer striving to catch a clever thief, played by John Abraham. Released on August 27, 2004, the film completed 20 years recently. Interestingly, it has a special connection to Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek’s father.
Inspiration From ‘Kaala Patthar’
Aditya Chopra, the producer of “Dhoom,” was inspired by Amitabh’s film “Kaala Patthar,” which was released in 1979. This film, produced by Yash Chopra and co-written by the iconic duo Salim-Javed, was also an action-thriller with a different storyline. Aditya had watched this film during his youth and felt inspired by its elements.
Musical Influence
One key moment that sparked the idea for “Dhoom” was a particular song from “Kaala Patthar.” The memorable track “Dhoom Mache Dhoom” resonated with Aditya and led him to develop the concept of “Dhoom.” The theme of the original song was creatively reimagined in “Dhoom’s” title track, “Dhoom Machale.” The film was made on a budget of approximately 11 crores and went on to gross 50 crores worldwide, earning the title of a superhit.
Abhishek Bachchan’s Filmography Before ‘Dhoom’
Before venturing into “Dhoom,” here are the 13 films that Abhishek Bachchan featured in:
| Year | Film Title |
|---|---|
| 2000 | Refugee |
| 2000 | Tera Jadoo Chal Gayaa |
| 2000 | Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke |
| 2001 | Bas Itna Sa Khwab Hai |
| 2002 | Haath Mein Haath Dalo |
| 2002 | Om Jai Jagdish |
| 2003 | Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon |
| 2003 | Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost |
| 2003 | Kuchh Nahin Kaho |
| 2003 | Zameen |
| 2003 | LOC Kargil |
| 2004 | Run |
| 2004 | Yuva |
Success Following ‘Dhoom’
Prior to “Dhoom,” only “Refugee” and “Zameen” were considered average, while the remaining films were labeled flops. Following the success of “Dhoom,” two sequels were released, one in 2006 and another in 2013, with Abhishek featured in all parts alongside Uday Chopra. Notably, the villains changed with each installment—John Abraham in the first, Hrithik Roshan in the second, and Aamir Khan in the third, showcasing a brilliant array of talent and storytelling.
