Amitabh Bachchan, one of Hindi cinema's most celebrated actors, experienced a severe downturn in his career during the 1990s. Following the bankruptcy of his company, Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited (ABCL), the actor faced a staggering debt of Rs 90 crore and as many as 55 legal cases. In an interview, Bachchan described that his house was on the verge of being seized by banks and all his assets and properties were attached.

Bachchan revealed that the period was marked by hostility and humiliation, with people becoming "hostile, humiliating, and rude" towards him and his wife, Jaya Bachchan. He recounted the feeling of being written off, with everyone eager to bury him and declare his career over. Film offers dwindled, exacerbating his financial woes. Bachchan explained that creditors were at his door every day, which he found very embarrassing and humiliating.

According to reports, ABCL was valued at Rs. 60 crore but faced losses of Rs. 70 crore, along with an additional debt of Rs. 22 crore. Bachchan had even mortgaged his family home, Prateeksha. Mukul Dev was signed by ABCL for his debut film. However, due to the financial crisis, the film was shelved before its release, impacting Dev's career.

In his difficult times, filmmaker Yash Chopra offered him a role in the romantic drama Mohabbatein, which proved to be a turning point. The movie helped him regain his lost reputation. Further solidifying his comeback, Amitabh Bachchan took on the role of host for the television game show Kaun Banega Crorepati. The show's immense success provided him with much-needed financial stability and helped him to repay his debts.

Bachchan admitted that he had signed personal guarantees, making him personally liable for the debt. He explained that he was ill-advised and trusted assurances that nothing would go wrong, which ultimately led to his financial predicament. He also shared that a lot of the debt was with government institutions, banks, financial institutions, and personal loans.