Veteran actor Biswajit Chatterjee, a stalwart of Hindi cinema who shared screen space with legends like Dilip Kumar and Raaj Kumar, has opened up about a fascinating piece of Bollywood history. In a recent conversation, the 60s romantic icon revealed that he was the original owner of the title ‘Rocky.’ He had initially planned to produce and direct a film with that name featuring Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha, but the project was eventually shelved.
When Sunil Dutt was preparing to launch his son Sanjay Dutt in the industry, he approached Biswajit to request the title. Sharing the story behind the generous gesture, Biswajit explained that his deep, familial bond with Sunil Dutt and Nargis made the decision an easy one. Recalling the interaction, he shared that Sunil Dutt felt the title perfectly suited Sanju Baba. Without a moment’s hesitation, Biswajit handed over the rights, flatly refusing any payment despite Sunil Dutt’s insistence on compensating him for the gesture.
Released in 1981, ‘Rocky’ went on to become a landmark romantic action film, marking Sanjay Dutt’s grand entry into Bollywood alongside a stellar cast including Tina Munim, Reena Roy, and Amjad Khan. Biswajit fondly remembered the emotional weight attached to the film’s release, noting that Sanjay’s mother, Nargis Dutt, sadly passed away due to cancer before she could witness her son’s debut on the big screen. Having charmed audiences in classics like ‘Bees Saal Baad’ and ‘Kohraa,’ Biswajit remains a passionate cinephile who still makes it a point to head to the theatres to catch the latest releases.