The senior actress Sheeba Akashdeep Sabir, who is currently attracting attention for her recent roles in “Jigra” and “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani”, recently shared insights from her life and experiences in Bollywood. With a career spanning decades, she had the opportunity to work with some of the biggest names of B-Town and witness significant transformations within the industry.
In an interview, Sheeba revealed an interesting anecdote involving two Bollywood legends, Sunil Dutt and Amitabh Bachchan. She recalled how, back in 1971, Sunil Dutt cast Amitabh in a mute role for “Reshma Aur Shera”, citing a dislike for Big B’s now-iconic baritone voice.
Sunil Dutt initially felt that Amitabh’s voice resembled that of a radio jockey, something he believed wasn’t suited for an actor at the time. However, this unique vocal quality later became one of Amitabh Bachchan’s most celebrated characteristics, marking his rise as a Bollywood icon.
Sheeba shared another anecdote involving her father-in-law Manmohan Sabir, producer of Amitabh’s debut film “Saat Hindustani”. Manmohan, like Sunil Dutt, was struck by Amitabh’s booming voice, which he initially found unusual for an actor. Sheeba humorously recalled that her father-in-law used to say that a hero used to visit their house and sit at his feet and he used to find his voice strange as it echoed. Over time, this very voice became inseparable from Amitabh’s enduring presence in Bollywood.
Sheeba also discussed her career trajectory, particularly the notion of a “comeback”. She clarified that she never left the industry entirely. She said that the concept of comeback doesn’t apply to her as she continued working in movies even after her marriage such as “Ghaath” and “Dum”. In recent years, she has made notable appearances in popular movies, most recently in “Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahaani”.
While Sheeba stays active in acting, Amitabh Bachchan is currently hosting Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 16. He was recently seen alongside superstar Rajinikanth in “Vettaiyan”, continuing his legendary presence in the industry.
