In the early 1980s, Amitabh Bachchan was at the peak of his stardom. However, tragedy struck in 1982 when an accident on the sets of the movie Coolie left him critically injured. The accident, which took place during a fight scene, led to severe internal injuries, and the actor was rushed to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. For weeks, his condition remained critical, and his family, friends, and fans prayed for his recovery. It was a time when the entire nation came together, praying for their beloved star’s life.
A Nation’s Prayers and Amitabh’s Battle for Life
The actor spent several days in the ICU, fighting for his life. His injuries were so severe that even doctors were unsure of his recovery. During this period, India transcended barriers of caste, creed, and religion, as people from all walks of life united in prayer for his well-being. Amitabh Bachchan’s father-in-law, Tarun Kumar Bhaduri, who was a journalist, recalled the harrowing experience in an article written for Illustrated Weekly of India. He described the accident as “lightning falling from the sky.”
Despite the overwhelming love and prayers from the public, Mr. Bhaduri remained a skeptic. A self-proclaimed atheist, he was not convinced that prayers alone could save Amitabh. However, he took solace in the fact that so many people were hoping for a positive outcome. Recalling the moment when he first saw Amitabh in the hospital, Bhaduri wrote about how heart-wrenching the sight was—Amitabh lying with tubes all over his body, cheeks sunken, eyes hollow. His wife, overwhelmed by emotion, fainted on seeing her son-in-law in such a fragile state.
Indira Gandhi’s Emotional Visit to Amitabh
Among the many people who came to visit Amitabh during his stay in the ICU was the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, accompanied by her son Rajiv Gandhi. Indira Gandhi shared a special bond with Amitabh, who referred to her as “Aunty.” When she arrived at the hospital, Amitabh, in his weakened state, whispered to her, “Aunty, I am not able to sleep.” The sight of the actor in such a fragile condition moved Indira Gandhi to tears. She responded tenderly, telling him, “No, my son. You will sleep. I also can’t sleep sometimes, is that okay?” This emotional moment left a deep impression on everyone present.
Amitabh’s Gratitude Towards His Fans After Recovery
After weeks of fighting for his life, Amitabh Bachchan finally showed signs of recovery. When he was discharged from the hospital, the actor expressed immense gratitude towards his fans. In an interview with Doordarshan, he thanked everyone for their prayers, acknowledging the outpouring of love from across the country. He said, “I am most grateful to all of you who have prayed for me, for my life. Be it a temple, mosque, or church, I do not know many of you, yet you prayed for me. Thank you.” Amitabh promised to live up to the expectations of his fans and vowed to give his best in every aspect of his life.
The Debate Over Who Saved Amitabh: Doctors or Divine Intervention?
While many believed that Amitabh’s recovery was nothing short of a miracle, Tarun Kumar Bhaduri had a different view. He felt that the doctors at Breach Candy Hospital were not given enough credit for their hard work and dedication in saving Amitabh’s life. According to him, the nation’s prayers were certainly powerful, but it was the doctors who worked tirelessly to bring the actor back from the brink of death. He questioned why the doctors weren’t celebrated as heroes, while many attributed Amitabh’s recovery solely to divine intervention. In his article, Bhaduri wrote, “If Amit hadn’t survived, people would have blamed the doctors. Now that he has survived, why aren’t they praised?”
