Shaad Ali, the director of the hit film Bunty Aur Babli, has recently shared anecdotes about working with Amitabh Bachchan on the project. Released in 2005, the movie starred Abhishek Bachchan and Rani Mukerji as the titular con artists, with Amitabh Bachchan playing the determined cop trying to catch them.

In a recent interview, Shaad Ali recalled an interesting incident involving Amitabh Bachchan and a scene where his character was required to smoke. According to Ali, Bachchan, who wasn't a habitual smoker, was reluctant to do the scene. The director had to convince him, emphasizing the importance of the scene for the character's portrayal.

Bunty Aur Babli marked the first time Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan shared screen space. The film was a commercial success, and their dynamic was well-received by audiences. The movie also featured Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in a special appearance in the song "Kajra Re," which became a massive hit.

Beyond the smoking incident, Shaad Ali has also spoken about other aspects of working with Amitabh Bachchan. He recounted how initially, the veteran actor was unsure about the song "Kajra Re" and even suggested not shooting it. However, Ali stood his ground, believing in the song's potential. Eventually, "Kajra Re" became one of the most iconic songs in Bollywood history, and Amitabh Bachchan later admitted he had been wrong about it.

Ali also revealed that Hrithik Roshan was the first choice for the role of Bunty. However, Hrithik wasn't comfortable playing a character from a small town. Despite not starring in the film, Hrithik contributed ideas to the script, including the suggestion that Bunty and Babli should return to conning in the end, as it was like they were "superman" and could not adjust to a normal life.

Bunty Aur Babli was a significant film for several reasons. It was a casting coup, bringing Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan together for the first time. The film's music, especially "Kajra Re," was a major highlight. The movie's success also cemented Shaad Ali's position as a prominent director in Bollywood.