Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan: Icons who fearlessly fought their biggest career setbacks | – Times of India

Bollywood is a field of tough challenges and relentless perseverance. For newcomers, the path to success is fraught with obstacles – countless auditions, financial struggles, and the pressure to deliver on screen, as they anxiously await the all-important answer every Friday. This demanding cycle can bring stardom or heartbreak.
The industry often highlights the stories of delegates facing rejection, nepotism debates, and settlement disputes. However, trials do not end when one becomes an established star. Keeping the reputation in Bollywood is a whole different ball game. Whether it is the legendary Amitabh Bachchanthe iconic Khans, or the celebrated Kapoors, even the most prominent people face their significant difficulties.
All these established stars have failed and faced career-threatening moments. However, their journey is marked by resilience and determination. Amitabh Bachchan, for example, suffered bankruptcy and failed films, but made a remarkable comeback. Likewise, the Khans and Kapoors have tackled their own professional ups and downs, continuously evolving and reasserting their presence in the industry.
“They have done so much great work and have given so many great stories. So, even if one or two films flop, it doesn’t matter. Their fans are very strong and that’s why the body of work behind them is very strong. That’s why they don’t care if one or two films go in their lives,” opines film producer, Ramesh Taurani
What sets these stars apart is their ability to rise from the ashes of rejection and failure. Industry insiders and close aides often recount how these icons managed to overcome the lows, reinvent themselves and emerge stronger. Their stories reflect not just the glamor but the grit required to stay relevant in the ever-changing landscape of Bollywood. Here they are decoding their journey, told thoughtfully by industry insiders and close Bollywood aides.
“Even when his films didn’t work, Shah Rukh Khan paid all the money back”
In 2018, Shah Rukh Khan faced one of the most significant setbacks of his career with the film zero. Despite featuring lead actresses Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma, the film failed to attract audiences, proving to be a major flop for Khan. The failure of zero SRK is said to have left the biopic on Rakesh Sharma and pushed him into a period of contemplation.
A few cameos, and a pandemonium later, Shah Rukh Khan made a triumphant return in 2023. During the year SRK claimed his status as the ‘Badshah’, of Bollywood with a series of blockbusters: Patan, Jawan, sand dunesand a significant cameo in Tiger 3. It was a testament to his resilience and refusal to accept defeat.
Vivek Vaswani, who has known SRK since the 1990s, provides valuable insight into the actor’s fruitless mindset as he refuses to accept defeat. “First of all, it’s unpredictable; we are in times where any good and thoughtful businessman can understand, foresee, predict and plan accordingly. Shah Rukh Khan is a good and astute businessman, one of the best the industry has ever seen, and he plans with a deep vision.”
“Even during his flop period, the films may not have run, but nobody lost money. If he did, he paid them back and built trust and value for his company. Either you know how to do business or you don’t know how to do business. It has nothing to do with perseverance or any other abstract qualities like discipline, et cetera,” says the actor, who has lost touch with Shah Rukh Khan over the years.
“Salman’s fans keep it going despite the lows”
To appreciate the immense popularity of Salman Khan, one only has to visit his residence during Eid or his birthday. Outside the Galaxy Apartments, a large number of enthusiastic fans gather, hoping to catch a glimpse of their beloved star. However, despite this high regard, these same fans often fail to show up in theaters for his films.
Of late, Salman Khan has faced a series of disappointing results, both as an actor and as a producer. Movies like Notebook, Bharat, Tubelight, Radhe, Antim, and Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan have struggled to attract audiences. Despite the enthusiasm of their fans, these films did not fare well at the box office.

Filmmaker Ramesh Taurani, however, believes that this period of underperformance is just a temporary phase. He says, “Salman Khan is a big hero, a class hero. He has done all genres of movies be it romance, family drama, action or comedy. He is a complete actor and that is why he has a special fan following that has kept him going despite the low rank. He’s the biggest star in the country right now, so a few flops don’t matter.”
My personal bank balance was zero: Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan’s comeback story is one of the most inspiring in Bollywood. From being known as Bollywood’s ‘Angry Young Man’ to facing the biggest financial crunch and slowly clawing his way back, Big B has done it all with perseverance.
In the 1990s, Amitabh Bachchan entered one of the most challenging periods in his life. The decade was extremely turbulent for the Bachchan family as their company, AB Corporation, suffered huge financial losses leading to bankruptcy. In an interview with Vir Sanghvi, Bachchan revealed that he was facing a Rs 90 crore debut and creditors landed at his door almost every day, ‘which was very embarrassing and humiliating’.
Recalling the hardships, Big B had once shared, “There was a stage in my life when I went bankrupt. The company I built suffered losses, I was in debt, my personal bank balance was zero. My means of earning money were closed and the government raided my house.”

Despite his films not doing well, Amitabh Bachchan’s confidence never wavered. He has a lot of confidence, dedication and involvement. He struggled a lot in the beginning, he was very successful and after reaching heights he saw a big fall. But he put in so much hard work to pull it off. He is a Fighter and I always tell him, a fighter always wins. Even today he is spoiled for choice. It is part of the history of Indian cinema. He continues to work humbly even at this age, something he learned from the journey of ups and downs.
Big B’s ‘Mrityudaata’ director Mehul Kumar says, “Despite facing many challenges, Big B’s career was revived with the reality TV show Kaun Banega Crorepati in 2000. This opportunity was a turning point, which became a blessing in disguise. point for him, reviving his career and re-establishing his presence in the industry. To this day, Amitabh Bachchan continues to host the popular game show, which is synonymous with his name.”
This year, Amitabh Bachchan gave one of the biggest hits of 2024 and his career, shining among stars like Prabhas, Deepika Padukone and Kamal Haasan. “At his age, it’s about getting the right role in the right film. Just as Kalki worked, five others cannot announce a film with Bachchan. He has to make those strong characters in phenomenal films. This movie simply proves that he is and will continue to be the God of acting. He is the only person in his generation who has kept up with a changing world. He did not allow himself to be stagnant and that is why everyone agrees with him. He stayed in tune with the times and created a bond with every generation,” opines trade expert Komal Nahta.

I was disturbed and unhappy: Aamir Khan
The perfectionist, the man with the magic touch, Aamir Khan was also forced to throw in the towel. His last release ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’ went downhill so badly that Aamir was left feeling ‘irritated and angry’ alone. The film’s response was a blow to the actor, who was previously celebrated as a consistent winner. Reflecting on his career, Aamir admitted that he put too much emphasis on cinema at the expense of time with his family.
“About 2.5 years ago, I realized that I was so lost in my passion that I had not given enough time to my relationships. I was disturbed and unhappy. I would have left movies if not for my children. I was angry and I was irritated with him,” Aamir revealed during the Nuacht18 event.
Despite this change in focus, Aamir’s love for cinema is undiminished. He is already gearing up for his next project, which aims to deliver another Christmas blockbuster with Sitaare Zameen Par. His abiding passion for filmmaking means he can’t stay too far from the sets, even as he works to balance his professional and personal life.

These inspirational stories show one strong mindset – ‘Never Give Up’ and if you take a page or two from these stories you can spread a lot of positivity.