A resurfaced interview reveals Shatrughan Sinha's perspective on his strained relationship with Amitabh Bachchan, wherein he implies that Bachchan's rise to superstardom was significantly aided by roles initially offered to Sinha. According to Sinha, a series of pivotal film opportunities, which later became cornerstones of Bachchan's career, were first presented to him, which he had declined. Sinha mentioned his rifts with the star in an old interview and also in his memoir, Anything but Khamosh. Sinha claims he passed on iconic roles that defined Bachchan’s career.In an old chat with Reddif, Sinha alleges that roles in films such as ‘Sholay’ and ‘Deewar,’ now indelibly associated with Amitabh Bachchan, were originally intended for him. He suggests that his decision to reject these roles, due to his focus on establishing himself as a lead actor, inadvertently paved the way for Bachchan's ascent. "Amitabh’s role in [Ramesh Sippy’s] ‘Sholay’ was first offered to me," Sinha stated, adding, "Even Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar’s ‘Deewar’ was originally written for me." He indicates that these rejections, while intended to further his own career, ultimately benefited Bachchan's trajectory.Sinha addresses Bachchan's unwillingness to collaborate.

Further into the interview, Sinha suggests that as Bachchan's star rose, he became increasingly reluctant to work alongside him. He claims that even when they did collaborate, such as in ‘Naseeb’ and ‘Shaan,’ Bachchan was not enthusiastic about their joint projects. "I must say Amitabh did not want me to do these films," Sinha alleges. This sentiment paints a picture of a growing professional divide that, according to Sinha, directly impacted their personal relationship.

‘Kala Pathar,’ their last film togetherSinha identifies ‘Kaala Patthar’ as a particularly significant moment in their deteriorating friendship. He claims that Bachchan was strongly opposed to his casting in the film and that their interactions during the shoot were minimal. "I think Kaala Patthar was the last nail in the coffin of our friendship," Sinha stated. He suggests that the film's success, coupled with his subsequent performance in Dostana, led to Bachchan's decision to cease working with him altogether. This perspective frames Bachchan's career trajectory as one significantly shaped by roles initially intended for Sinha and their subsequent professional and personal estrangement as a result of this dynamic. Sinha also addressed the rifts between himself and Amitabh in his Memoir,