FILM · 1983 · INDIA
Coolie
87 archived facts 6 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
All facts (87)
- #001
Puneet Issar, who caused Amitabh Bachchan's injury during the fight scene, was left jobless after the star was hurt; with no producer or director willing to work with him, he began taking roles in B-grade films in order to survive in the industry.
- #002
Hrishikesh Mukherjee, whose films were completely different from and opposite to Manmohan Desai's, was the editor of Coolie — a rare combination.
- #003
Two days before Amitabh Bachchan's injury, Smita Patil had dreamed that he was seriously hurt on a film set and called to check on his health; Amitabh Bachchan told her he was fine, but two days later tragedy struck after the fight scene with Puneet Issar went wrong.
- #004
Amitabh Bachchan received 60 bottles of blood from 200 donors, one of whom carried the Hepatitis B virus. Bachchan survived the accident, but in 2000 he discovered that the virus had led to cirrhosis of the liver, which had damaged about 75% of the organ. Bachchan later told his story to raise awareness about the Hepatitis B vaccine.
- #005
After making big films such as Naseeb and Desh Premee, Manmohan Desai decided to make a smaller film, Coolie, which he would not direct himself — writer Prayag Raaj was to direct it. A Coolie poster is visible on the wall during the song sequence of Naseeb Chal Mera Bhai. After shooting began, Manmohan Desai added his name to the credits as co-director in order to satisfy distributors and fetch a higher price. In fact, Prayag Raaj directed the entire film.
- #006
Amitabh Bachchan's character was originally to die at the climax, but after his real-life struggle with death during shooting it was decided that audiences would not accept his death in the film. The climax was therefore changed and a happy ending was shot.
- #007
When the film was screened in 1984 in Zanzibar, East Africa, at the Cine Afric cinema, all the coolies at the port were invited to watch the afternoon show for free. There was no room left in the cinema — it was full. It was a rare sight.
- #008
Amitabh Bachchan was doing his own stunts while shooting an action scene. He had to fall onto a table and then to the floor. While shooting the fight he first took a very hard blow from Puneet Issar. He then had to jump over a table, but when he leapt towards it the corner of the table struck his abdomen. He suffered a ruptured spleen and severe internal bleeding. Three days later he was flown out and needed emergency surgery (splenectomy), and for a time he was critically ill. Rumours spread that he had died in the accident. The nation (most of it, anyway) mourned. Afterwards, queues of well-wishing fans stretching for kilometres formed outside the hospital where he was recovering.
- #009
Amitabh's first shot after the accident was the completion of the fight scene in which he had been injured.
- #010
Rajiv Gandhi (the son of the then Prime Minister of India) cancelled a trip to the United States to be with Amitabh Bachchan after his injury.
- #011
While Amitabh was recovering in hospital, he was given no newspapers to read. They did not want him to know anything about his critical condition. Whenever he asked the doctors and nurses, they answered him with riddles. Amitabh, however, stated that he knew the situation was serious as soon as he reached Breach Candy. He was not aware of how close to death he had come.
- #012
A day before his injury, Amitabh Bachchan told Kader Khan (who had already finished his work on that project) to go to Bombay to make arrangements for the shooting of Kader Khan's home production Jahiil, in which Kader Khan was making his debut as director alongside Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Prada. When Kader Khan received a phone call about the accident, he rushed to Bangalore to be at Amitabh Bachchan's side. Jahiil was shelved at that time, and Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Auqaat, Ramesh Sippy's Shatranj and Amjad Khan's Lambai Chawdal were also shelved.
- #013
After the Coolie incident, Amitabh Bachchan had to withdraw from films such as Auqaat, Jaahil, Shatranj, Tala Chabi and Ghungroo (Suresh Oberoi later took over his role).
- #014
Commenting on the accident, Amitabh Bachchan said that, ironically, he had performed many risky stunts in the film, yet nothing had happened during any of them — such as jumping from a railway bogey or rolling down a staircase.
