How Coolie fever gripped India 40 years ago, a hit Bachchan delivered a superhit

In December 1983, India witnessed a cinematic event unlike any before—the release of Amitabh Bachchan’s *Coolie*. Directed by Manmohan Desai, the film wasn’t just another Bollywood blockbuster; it became a cultural moment, an emotional rallying point for millions of fans. What set *Coolie* apart was not just its gripping storyline or Bachchan’s magnetic performance, but a tragic accident during filming that turned the nation’s attention toward the movie like never before.

Today, as Rajinikanth’s 2025 *Coolie* rakes in ₹119 crore in just two days, the frenzy inevitably draws parallels to the original. But Bachchan’s *Coolie* was more than a movie—it was a national spectacle, a collective prayer, and a testament to an actor’s unshakable stardom.

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The Accident That Shook the Nation

The defining moment of *Coolie* happened off-screen. On July 26, 1982, during the filming of a high-energy fight sequence in Bengaluru, Bachchan suffered a near-fatal injury. The scene, performed alongside Puneet Issar, required Bachchan to leap onto a table and roll off. But a misjudgment led to his abdomen slamming into the table’s edge with devastating force.

A Nation in Prayer

Bachchan was rushed to St. Philomena’s Hospital in critical condition. Internal bleeding put his life at risk, and for weeks, the country waited anxiously. Newspapers carried daily updates on his health, and fans across India organized prayer meetings. Temples, mosques, and churches saw devotees pleading for his recovery. Even Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited him in the hospital.

In his book *When Ardh Satya Met Himmatwala*, journalist Avijit Ghosh writes, *”For several weeks, Bachchan’s life hung by the thinnest of threads. India prayed.”* The accident transformed *Coolie* from a mere film into a symbol of resilience—Bachchan’s survival mirrored larger-than-life heroics he portrayed on screen.

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The Unstoppable Hype Before Release

Even before the cameras stopped rolling, *Coolie* was already a sensation. Distributors flooded producers with advances, anticipating a historic payday. Trade reports noted that the film’s distribution rights alone had crossed ₹3 crore—a staggering amount for 1983. The makers began sharing profits before the film even hit theaters.

When Bachchan finally recovered and filming resumed, anticipation reached fever pitch. Crowds gathered outside theaters weeks before the premiere, desperate for tickets. Box-office records were shattered, with *Coolie* becoming one of only 13 films at the time to cross ₹1