How Vipul Amrutlal Shah Got Amitabh Bachchan To Play The Villain In Aankhen Without A Script

Amitabh Bachchan played a rare negative role in Aankhen, but the way Vipul Amrutlal Shah got him on board is a story worth knowing.

By
Pranshu Awasthi
- May 15, 2025 | 6:45 PM IST
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All diehard movie buffs must have watched Vipul Amrutlal Shah’s 2002 heist thriller Aankhen. But are you aware of an interesting behind-the-scenes story about how the filmmaker got legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan on board as the film’s main villain, and that too without a script?

How Amitabh Bachchan Got On Board Without a Script

In a recent interview, Vipul Amrutlal Shah revealed that when he approached Amitabh Bachchan to narrate the story of Aankhen, he was asked to explain the film’s plot in fifteen minutes. Amitabh Bachchan liked the story and asked him for a full narration after three days at his home, Jalsa. But interestingly, Vipul Shah didn’t have a proper script then. So, he called his co-writer, Aatish Kapadia, and told him that they would have to write the whole script in three days so that Amitabh Bachchan could greenlight it. Finally, Amitabh Bachchan was signed, and the film eventually gained a cult following among cinephiles. You can watch the full interview here.

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Aankhen – Plot & Cast

Directed by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, the stylishly executed heist thriller was based on a Gujarati stage play. The film’s basic plot follows the story of a genius but eccentric banker, Vijay Singh Rajput (Amitabh Bachchan), who is unjustly fired from his bank and decides to take revenge. He shortlists three blind men and hires a school teacher to train them to execute an intricately planned bank robbery. The film also features Akshay Kumar, Arjun Rampal, Paresh Rawal, and Sushmita Sen in major roles.

Other Notable Films By Vipul Amrutlal Shah

After directing Aankhen, Vipul Amrutlal Shah donned the director’s hat for the family drama ‘Waqt: The Race Against Time’ starring Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Priyanka Chopra, and Shefali Shah, followed by the comedy drama ‘Namastey London’ starring Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif, ‘London Dreams’ starring Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn, and more recently ‘Namaste England’ starring Arjun Kapoor and Parineeti Chopra.

What’s Next for Vipul Amrutlal Shah?

The talented filmmaker is returning to the heist thriller genre as a director with a film titled Hisaab, which has Shefali Shah and Jaideep Ahlawat in the lead roles. While the plot details are being kept under wraps, the film is expected to be released in the second half of 2025.

Aankhen Trailer

You can watch the Aankhen trailer here:

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