- #015
Before the film began, Bachchan asked the legendary Kannada actor Rajkumar to appear in it. Amitabh and Rajkumar had mutual respect and were both fans of each other.
- #016
Amitabh's entry-scene music and the music of several fight scenes were reused in the film Gereftaar.
- #017
Rishi Kapoor's character is named Sunny, the same name as in the previous Manmohan Desai film he appeared in, Naseeb (1981).
- #018
This was the last Manmohan Desai-directed film in which Kader Khan appeared.
- #019
Because the crowds on local trains made filming impossible at any Mumbai station, Coolie was shot at Bangalore City station. The filmmakers thank the Bangalore city railway staff, the Bangalore city railway police and the Southern Railway. Kannada-language signboards can also be seen in the station scenes.
- #020
Ranjeeta Kaur continued to claim that the film was offered to her, but Shoma Anand began a relationship with Ketan Desai and took the role. Shoma stated that this was completely untrue. The preference for the role was either Supriya Pathak or Shoma Anand. Manmohan Desai chose Shoma because Supriya Pathak had an art-film image.
- #021
The film was screened at the Pesaro Film Festival in Italy. This was very rare and unusual for a commercial Indian film.
- #022
Regarding the accident, Amitabh stated that he knew from the first day that something was wrong. As soon as the accident happened, he understood that the situation was serious. The pain kept getting worse. He told Manmohan Desai to bring good medical help to the sets. When he returned to the hotel that night, he could not sleep from the pain. Amitabh was angry because he felt nothing was being done about his injury. There were painkillers and Pathedine, but nothing worked. Amitabh was in need of help. This went on for 3 long days.
- #023
Manmohan Desai initially proposed a sad ending for the film. Amitabh was to die at the climax, but after Amitabh's real-life struggle with death during the shoot, it was decided that the audience would not accept his death in the film. So the climax was changed and a happy ending was shot.
- #024
Danny Denzongpa was the first choice for Goga Kapoor's role. Danny always insulted Manmohan Desai's cinema, calling it illogical. Desai, whenever they met, would quite amusingly tease Danny that by not working with him he would not bestow his great talent on him.
- #025
Reena Roy was approached for Shoma Anand's role but turned it down.
- #026
In an interview, Puneet Issar said that he felt no regret over Amitabh Bachchan's injury, that accidents continue on film sets, and that such incidents had occurred during the shooting of the 1976 film Hera Pheri with Vinod Khanna, whose wife also donated blood to the star.
- #027
The film was shot at Bangalore station.
- #028
Amitabh Bachchan's serious injury shocked the whole country and millions of people prayed for his recovery.
- #029
Amitabh Bachchan and Anita Raaj were to act together in Coolie and in Hrishikesh Mukherji's Auqaat, but because things did not work out, the two never got the chance to work together. Auqaat was shelved at the time.
- #030
This was the only Amitabh Bachchan film in which Suresh Oberoi played the villain.
- #031
Rishi Kapoor was injured during the shoot when, on an assistant's instruction, he had to jump onto Goga Kapoor from above instead of jumping, and he fell onto the trampoline.
- #032
Reena Roy was the first choice for Rati Agnihortri's role.
- #033
Amitabh and Rati Agnihotri later worked together in the film Kaante (2002).
- #034
When asked why he did not return to Bombay after the accident, Amitabh said he was in so much pain that he could not think properly. All he remembered was calling Bombay and asking Ajitabh to come and help him. He told him how much pain he was in and that he needed him there. Jaya had come with the children a day earlier because it was a long weekend. Amitabh had been abroad before the schedule. When he returned, it would last only a few hours and he would have to leave again. It was a coincidence that Jaya and the children were with him. Amitabh naturally wanted to go to work the next day but was worried about what would happen. On the third day Amitabh went crazy. Nothing he said made sense. Jaya later told him that she had asked him to send the children away because he would become very ill. She had a premonition that he was about to die.
- #035
Puneet Issar replaced Sharat Saxena.
