Desai also described a separate warning from Teji Bachchan, mother of actor Amitabh Bachchan. Recalling her words, he said she warned him saying, ‘If something happened to Munna (Amitabh) and Jaya wore a white saree, you would also commit suicide, and your wife would wear a white saree.” Desai characterized both remarks as anguished, protective pleas delivered by mothers fearful of loss.
But thankfully, everything went on fine without any problems, and all crew members came back safe and sound. The film was directed by Mukul Anand and had music by Laxmikant Pyarelal. The film was a roaring success not only in India, collecting more than Rs 18 crore, but also in Afghanistan, it ran to packed houses for 10 weeks in Kabul.
In 2013, Amitabh recalled the entire experience of shooting in Afghanistan in a Facebook post. He wrote, “The Soviets had just left the country and power was handed over to Najibullah Ahmadzai who was a die-hard fan of popular Hindi cinema. He wanted to meet me and we were given the right royal treatment. We were treated as VVIP state guests at Mazare-e-Sharif and taken through the length and breadth of the incredibly beautiful country in airplanes with armed escorts. We received the traditional warmth of the locals who have a passion for hospitality. We weren’t allowed to stay in hotel… a family just vacated its home for us and moved to a smaller house.”
“There were security problems, of course, with tanks and armed soldiers all over the streets. Still, it’s been the most memorable trip of my lifetime. The unit was invited by a group of warlords, Danny Dengzongpa, Biloo, Mukul and I boarded a chopper gunship, flanked by five other helicopters. It was an unforgettable ride. The aerial view offered us the vista of purple mountains turning pink and red because of poppies growing there. Time seemed to have stood absolutely still in the valley where the chopper landed” he added
