Veteran actor Puneet Issar has shared insights into the challenging period of his professional life that followed the infamous 1982 accident on the sets of the film 'Coolie'. During a fight sequence in Bengaluru, a mistimed punch by Issar left megastar Amitabh Bachchan critically injured. The incident required Bachchan to undergo multiple surgeries and prolonged medical treatment at Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital, where he was reportedly in a critical, coma-like state for an extended period.
Reflecting on the aftermath, Issar revealed that the incident caused his career to hit a significant roadblock. For six years, he struggled to find consistent work and was widely identified by the public as the man responsible for the accident. Despite maintaining that the incident was entirely unintentional, Issar explained that the public perception, coupled with his reputation as a trained martial artist, led to assumptions that made filmmakers wary of casting him.
"I didn’t get work for six years after that, but I became world famous. People started knowing me as the man who almost killed Amitabh Bachchan," Issar said. He noted that he was dropped from several projects during this time and found himself having to accept roles he had not originally envisioned to support his family. According to the actor, his background as a gold medalist from an actor’s studio and his academic credentials in language and diction were overshadowed by his new reputation as a "fighter."
The impact of the incident was profound, effectively sidelining a young actor who had initially been signed for several significant villain roles. Issar noted that he felt forced to adapt to the industry's changing perception of him, even as he learned to navigate the personal and professional strain of being unfairly villainized for a freak occurrence on a movie set.
A turning point finally arrived with the production of BR Chopra's iconic television series, 'Mahabharat'. While the makers had originally envisioned Issar for the role of Bheem, the actor insisted on auditioning for the character of Duryodhan. His portrayal of the antagonist became a defining role in his career and helped reshape his professional trajectory, allowing him to transition away from the limitations he faced in the years following the 'Coolie' incident.
Amitabh Bachchan has also previously recounted the severity of the 1982 accident in his personal blog. He described a harrowing experience at Breach Candy Hospital, where he was clinically dead for several minutes. According to Bachchan, it was only through the emergency intervention of his doctor, who administered nearly 40 adrenaline injections, that he was successfully revived.
Looking back at the trajectory of his career, Issar maintains a philosophical outlook. He suggests that the trials he endured taught him patience and humility, despite the intense professional adversity he encountered. By successfully reinventing himself through the role of Duryodhan, Issar managed to emerge from a dark chapter in Indian cinema history, proving his versatility and resilience in an industry that had once shunned him.
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