The Day Bollywood Held Its Breath: Amitabh Bachchan’s Near-Fatal ‘Coolie’ Accident
In the annals of Indian cinema, few events cast as long a shadow as the fateful day in 1982 when superstar Amitabh Bachchan teetered on the brink of death. What began as a routine action sequence on the sets of the film “Coolie” quickly spiraled into a national crisis, leaving millions across India and beyond gripped by fear and fervent prayer. The man at the center of this unforeseen tragedy, his co-star Puneet Issar, has recently shed new light on the harrowing incident, revealing not just the accident itself, but also critical details about the alleged medical negligence that nearly cost the icon his life.
A Rehearsal Gone Awry: Puneet Issar Recalls the Fateful Punch
Speaking candidly with Siddharth Kannan on his YouTube channel, veteran actor Puneet Issar recounted his very first day working alongside the legendary Amitabh Bachchan. They were rehearsing a pivotal fight scene for “Coolie.” Issar, tasked with delivering a staged blow, found the choreography challenging, especially for profile shots where “cheating” the punch was impossible. It was during this rehearsal that the seemingly innocuous suggestion from Bachchan himself set the stage for disaster.
“It was a sequence where I was supposed to hit Mr. Bachchan… I was supposed to catch him and throw him against the board and then catch him and throw him on the table,” Issar explained. He recalled Bachchan instructing him to make actual contact for authenticity, assuring him he would recoil naturally. “When I banged him against the board, it was reflex action that he came forward and the timing got screwed and I hit him. It was just an accident.” A minor miscalculation, a split-second delay, and the trajectory of an on-screen punch veered into real-life peril.
From Set Injury to Life-Threatening Crisis: The Internal Bleeding
Initially, the injury sustained by Bachchan in Bengaluru seemed manageable. However, what followed was a rapid deterioration in his condition, transforming a serious but treatable injury into a life-threatening emergency. Puneet Issar starkly highlighted that the situation escalated dramatically “from bad to worse” due to what he described as a crucial oversight by the medical team.
“It was negligence on the part of the doctors because they couldn’t diagnose what was wrong with him, that his intestine was ruptured,” Issar revealed. This critical internal rupture, if diagnosed promptly, could have been repaired, but the delay allowed his condition to spiral into a critical state, culminating in extensive internal bleeding.
The Nation Holds Its Breath: A Superstars’ Struggle for Survival
As Amitabh Bachchan’s health worsened significantly in Bengaluru, he was urgently airlifted to Mumbai, a journey that underscored the severity of his condition. The nation watched, helpless and horrified, as reports emerged from Breach Candy Hospital detailing his dire state. For several agonizing moments, the superstar was even declared clinically dead before a miraculous flicker of consciousness reignited hope.
The incident sent shockwaves across India. From common citizens to political stalwarts like then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who was reportedly deeply moved by his plight, prayers and vigils were held nationwide. The sheer intensity of public concern transformed Bachchan’s personal struggle into a collective national agony, a testament to his unparalleled stature and connection with the masses.
The Aftermath: A Career Interrupted, A Co-Star’s Burden
Amitabh Bachchan’s recovery was arduous and protracted, requiring multiple surgeries and months of convalescence. His return to the “Coolie” set, a testament to his resilience, was met with immense jubilation. However, the accident cast a long shadow, not just over Bachchan’s health, but also on Puneet Issar’s nascent career. Haunted by the incident, Issar reportedly faced a difficult period where film offers dwindled, as many in the industry were hesitant to cast him, fearing association with the traumatic event. Yet, out of this profound adversity, a lasting bond of respect and understanding emerged between the two actors, forever linking their names to one of Bollywood’s most unforgettable, and harrowing, chapters.
