Amitabh Bachchan: Smita Patil Had a Bad Dream About Me Before Coolie Accident

Mumbai: Actor Amitabh Bachchan said that late actress Smita Patil had a bad dream about him a day before he met with a major accident on the sets of his 1983 hit film Coolie.

The 73-year-old actor suffered a major accident while shooting an action scene for Manmohan Desai's Coolie in Bangalore in 1982.

Mr Bachchan shared the anecdote at the launch of Maithili Rao's book Smita Patil: A Brief Incandescence in Mumbai on October 17.

"I was in Bangalore shooting for Coolie once. Late into the night at around 2 am I received a call in my hotel room. The receptionist informed me that it was Smita Patil on the line. I was shocked as I had never spoken or talked to her at such a time. Thinking that it would be an important one, I answered," Mr Bachchan said.

"Smita asked me if I was alright and in good health. I answered yes and she said that she just had a bad dream about me and that's the reason behind calling up so late in the night. The next day I had my accident," he said.

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Mr Bachchan's wife Jaya and Shabana Azmi also attended the book launch. (Also Read: Shabana Azmi: Smita Patil and I Could Never Be Friends)

Mr Bachchana and Ms Patil have worked together in films like Namak Halal, Shakti and Ghulami.

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"I always fall short of words when asked to speak of Smita or our association. There was this unusual way of how she conducted herself, her life. I had the opportunity of working with her. She looked gentle but she was a strong woman. She was committed not only towards her work but to her beliefs," he said.

"When it comes to do doing cinema (films) with me, she did things that were against her nature like in Namak Halaal she had to do rain dance with me. She felt it was away from her culture and thinking. She told me she had worked in so many good films but once when she was at the airport she felt a bit awkward and embarrassed that people remembered her for Namak Halaal," he added.