Veteran actor Sachin Pilgaonkar recently recalled working with Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan in the 1982 film ‘Satte Pe Satta’. Pilgaonkar shared several lesser-known aspects of Bachchan’s personality.
Sachin Pilgaonkar on his equation with Amitabh Bachchan
Pilgaonkar shared that while he and Bachchan shared great professional chemistry, they weren’t particularly close friends. “Our timing was great. We weren’t the best of friends, Bachchan sahab keeps distance. It is his nature, nothing against him. One should be like that too. So one cannot become friends with him,” Pilgaonkar said in an interview with Radio Nasha.
Pilgaonkar praised Amitabh Bachchan's unfailing respect for everyone, regardless of their age or status. “He respects elders for sure, but he also gives full respect to people younger than him too. If he is sitting for a shoot, and if I go to meet him, he will stand up, shake hands and greet people. This is his sanskaar,” Pilgaonkar shared, noting that Bachchan’s humble approach left a lasting impression on him.
When Big B used to party after the shoot
Recalling the light-hearted moments on the set of 'Satte Pe Satta', Pilgaonkar described a lively atmosphere where the cast had plenty of fun. “It felt like we were on a picnic. We were all such waahiyad log (mischievous people), and the only well-behaved person on set was Amitabh Bachchan,” he said with a smile.
One of Pilgaonkar’s fondest memories involved the film’s shooting schedule in Kashmir. Despite staying at the luxurious Oberoi Palace Hotel with his wife Jaya Bachchan and their children, Amitabh would frequently leave his plush accommodations to join his co-stars at the more modest Broadway hotel.
“Every day after pack-up, Amit ji would sit in his car and come to Broadway to party with us,” Pilgaonkar recalled. “Jaya ji would be wondering where he was and why he hadn’t come back to the hotel. Since there were no mobile phones then, Amit ji would tell us, ‘Call Jaya ji and tell her I’m here,’” he added, recounting how Bachchan would spend hours with the cast, staying up till 1-2 am chatting and enjoying their company.
‘Satte Pe Satta’ is a tale of seven brothers navigating chaos, love, and family. Directed by Raj N. Sippy, the film starred Hema Malini, Amjad Khan, and Ranjeeta Kaur, alongside Bachchan.