- #036
About 7 years after Pramod Chakravorty's Barood, Rishi Kapoor and Shoma Anand came together in this film.
- #037
Jeevan, an indispensable character actor in Manmohan Desai's films, was missing from Coolie's cast, and Jeevan and Mukri were later regarded as lucky for Manmohan Desai in films made by the M. K. D. Banner.
- #038
The second part of Coolie shows Amitabh Bachchan entering politics, and at that time he did not know he would enter politics. Coolie was the first film to show Amitabh Bachchan entering politics, followed by Inqalaab.
- #039
Manmohan Desai stated: "With Coolie currently in release, I have delivered 12 jubilees in a row and 13 in total. I just do what I can. Unlike the 'intellectual' directors, my audience doesn't end in Thane (a Bombay suburb), it begins there. It is seen by people whose outlook differs from that of educated city people. They come to watch my films not once but many times, and the business comes from that. The repeat value of my 'elements' — songs, fights, disguises, special effects. And all of it is built around basic emotions. People understand these emotions."
- #040
The dialogues from Coolie were remixed by Amit and San J of The X Zecutive. This was the first time Coolie was remixed. It was for the Garma Garam Amitabh album. This was in 1990.
- #041
It was Puneet Issar's first film.
- #042
When Amitabh was injured, he did not stop the shoot but instead went and lay down at the location. The film crew thought this was a break for him, since shooting had been going on non-stop for weeks.
- #043
The remix of "Accident Ho Gaya" was done by Amit and San J of The X Zecutive. This song was being remixed for the first time. It was for the Garma Garam Amitabh album. This was in 1990.
- #044
The remix of "Humka Ishq Hua Hain" was done by Amit and San J of The X Zecutive. This song was being remixed for the first time. It was for the Garma Garam Amitabh album. This was in 1990.
- #045
The remix of "Mubarak Ho Tumko Haj Ka Mahina" was done by Amit and San J of The X Zecutive. This song was being remixed for the first time. It was for the Garma Garam Amitabh album. This was in 1990.
- #046
Even a sad song was recorded for the original sad ending, but it had to be deleted.
- #047
The song 'Jawani ki Rail' was an additional song. It was recorded after the film was completed and then added to the film.
- #048
Writer and director Prayag Raj made Geraftaar with Amitabh Bachchan after Coolie.
- #049
The song Sari Duniya Ka Bojh Hum Uthate Hai was sampled in the international HA CHOO song by ALI THE SON OF ABDUL from the album RAJA.
- #050
Sari Duniya Ka Bojh Hum Uthate Hai was sampled for the international song THE KING by ALI THE SON OF ABDUL from the album RAJA.
- #051
This was the last film for which Laxmikant-Pyarelal composed the music for a Manmohan Desai film. After this, the music of Mard and Ganga Jamuna Saraswati was composed by Anu Malik.
- #052
A separate LP record of Coolie's popular dialogues was released.
- #053
When Amitabh returned to shoot the film after his accident, Anil Kapoor came to visit him. Anil had already shot for the film Shakti. A photo of Anil standing in the last row among the crowd on the Coolie sets had recently been shared on Twitter.
- #054
The scene in which the porters storm the house was a cheerful retelling of the October Revolution at the Winter Palace.
- #055
Coolie was the first film Ketan M. Desai made as official producer.
- #056
When Suresh Oberoi took on Coolie, he was a newcomer who had also just signed Vidhaata, Sajaan Ki Saheli and then Mazdoor, in which he played a full-fledged role. Landing films alongside Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan, and taking small roles in the early-career films of B. R. Chopra, Manmohan Desai, Gulshan Rai, Subhash Ghai and Sawan Kumar, was a major achievement and a great prestige for Suresh Oberoi.
- #057
Waheeda Rehman and Manmohan Desai worked together for the first time, and later collaborated again on Allah-Rakha. This came before Waheeda Rehman appeared in a song sequence for John Jaani Janardhan in Naseeb.
