Shahenshah (1988 film)

Shahenshah
Directed by	Tinnu Anand
Produced by	Bitu Anand Tinnu Anand Naresh Malhotra
Written by	Inder Raj Anand
Screenplay by	Santosh Saroj
Story by	Jaya Bachchan
Starring	Amitabh Bachchan Meenakshi Seshadri Amrish Puri
Music by	Amar Biswas Utpal Biswas
Cinematography	Peter Pereira
Edited by	A. Habib
Production company	Shiva Video
Release date	February 12, 1988
Running time	175 minutes
Language	Hindi
Budget	1.5 Crore INR 3 Crore INR (distribution rights)
Box office	6 Crore INR

Shahenshah (Urdu: شہنشاہ‎; literally Emperor) is a 1988 Bollywood vigilante film starring Amitabh Bachchan in the title role, along with Meenakshi Sheshadri. The film was produced and directed by Tinnu Anand. The story of the film was written by Amitabh Bachchan's wife Jaya Bachchan and the screenplay was written by veteran screenwriter Inder Raj Anand who died before the film was released. The film marked Bachchan's comeback after a three-year hiatus during which he had entered politics. The film became a blockbuster upon its release. This film was based on an old 'B' grade Indian stunt film 'Shabnam' starring Mehmood, L.Vijaylakshmi and Jeevan. The film is also similar to that of the 1982 film 'Shakti'; the two opposing enemies are Vijay and J.K., played by Amitabh Bachchan and Amrish Puri.

The movie opens with a corrupt and sniveling bank manager Mathur (Prem Chopra) and crime baron J.K. Verma (Amrish Puri). Mathur is in a financial dilemma as he has illegally loaned J.K. 2.5 million rupees, and J.K. orchestrates a bank robbery to bail him out. Inspector Anand Shrivastav (Kader Khan) gets wind of this plot. He arrests a key henchman of J.K., and is about to crack the case when J.K. enlists an exotic dancer, Julie (Aruna Irani), to use the robbery as a backdrop and frame the honest inspector for corruption. Inspector Shrivastav is arrested and is imprisoned for three months. Inspector Shrivastav, the honest and innocent inspector, is so depressed about the false charges that he hangs himself at home after being released on bail. This creates a lasting and powerful impression on his young eight-year-old son, Vijaykumar (Amitabh Bachchan), simply known as 'Vijay', who firmly believes in his father's hard work, innocence, and dedication, for years. Every day, he thinks about his father's uncalled for decision. Vijay retains the noose his father used to hang himself. He would someday restore his father's honour. Vijay and his mother leave their house and live in the house of another police inspector named Aslam Khan, who would take care of them as Vijay grows up.