In the world of Indian cinema, there are few actors as iconic and influential as Amitabh Bachchan and Rajinikanth. While Bachchan has long been hailed as the “Angry Young Man” of Bollywood, Rajinikanth has carved his own niche as a superstar down south. Interestingly, there have been several instances where Rajinikanth stepped into Bachchan’s shoes, starring in remakes of his films that played a pivotal role in skyrocketing his superstardom.
Here are the 10 listed below were Rajnikanth movies that were remakes of films that had Amitabh Bachchan in the lead role:
Deewar To Don: 10 Amitabh Bachchan Remakes That Made Rajinikanth A Superstar
1. Majboor (1974)
Starring Amitabh Bachchan and Parveen Babi, this film earned ₹2 crore at the box office. Rajinikanth made an extended cameo in its Tamil remake, “Naan Vazhavaippen” (1979), alongside the legendary Sivaji Ganesan.
2. Deewar (1975)
Yash Chopra’s classic featuring Amitabh Bachchan and Shashi Kapoor, exploring the story of two brothers on opposite sides of the law, was remade in Tamil as “Thee” (1981). Directed by R. Krishnamurthy, it became a box office success following the original’s ₹6 crore gross.
3. Khoon Pasina (1977)
Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha starred in this action crime film, which earned ₹3 crore at the box office. Rajinikanth stepped into the lead role in its Tamil remake, “Siva” (1989), directed by Ameerjan.
4. Amar Akbar Anthony (1977)
Manmohan Desai’s beloved lost-and-found-themed film, which collected around ₹9 crores, was remade in Tamil as “Shankar Salim Simon” (1978) with Rajinikanth in the lead. Rajinikanth also appeared in the Telugu version called “Ram Robert Rahim.”
5. Don (1978)
Rajinikanth took center stage in the Tamil remake titled “Billa” (1980), directed by R. Krishnamurthy. This official remake of Bachchan’s classic action thriller, alongside Zeenat Aman, raked in ₹7 crore at the box office.
6. Kasme Vaade (1978)
 Rajinikanth’s Tamil remake, “Dharmathin Thalaiavan” (1988), mirrored the romantic thriller starring Amitabh Bachchan and Raakhee. Directed by Ramesh Behl, the original earned ₹4 crore at the box office.
7. Laawaris (1981)
Directed by Prakash Mehra, this Amitabh Bachchan blockbuster revolving around an orphan generated ₹9 crore in box office collections. Rajinikanth headlined the Tamil remake titled “Panakkaran” (1990), helmed by P. Vasu.
8. Khuddar (1982)
The Bachchan-starrer about two brothers found its Tamil adaptation in “Padikkadavan” (1985) with Rajinikanth in the lead. The Hindi film, directed by Ravi Tandon, amassed ₹7 crore in box office collections.
9. Namak Halaal (1982)
 Prakash Mehra’s film featuring Amitabh Bachchan as a zealous employee to Shashi Kapoor was remade in Tamil as “Velaikaran” under S.P. Muthuraman’s direction. The Hindi original garnered ₹7.5 crore at the box office.
10. Mard (1985)
 Amitabh Bachchan played a horse-cart driver in this film alongside Amrita Singh, directed by Manmohan Desai. With ₹9 crore in box office collections, it was remade as “Maaveeran” (1986), starring Rajinikanth.
These remakes not only allowed Rajinikanth to step into the shoes of Amitabh Bachchan but also contributed significantly to his own superstardom, showcasing his talent, charisma, and ability to captivate audiences. It’s fascinating to witness the fusion of these two legendary actors’ cinematic legacies and their impact on Indian cinema