- #058
From Coolie through Allah-Rakha, Mard, Ganga Jamuna Saraswati and Toofan, Goga Kapoor was given important roles by Manmohan Desai.
- #059
In Coolie, Amitabh Bachchan wore the 786 badge, just as he had in Deewar.
- #060
Satyen Kappu stated that he nearly died during the drowning scene. Manmohan Desai chose a spot in the river and told him to jump in and float in the water as a dead man. Satyen was worried about doing the scene but agreed. Just as he was about to shoot it, he saw a woman sitting on the bank who warned him that people had died in that area. She told him that a Hindu goddess sacrificed a life at that spot once every year, and warned him not to go into the water. At that moment Manmohan Desai shouted "Action" and Satyen had to jump. No safety measures were taken at the location. When Satyen jumped, he felt his body being pulled away and moving in the same direction. Luckily the other crew members saw this and jumped into the water. They quickly brought Satyen back to the bank. It was then that an old man came up to Satyen Kappu and told him that his body was being pulled under the water because of an old well at that spot. Many people had lost their lives because the water pulled people down to the well, which was sunk deep in the riverbed.
- #061
Manmohan Desai noted that he had presented Amitabh as a smuggler in Amar Akbar Anthony and as a waiter in Naseeb, and when asked why he did not make a more realistic character that the public could easily identify with, he chose the profession of "coolie." His office was crowded near the centre of Bombay, so he always saw the porters in red shirts and white dhotis. He often saw them travelling by train. Desai found them fascinating. They never came out in an orderly line; they sat in a queue and ran when the train arrived, each one claiming his own compartment. They all had badges and all agreed among themselves. Manmohan Desai was told that at the end of the day they would all sit together, pool their money and then divide it equally among them. Desai had never socialised a Muslim, so why not create a Muslim character? The falcon idea came from the fact that the falcon is the national emblem of the United Arab Emirates. All these factors were brought in to attract the Muslim population. To balance the script, Rishi played Sunny, a Hindu by birth. Amitabh's attention to the falcon on his shoulder was a tribute to the Muslim poet Iqbal and to the falcon Shaheen.
- #062
Manmohan Desai said, "Commercial journalists now say Coolie is a Muslim mythology. The accurate impression of Coolie's impact on Muslim audiences comes from watching the film at Alankar Theatre (on the edge of the Bhendi Bazaar neighbourhood). I knew the film was a hit when burqa-clad ladies began filling that theatre, filling the house every day. Muslims took Coolie to their hearts. Otherwise Muslim ladies could not be there. They are very conservative. Unless the male member approves, the family is not allowed to watch any Tom, Dick and Harry film."
- #063
People in East Africa objected to the film's title. Coolie was a racist term used against Indians.
- #064
The film did not open in cinemas in Canada and the US. This was because of the home video era. The film was released in select cinemas in Europe.
- #065
Amitabh tried to take off his sandal to hit Om Shivpuri, who was pretending to have a heart attack. The same sandal concept was repeated in Manmohan Desai's Suhaag.
- #066
This is the only film in which Amitabh and Shoma Anand appeared together on screen.
- #067
This is the only film in which Amitabh and Nilu Phule appeared together on screen.
- #068
Manmohan Desai said, "Coolie, made last year at a cost of 2 billion Rupees, netted 3.5 billion Rupees from the sale of distribution rights even before it was released on 2 December last year; and now, after recovering their expenses and commission, the distributors have begun sharing their profits with me for a film that is still drawing huge crowds everywhere."
- #069
Manmohan Desai said, "The first half is a beautiful comedy. The first three reels of the film give a great feeling. The flood scene is something new for the Indian audience. There are also emotions directed at the mother." The yoga scene, in which the radio dial keeps changing. Then the Haj sequence: I think it is a classic sequence for Indian films. If you send your mother and father on the Haj, you are considered very devout, so this boy inadvertently sends his father on the Haj to Mecca.
