Filmmaker JP Dutta launched Abhishek Bachchan in Hindi cinema with Refugee in 2000. Bachchan has since worked with Dutta in two other films — LOC: Kargil (2003) and Umrao Jaan (2006). Dutta returns to the big screen after 12 years with Paltan, another war film.
The filmmaker had roped in Bachchan to play one of the protagonists in the multi-starrer. However, 25 hours before the film was to go on floors, he opted out. The reasons of his decision to quit the project was not made public. Actor Harshvardhan Rane was brought in to fill Bachchan's place.
While promoting his next film, Anurag Kashyap's Manmarziyaan, Bachchan was asked what led to him walking out of Paltan and the actor cited personal reasons.
“I was obviously doing Paltan and for personal reasons, I had to bow out of the film. It was devastating for me because it’s JP saab. He didn’t only launch me but he has been like a mentor, a family to me,” Bachchan told IndianExpress.com.
“He is somebody I love immensely and I really wanted to be there for him especially when he was going on this journey because he was making a film after so long. But it was heartbreaking for me to not be able to stand by him during the making of the film,” Bachchan added.
Early in August, at the trailer launch of Paltan, JP Dutta was asked about Bachchan's move, the filmmaker said he was clueless and instead asked the media to ask the Bachchans.
Paltan is set to be released on 7 September, while Bachchan’s Manmarziyaan arrives a week later 14 September.