Amitabh Bachchan Slept on Marine Drive yet Turned Down Rs 10,000 Ads to Chase Stardom

October 11, 2024: Amitabh Bachchan Slept on Marine Drive, Rejected Rs 10,000 for Ads to Chase Stardom: ‘I Resisted the Temptation’

Amitabh Bachchan, one of the most iconic superstars in Indian cinema, has remained relevant across generations, constantly evolving with the times. However, in his early days, he was fiercely determined to stick to one goal: becoming an actor. In an interview with Vir Sanghvi, the megastar revealed that he once turned down a lucrative Rs 10,000 ad offer because he didn’t want anything to distract him from his acting ambitions. At that time, he was so strapped for cash that he slept on benches along Marine Drive, with only rats for company.

Bachchan moved to Mumbai in the late 1960s after working briefly in Kolkata for a British company. Despite being the son of renowned poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, he struggled financially when he first arrived in the city. Equipped with just a driving license and a dream, he was determined to make a name for himself as an actor. Modeling opportunities for advertisements soon came his way, and he was offered Rs 10,000—a considerable sum at the time, especially given that he was earning just Rs 50 a month doing radio spots. Yet, he declined the offer. “I felt doing an ad would take something away from me, and I resisted the temptation,” Bachchan recalled.

His resolve to avoid commercials softened decades later when his company, ABCL (Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Ltd), faced financial struggles in the late 1990s, prompting him to take up advertisements for the first time. But in the 1960s, his sole focus was on acting, even if it meant sacrificing comfort. Bachchan admitted that he was prepared to drive a cab if his acting career didn’t pan out. “I came to Bombay with a driving license, and that’s about it. I thought if I don’t become an actor, I will drive a cab,” he shared.

Finding shelter proved to be another challenge. Without a permanent place to stay and reluctant to overstay his welcome with friends, Bachchan spent a few nights sleeping on Marine Drive’s benches. “I didn’t have a place to stay. You can’t spend too much time at your friends’ places, so I ended up sleeping on the benches at Marine Drive with some of the largest rats I’ve ever seen,” he said.

Eventually, his perseverance paid off, and Bachchan’s acting talent was recognized. Soon, he began landing roles in films, leading him to become the “Shahenshah” of Indian cinema. His journey from sleeping on benches to becoming one of the biggest stars in Bollywood is a testament to his unwavering dedication to his craft.