PremiumRatan Tata passes away: Revisiting Amitabh Bachchan’s Aetbaar, the only film the legend ever produced on OTTplay Premium
Ratan Tata was a man who tried his hands at many things and turned most of them into gold, but did you know he even produced an Amitabh Bachchan movie once?
Last Updated: 02.17 PM, Oct 10, 2024
The world will not easily come to terms with the passing of Ratan Tata, a legendary icon who dedicated his life to making the world a better place. A true entrepreneur, Tata's professional achievements are vast, and listing them all would take much more than one article. Over his 86 years, Tata left an indelible mark on nearly every sector of India's commercial space, with most of his ventures achieving success, thanks to his foresight and masterful planning. While we often discuss his contributions to development and various commercial sectors, there are lesser-known aspects of his legacy—like his foray into film production. Yes, you read that correctly: Ratan Tata produced a movie starring Amitabh Bachchan.
Aetbaar: The Only Film Ratan Tata Produced
There was a time when entrepreneurs frequently invested in movies, and Ratan Tata, the renowned industrialist and philanthropist, once dipped his toes into the film industry. He produced a romantic psychological thriller, which remains the only film he ever produced in his illustrious career. The movie, titled Aetbaar, featured Amitabh Bachchan in the lead alongside John Abraham and Bipasha Basu. Directed by Vikram Bhatt, Tata co-produced the film with Jatin Kumar. Read on to learn more about Aetbaar and where you can watch it in India.
Aetbaar was inspired by the Hollywood film Fear (1996), centered on themes of obsession and family dynamics. The story follows Dr. Ranveer Malhotra, played by Amitabh Bachchan, a protective father willing to go to great lengths to shield his daughter, Ria (Bipasha Basu). The plot thickens when Aryan Trivedi (John Abraham), an obsessive lover with a troubled past, enters the picture. Ria falls for Aryan, setting off a chain of events that makes things difficult for everyone involved.
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Ratan Tata co-produced the thriller, but despite the star-studded cast, Aetbaar did not perform well at the box office. Made on a budget of ₹9.50 crore, the film earned only ₹7.96 crore, failing to recoup its costs. This became Tata's first and last venture into film production.
Where to Watch Aetbaar
Though Aetbaar did not find much success in theaters or on satellite television over the years, it has since found an audience through streaming platforms. The movie is now available on ShemarooMe, and you can also watch it with your OTTplay Premium subscription. The Amitabh Bachchan-led film, released in 2004, has a runtime of 2 hours and 35 minutes and is available in Hindi.
Stay tuned to OTTplay for more information on this and everything else from the world of streaming and films.