Sanjeev Kumar Demanded Higher Fees Than Amitabh Bachchan for 'Trishul' Role

In a recent interview, veteran journalist and author Hanif Zaveri, who has penned a biography on legendary actor Sanjeev Kumar, revealed some fascinating insights about the actor's career. Accompanied by Sanjeev Kumar's niece Jigna Shah, Zaveri shared that Kumar had demanded a higher fee than Amitabh Bachchan for the 1978 film 'Trishul', in which he played Bachchan's father.

According to Jigna Shah, Kumar charged ₹12 lakh for the role, while Bachchan was earning ₹9 lakh at the time. When informed that he was asking for more than the lead actor, Kumar reportedly said, "usko bhi toh Amitabh Bachchan ka baap chahiye aur mujhse badaa baap iss industry mein koi nai hai" (He also needs a father, and there is no bigger father figure in the industry than me).

Zaveri also shared that Kumar loved the three-piece suits he wore in 'Trishul' so much that he asked for the cost of the suits to be deducted from his fees. However, the producer, Gulshan Rai, simply presented the suits to him.

The interview also revealed that Sanjeev Kumar had suffered a heart attack at the young age of 38. Interestingly, he did not want to marry, as he sensed that he might not live long and did not want to spoil someone's life.

Sanjeev Kumar was known for his versatility and is still remembered for his iconic performances in films like 'Pati Patni Aur Woh', 'Sholay', 'Angoor', 'Trishul', and 'Seeta Aur Geeta', among many others.