Bhubaneswar: The Hindi language action drama Main Balwaan was released on Nov 28, 1986, 38 years ago. Agneepath director Mukul S. Anand is the director of the film. The film’s lead star cast has been Dharmendra, Mithun Chakraborty, Meenakshi Sheshadri, Utpal Dutt, Rita Bhaduri, Suresh Oberoi and Raza Murad.
This was one of the most awaited films of 1986 as Mithun was at the peak of his career and its songs 'Pehle Rock 'N' Roll', sung by Kishore Kumar and 'No Entry' sung by Kishore Kumar and Nazia Hassan were a rage back then.
The Mithun – Meenakshi starred film grossed Rs 12 crore worldwide when released. The movie went on to become one of the highest earning Hindi films of 1986 but was less successful in India. Trade pundits rated this film’s box office collection in India as average. Overall, the film was 4th highest grossing movie of the year 1986.
WHY FILM TURNED AVERAGE IN INDIA, BLOCKBUSTER WORLDWIDE?
As per the buzz then, Producer Pranlal Mehta blamed Mukul Anand for a disjointed production that lacked emotions. After this fiasco, He-man star Dharmendra did not work with Mukul Anand again.
Mukul Anand and the producers had several arguments over the budget of the film. Producers put the blame of hefty budget (2.25cr) of the film at Mukul Ananad’s door.
MUKUL ANAND'S TURN OF EVENTS
Mukul S Anand’s first directorial debut has been Kanoon Kya Karega (1984), followed by Aitbaar in1985. Mukul’s differences with Dharmendra brewed during the shooting of Sultanate and precipitated after Main Balwaan. Both films were released in the same year in 1986.
With Dharmendra refusing to work again with Anand, Mukul’s fortune was at peril when many more actors refuse to work with him.
However, he got a lifeline when his film Insaaf became Vinod Khanna's comeback film in 1987. The film turned a big hit. No looking back then for Mukul Anand. He also made 3 Amitabh Bachchan starrer films Agneepath 1990, Hum 1991 and Khuda Gawah 1992.
MAIN BALWAN SONG IN JADUGAR
The 1986 chartbuster songs of this film were penned by Anjan. He had penned 6 songs but only 4 of it could find a place in the film. His one song "Padosi Apni Murgi rakh Sambhal…" that was on the LP records of Main Balwan, and was released, found missing when the film was released. Three years later the same lyrics were used in a song in the film Jaadugar where Amitabh Bachchan played the lead role and Prakash Mehera was the director. The song became a big hit then.
ANIL KAPOOR – JACKIE SHROFF – MITHUN CHAKRABORTY TANGO?
The big buzz then doing round was Mukul Anand wanted Jackie Shroff for the second lead. He wanted to cast Jackie Dada in Dharmendra’s role. Media reports then suggested that when Anil Kapoor heard of this, he dissuaded Jackie from doing the film. Both of them were busy in shooting of Subhas Ghai directed film Karma.
The big controversy that media reported then was Anil Kapoor dissuaded Jackie from doing the film but asked Mukul Anand if he himself could do the role.
As the controversy swirled bigger then, Anil Kapoor gave a clarification to media. He refuted the allegations but stated that Mukul Anand had offered him the film. But he refused it.
Even as the truth remained unknown till date, the fact is Mukul S Anand then vowed not to work with Anil Kapoor in any movie.
However, fate had the last smile, when due to Sanjay Dutt languishing in Jail following the 1993 Bomb blast case, to complete his film Trimurti in 1995, Mukul picked Anil Kapoor for Sanjay Dutt’s role. The film had other lead stars as Jackie Shroff and Shahrukh Khan.
