Amitabh Bachchan career took off after romance with Rekha

1 Kalyanji-Anandji helped him in his struggling days and even introduced him to Prakash Mehra. 12 During his struggling days, Amitabh Bachchan had spent a few nights on a bench at Marine Drive, Mumbai. He loves to point out to the bench every time he drives past it. 13 Director Satyajit Ray also used Bachchan's voice in his 1977 Shatranj Ke Khiladi. 14 Yet his baritone voice saw two rejections from the All India Radio. Ameen Sayani, radio ace, turned him down too in Mumbai. 15 He debuted in Saat Hindustani. 16 Mr Bachchan was paid Rs. 1,000 for his debut film where he struck a lifelong friendship with Tinnu Anand.