Throwback: When an emotional Amitabh Bachchan recalled Dhirubhai Ambani's generosity during his bankruptcy days

During the 1990s, Amitabh Bachchan faced severe financial difficulties . His ambitious venture, Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited ( ABCL ), failed to take off, leading to significant losses and plunging the star into debt. “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,” Bachchan recalled in an old video shared by Bollywood Tehelka.

In this period of despair, Dhirubhai Ambani ’s offer of help became a beacon of hope. Bachchan recounted how Ambani, upon learning of his dire situation, instructed his younger son, Anil Ambani , 'Iska bura waqt hai, isey kuch paise de do'.

The actor, deeply moved by the gesture, decided to turn down the offer. “Whatever he had to offer, all my financial troubles would have been solved. I got emotional at his generosity but turned it down. God was kind and after some tough days, the tide changed. I started getting work and slowly I could repay all my debts,” Bachchan said, his voice filled with gratitude and emotion.

The story didn’t end there. Bachchan was later invited to Dhirubhai Ambani’s residence for a special occasion. There, amidst the presence of the biggest names in the business world, Dhirubhai called Bachchan to sit beside him. The actor, feeling a bit awkward, initially hesitated, but Ambani insisted.

In front of the gathered stalwarts, Dhirubhai Ambani made a statement that deeply touched Bachchan. “Ye ladka gir gaya tha, lekin apne bal pe phir khada ho gaya, main iski izzat karta hu (This boy had fallen, but he bounced back on his feet, on his own, and I respect him),” he said. These words, and the generosity behind them, were more valuable to Bachchan than any monetary help. “His words and generosity were more valuable to me than the sum he had offered to help me come out of that crisis. This was his character,” Bachchan concluded, his voice thick with emotion.