Amitabh Faced Taunts Over His Height

Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan has revealed that his early years in the film industry were far from easy. He faced harsh criticism over his acting and was even mocked for being too tall, with one incident reportedly ending with him being asked to leave a shooting set.

Speaking at a recent sports-themed event, Amitabh recalled several experiences from the early stages of his career.

Asked whether actors receive the same kind of criticism from directors that athletes get from coaches, Amitabh smiled and admitted that he was often reprimanded in his early days.

“I was scolded a lot. In the beginning, I received plenty of criticism. They would say, ‘You don’t know anything, you can’t act. You’re too tall, go home,’” he recalled.

He also remembered an incident when he arrived late for a shoot. Since he did not have his own car at the time, he travelled to the set in someone else’s vehicle. By the time he arrived, the director had already wrapped up the shoot and told him to leave.

Despite those difficult experiences, Amitabh believes the criticism helped shape him as an actor. He said the strict feedback and guidance from directors gradually helped him improve his dialogue delivery, presentation and overall acting.

Decades later, Amitabh is regarded as one of the most influential actors in Indian cinema. He will next be seen in the sequel to ‘Kalki 2898 AD’, alongside Prabhas and Kamal Haasan. His portrayal of Ashwatthama in the first film received widespread praise.