'Zanjeer' turns 40, Big B thanks everyone

Four decades ago when "Zanjeer" came, it not only rocked the box office, but also changed lead actor Amitabh Bachchan's fortunes in films and even won him the tag of Angry Young Man. On completion of 40 years of the film, Big B is ecstatic and thanks every one.

Released May 11, 1973, the movie starred Big B as police officer Vijay. It was his first blockbuster after a string of flops and after the Prakash Mehra-directed action-revenge thriller, there was no looking back for him.

"'Zanjeer' 40 years of release. Goodness... an entire lifetime, an entire change of my world... (writer duo) Salim-Javed, Prakash ji, thank you," Big B posted on Twitter.

Before "Zanjeer", Amitabh grabbed attention with the 1971 hit "Anand", but it was after "Zanjeer" that he became a star to reckon with and gave hit after hit like "Abhimaan", "Deewaar", "Sholay", "Mili", "Namak Haram", and "Chupke Chupke".

"Zanjeer" also starred Jaya Bachchan, Om Prakash, Bindu and Ajit and a nostalgic Big B wrote: "I know I repeat the 40 years of 'Zanjeer' ... but it just does not leave the system."

Now Prakash Mehra's son Amit is producing the remake of 1973 classic, which is being directed by Apoorva Lakhia. Southern actor Ram Charan Teja has stepped into Big B's shoes. The new version also stars Priyanka Chopra and Sanjay Dutt.