- #070
The music of "Rang Jamake Jayenge" from Naseeb, at 0:04, was reused in Coolie. The music appears in the scene where Rishi Kapoor first meets Mukri at the newspaper press.
- #071
This was Laxmikant-Pyarelal's last film with Anand Bakshi working alongside Manmohan Desai. Fifteen years later they worked together on Ketan Desai's film Deewana Mastana.
- #072
Rishi Kapoor was injured on the same day as Amitabh. It was Rishi who encouraged Amitabh to do their own stunts. Rishi Kapoor cut his cheek during a fight scene. The deep cut missed his eye and required stitches. However, the media never reported Rishi's injury.
- #073
Parveen Babi's black leather motorcycle outfit, consisting of a leather cap and scarf, in Khoon Aur Paani was copied in Coolie. Rati Agnihotri wears the same outfit when she goes to shoot Satyen Kappu.
- #074
In Laawaris, a fight breaks out between Suresh Oberoi and Amitabh, and he loses his arm when logs fall on him. In Coolie, Nilu Phule loses his arm while protecting the young Amitabh. Puneet Issar cuts off his arm with some logs. In Toofan, Farooq Sheikh loses both arms in an accident while helping Amitabh. In Kaalia, Amitabh's elder brother Kader Khan loses both arms in a factory accident. In all the films mentioned, Amitabh feels sad, burdened, responsible and guilty.
- #075
In Coolie, when the bridge breaks, Nilu Phule's baby falls into the river. In Gangaa Jamunaa Saraswati, when Joginder blows up the bridge, Amitabh, Meenakshi and their baby fall into the river. In both films, the baby is seen floating in the river.
- #076
Puneet Issar and Goga Kapoor played the roles of Duryodhana and Kansa (respectively) in BR Chopra's hit TV series Mahabharat. In the film Coolie, the two actors shared screen space and dialogue, but in the Mahabharat series they shared neither screen space nor dialogue.
- #077
Manmohan Desai announced Coolie during the production of Naseeb, a very expensive film, and because Manmohan Desai wanted to take a break, he wanted to make a Smaller Quick Film, and therefore it was decided that Prayag Raaj would direct the film.
- #078
Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Auqaat, Kader Khan's Jaahil, Amjad Khan's Lambai Chwadai and Ramesh Sippy's Shatranj are some of the films Amitabh Bachchan could not make after the incident.
- #079
Rishi Kapoor held a grudge against Amitabh because he never gave credit to his co-stars.
- #080
Amitabh Bachchan and Satyen Kapuu played father and son after Deewaar and later again in Mard.
- #081
In 1983, many of Amitabh's films did not do well, but Coolie was a blockbuster; Amitabh's PUKAR was released two weeks before Coolie but failed.
- #082
Some parts of the radio scene in which Amitabh folds his legs over his head were partly performed by a stand-in artist. Another scene in which a stunt double was used was Amitabh removing a fan from Om Shivpuri's house.
- #083
Waheeda Rehman, who played Amitabh's mother, is a few years older than him.
- #084
The muhurat film was shot in 1981.
- #085
In Coolie, Amitabh comes to pick up Waheeda Rehman and tells the policeman "yeh mere maa aur main isi lene aaya hoon". In Mahaan, when the older Amitabh dreams of meeting Waheeda, he says "Janki main tumhe lene aaya hoon" and is interrupted by his son Shankar.
- #086
When Iqbal has his first fight encounter with Vicky, a poster for the film Gopichand Jasoos (1982) appears in the background of the railway platform. Gopichand Jasoos starred Raj Kapoor, the father of 'Rishi Kapoor', who played Sunny in Coolie.
- #087
Part of the story idea came from a story Manmohan Desai heard. A woman had married twice (Waheeda Rehman). Her first husband was Jewish (Satyen Kappu) and the other was Muslim (Kader Khan). She had a son from each husband (Amitabh and Rishi). One of the husbands forbade his son from entering the other husband's house. However, despite their different religions, the two sons were secretly best friends. Manmohan took the story, twisted it and put his own stamp on it.
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