When Amitabh Bachchan acted for free in Mohanlal’s ‘Kandahar’

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan once acted without charging a fee for a Malayalam film, Kandahar, starring and co-produced by Mohanlal. Directed by Major Ravi and released in 2010, Kandahar was the third installment in the Major Mahadevan war film series and revolved around the real-life hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC 814 in 1999. Bachchan played a significant cameo in the film, portraying the grieving father of a martyred soldier.
A role done for friendship, not fees
In a blog post written in 2010, the 81-year-old actor had revealed that both Mohanlal and director Major Ravi visited him personally to sign him for the role and discuss the remuneration. However, Bachchan respectfully declined their payment offer. “Fees? Remuneration? For a guest appearance of three days? With Mohanlal, who has always had my greatest admiration? No way!!” he wrote, expressing his admiration and deep respect for Mohanlal. Instead of accepting payment, Bachchan offered them homemade tea, signed the agreement, and warmly saw them off.
Kandahar: A war story rooted in patriotism
Kandahar followed Major Mahadevan (played by Mohanlal) as he led a mission to rescue passengers from a hijacked Indian flight. Bachchan’s character added emotional depth to the narrative, playing the father of a young soldier who sacrifices his life in the operation. The film, shot in picturesque locations including Ooty, also featured Ganesh Venkatraman and Ragini Dwivedi, marking their Malayalam debuts. The film was notable for combining real-life events with cinematic storytelling while celebrating the heroism of Indian soldiers.
A rare gesture from screen legend
Amitabh Bachchan’s appearance in Kandahar remains memorable not just for his performance but also for his humility.
Mohanlal’s work front
On the work front, Mohanlal was last seen in Prithviraj Sukumaran’s action flick ‘Empuraan’ which turned out to be a superhit amid controversies.