Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan: Icons who fearlessly fought their biggest career setbacks |

Bollywood is a realm of intense challenges and relentless perseverance. For newcomers, the path to success is fraught with hurdles—countless auditions, financial struggles, and the pressure to deliver on-screen, all while anxiously awaiting the critical response every Friday. This demanding cycle can either bring stardom or heartbreak.
The industry often highlights the stories of debutants grappling with rejections, nepotism debates, and casting controversies.However, the trials don’t end once one becomes an established star. Maintaining the reputation in Bollywood is a different ball game altogether. Whether it’s the legendary Amitabh Bachchan, the iconic Khans, or the celebrated Kapoors, even the most prominent figures face their share of significant setbacks.
These established stars have all encountered failures and faced career-threatening moments. Yet, their journeys are marked by resilience and determination. Amitabh Bachchan, for instance, experienced bankruptcy and failing films, but made a resounding comeback. Similarly, the Khans and Kapoors have navigated their own professional ups and downs, continually evolving and reasserting their presence in the industry.
“They have done so much legendary work and have given so many blockbusters. So, even if one or two films flop, it doesn’t matter. Their fan following is very strong and that’s why the body of work behind them is very strong. That’s why they don’t care if one or two films flop in their life,” opines film producer, Ramesh Taurani
What sets these stars apart is their ability to rise from the ashes of rejection and failure. Industry insiders and close aides often recount how these icons have battled through the lows, reinvented themselves, and emerged stronger. Their stories reflect not just the glamour but the grit required to stay relevant in Bollywood’s ever-evolving landscape. Here’s decoding their journey, thoughtfully narrates by industry insiders and close aides of Bollywood.
“Even when his films didn’t work, Shah Rukh Khan paid back all the money”
In 2018, Shah Rukh Khan faced one of the most significant setbacks of his career with the film Zero. Despite featuring leading actresses Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma, the movie failed to attract audiences, marking a major flop for Khan. The failure of Zero reportedly led SRK to quitting the biopic on Rakesh Sharma and pushed him into a period of reflection.
A few cameos, and a pandemic later, Shah Rukh Khan made a triumphant return in 2023. The year saw SRK reclaim his status as the ‘Badshah’, of Bollywood with a series of blockbuster hits: Pathaan, Jawan, Dunki, and a notable cameo in Tiger 3. His resurgence was a testament to his resilience and refusal to accept defeat.
Vivek Vaswani, who has known SRK since the 1990s, provides valuable insight into the actor’s unyielding spirit as he refuses to accept defeat. “First and foremost times are not unpredictable; we are in times where any good and perceptive businessman can understand, predict, forecast and plan accordingly. Shah Rukh Khan is a good and perceptive businessman, one of the best industry has ever seen, and he plans with a deep vision.”
“Even during his flop period, the films may not have run, but nobody lost money. If they did, he paid them back and built trust and value for his company. Either you know how to do business or you don’t know how to do business. It has nothing to do with perseverance or any other abstract qualities like discipline, et cetera,” opines the actor, who has lost touch with Shah Rukh Khan over the years.
“Salman’s fans keep him going despite the lows”
To gauge Salman Khan’s immense popularity, simply visit his residence during Eid or his birthday. Outside Galaxy Apartments, throngs of devoted fans gather, hoping to catch a glimpse of their beloved star. However, despite this overwhelming admiration, these same fans often fail to show up in theaters for his films.
Recently, Salman Khan has faced a series of disappointing outcomes, both as an actor and a producer. Films like Notebook, Bharat, Tubelight, Radhe, Antim, and Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan have struggled to attract audiences. Despite the enthusiasm of his fanbase, these movies have not performed well at the box office.

Filmmaker Ramesh Taurani, however, believes this period of underperformance is merely a temporary phase. He says, “Salman Khan is a mass hero, a class hero. He has done all genres of films, be it romance, family drama, action or comedy. He’s a complete actor and that’s why he has a particular fan following that has kept him going despite the low phase. He’s the biggest star in the country right now, so a few flops don’t matter.”
My personal bank balance was zero: Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan’s comeback story is one of the most inspirational ones in Bollywood. From being hailed as the ‘Angry Young Man’ of Bollywood to facing the biggest financial crunch and slowly marking his return, Big B has done it all with great perseverance.
In the 1990s, Amitabh Bachchan encountered one of the most challenging periods of his life. The decade proved particularly tumultuous for the Bachchan family as their company, AB Corporation, suffered substantial financial losses, leading to bankruptcy. In an interview with Vir Sanghvi, Bachchan had revealed that he was facing a debut of Rs 90 crore and creditors landed up at his door almost every day, ‘which was very embarrassing and humiliating’.
Recalling the hardships, Big B had once shared, “There was a phase in my life when I went bankrupt. The company I had built suffered losses, I had debts, my personal bank balance was zero. All my avenues to earn were shut and the government had raided my house.”

Despite his films not working well, Amitabh Bachchan’s confidence did not waver at all. He has a lot of confidence, dedication and involvement. He struggled a lot initially, witnessed huge success and after reaching a height he saw a big downfall. But he put in so much hard work to get out of it. He is a fighter and I always tell him, a fighter always wins. Even today he is spoilt for choice. He is part of the history of Indian cinema. He continues to work humbly even at this age, which he has learnt from the journey of lows and highs.
Big B’s ‘Mrityudaata’ director Mehul Kumar shares, “Despite facing numerous challenges, Big B experienced a career revival with the reality TV show Kaun Banega Crorepati in 2000. This opportunity, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise, marked a significant turning point for him, revitalizing his career and reestablishing his presence in the industry. To this day, Amitabh Bachchan continues to host the popular game show, which has become synonymous with his name.”
This year, Amitabh Bachchan delivered one of the biggest hits of 2024 and his career, shining amidst stars like Prabhas, Deepika Padukone and Kamal Haasan. “At his age, it is all about getting the right role in the right film. Just because Kalki worked, five more people cannot announce a film with Bachchan. He has to do those strong characters in phenomenal films. This movie simply proves that he is the God of acting and will continue to be. He is the only one in his generation who has kept pace with the changing world. He never let himself stagnate which is why everyone identifies with him. He has stayed in tune with the times and forged a bond with all generations,” opines trade expert Komal Nahta.

I was disturbed and unhappy: Aamir Khan
The perfectionist, the man with a magical touch, Aamir Khan has also been forced to thrown in the towel. His last release ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’ went downhill so bad that Aamir was left feeling ‘irritated and angry’ with himself. The film’s underwhelming response was a blow to the actor, who had previously been celebrated as a consistent hit-maker. In reflecting on his career, Aamir admitted that his intense focus on cinema had come at the expense of time with his family.
“Around 2.5 years ago, I realised I was so lost in my passion that I hadn’t given enough time to my relationships. I was disturbed and unhappy. I would have left films if not for my children. I was angry and irritated with myself,” Aamir had revealed during a News18 event.
Despite this shift in focus, Aamir’s love for cinema remains undiminished. He is already preparing for his next project, aiming to deliver another Christmas blockbuster with Sitaare Zameen Par. His enduring passion for filmmaking means that he cannot stay away from the sets for too long, even as he works to harmonize his professional and personal life.

These tales of inspiration echo one strong sentiment – ‘Never Give Up’ and taking a leaf or two from these tales can spread a whole lot of positivity.