When Vinod Khanna denied to share screen with Amitabh Bachchan in this blockbuster

Amitabh Bachchan and Vinod Khanna were a duo which epitomised Bollywood's most iconic pairs during the '70s and '80s. Their collaboration in the Manmohan Desai-directed blockbuster Amar Akbar Anthony (1977) marked a milestone in Indian cinema. The film, an ensemble family drama, featured Amitabh, Vinod, and Rishi Kapoor alongside Neetu Singh, Praveen Babi, and Shabana Azmi.

Following Amar Akbar Anthony, their partnership flourished in several successful movies like Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Hera Pheri, Parvarish, and Khoon Pasina. However, amidst this success, there emerged a moment when Vinod Khanna declined an opportunity to work alongside Amitabh Bachchan.

Why Vinod Khanna refused to work with Amitabh Bachchan?

The declined project was Naseeb, envisioned by Manmohan Desai as a sequel to his iconic film. Initially aiming to recreate the magic of the Amar Akbar Anthony trio, Desai approached Vinod Khanna, who refused the film, leading to his replacement by Shatrughan Sinha.

Vinod Khanna's refusal stemmed from his contemplation of retiring from the film industry during the '80s. His decision was influenced by a desire to spend time at Osho Rajneesh's Ashram in Oregon, USA.

These actresses to denied to share screen with Big B

Apart from Vinod Khanna, actresses Neetu Singh and Praveen Babi also declined roles in Naseeb, derailing Desai's efforts to reunite the Amar Akbar Anthony team. Neetu opted to focus on her family, while Praveen was occupied with other commitments, leading to their replacements by Kim and Reena Roy, respectively.

The film Naseeb, despite these changes, made a significant impact upon its release on May 1, 1981. With a production budget of Rs 4 crores, it amassed a substantial box office collection of Rs 14 crores during its theatrical run. Furthermore, Naseeb was remade in Tamil as Sandhippu (1983) and in Telugu as "Trimurtulu" (1987).