The ‘Coolie’ Aftermath: Puneet Issar’s Harrowing Ordeal Following Amitabh Bachchan’s Accident
In the annals of Bollywood history, few incidents evoke as much visceral reaction as the life-threatening on-set accident of megastar Amitabh Bachchan during the filming of Manmohan Desai’s 1982 blockbuster, Coolie. While the nation collectively held its breath, praying for Bachchan’s recovery, another individual found himself thrust into an entirely different kind of spotlight: actor Puneet Issar. Unjustly implicated in the unfortunate mishap, Issar’s life took a dramatic, terrifying turn as he faced the chilling wrath of an enraged public.
Accusations of Betrayal: Death Threats and Malicious Rumors
The emotional fervor surrounding Amitabh Bachchan’s precarious brush with death ignited a firestorm of speculation and unfounded accusations against Puneet Issar. In a candid conversation with Siddharth Kannan on his popular YouTube channel, Issar recounted the nightmarish period. He revealed a barrage of menacing calls and baseless rumors that spread like wildfire. “Someone even claimed I had been paid to assassinate Bachchan,” Issar disclosed, highlighting the insidious nature of the lies circulating at the time. “They whispered of a conspiracy, suggesting a rival star had orchestrated it. People would print anything, even claiming I could outrun a train.” The threats were chillingly real, with callers explicitly stating, “We will not leave you, we will kill you.” Issar reiterated the painful truth: “I didn’t do anything intentionally. It just happened; it was an accident.”
Career Fallout: Ostracization and the Fight for Livelihood
The public hysteria had immediate and devastating professional repercussions for Puneet Issar. Bollywood, a close-knit industry sensitive to public sentiment, began to distance itself. Issar candidly shared that he was “dropped from 7-8 films” almost overnight. Producers and directors, fearing association with someone perceived to have harmed a national icon, shied away. “People wanted to avoid me,” he explained, “they worried our film’s star might feel uneasy. News travels fast, and my martial arts background was twisted to imply I was dangerous, that I could really hurt people.”
Resilience Amidst Adversity: A Pivotal Shift
Facing sudden professional ostracization and with a livelihood to secure, Puneet Issar demonstrated remarkable resilience. From 1982, the year of the Coolie accident, until 1988, when his career experienced a resurgence with the iconic role of Duryodhan in B.R. Chopra’s epic television series Mahabharat, Issar had to find alternative avenues for survival. During this challenging period, he pivoted to teaching martial arts and conducting speech classes, taking on smaller, less prominent film roles to make ends meet. It was a testament to his determination to navigate the stormy waters of public condemnation and professional uncertainty.
Remembering the ‘Coolie’ Accident: Amitabh Bachchan’s Near-Fatal Struggle
The gravity of Puneet Issar’s situation can only be fully appreciated by understanding the sheer scale of Amitabh Bachchan’s injury. The accident, which occurred during a meticulously choreographed fight sequence on the set in Bengaluru, resulted in severe internal damage to Bachchan. His condition rapidly worsened, necessitating an urgent transfer to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital. There, for a terrifying period, the legendary actor was “clinically dead” due to a ruptured intestine. India united in an unprecedented wave of prayer and concern, a powerful testament to Bachchan’s unparalleled stature. Miraculously, after months of intensive medical care and a harrowing battle for his life, Amitabh Bachchan made a full recovery, eventually resuming his illustrious career. The shadow of that incident, however, continued to loom large over Puneet Issar’s life for many years.
