Archive · 20 Jul 2025
Don's Director Dies, Producer Faced Debt: A Movie's Difficult Path
The movie 'Don,' a classic film, had a tough journey.
The director recently passed away, but the film's producer had big money problems and even struggled to eat.
Sadly, the producer died before the movie came out.
The famous song 'Khaike Paan Banaras Wala' almost wasn't in the film because the second half felt too action-packed.
Despite not having money, they filmed the song quickly in a cowshed.
The movie's success helped pay off the producer's debts, making the journey from concept to the big screen an eventful one.
Chandra Barot, director of the 1978 film Don, died on July 20 at age 86.
Producer Nariman Irani faced severe financial difficulties during the making of Don.
Irani died before the film's release and the film's earnings were used to pay his debts.
The iconic song 'Khaike Paan Banaras Wala' was added to the movie on Javed Akhtar's insistence.
The song was filmed in a cowshed due to budget constraints and Amitabh Bachchan's travel schedule.
- Who
- Chandra Barot (director), Nariman Irani (producer), Javed Akhtar (lyricist), Sameer Anjaan (lyricist), Amitabh Bachchan.
- What
- The story behind the making of the film 'Don', including financial struggles and the addition of a famous song.
- When
- Director Chandra Barot died on July 20; the events occurred during the filming of 'Don'.
- Where
- The song was filmed in a cowshed in Goregaon.
- Why
- To shed light on the behind-the-scenes challenges faced during the making of a successful film.
Initial Film Vision
Revised Film Vision
Creative Direction
Initial Film Vision
The initial vision for the second half of the movie focused more on action.
Revised Film Vision
Javed Akhtar believed the second half was too dry and needed a song.
- Director
- Chandra Barot
- Producer
- Nariman Irani
- Film Release Year
- 1978
- Director's Death
- July 20
- Director's Age
- 86
- Song
- 'Khaike Paan Banaras Wala'