Vipul Amrutlal Shah's 'Waqt' Turns 20! When Amitabh Bachchan & Akshay Kumar Were Ready to Wave Off Their Fees for the film

Vipul Amrutlal Shah is a visionary filmmaker known for bringing powerful and meaningful stories to the screen. From heartwarming dramas to action-packed thrillers, his films strike a perfect balance between entertainment and emotion. With a knack for storytelling and a strong connection to the audience, Vipul Amrutlal Shah’s filmography has become the ultimate benchmark in terms of tapping into different genres. One such gem from his filmography is Waqt: The Race Against Time which is celebrating 20 glorious years of its release.

On the film’s 20th anniversary, here’s a warm hearted anecdote shared by the director himself. Talking about onboarding the two megastars Amitabh Bachchan and Akshay Kumar for his film, Vipul Amrutlal Shah said, “While we were making Aankhen, I had discussed about a play which was written and directed by Aatish Kapadia, with Amit sir (Bachchan) and Akshay (Kumar). They both loved the story and we decided to make this film”.

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Waqt: The Race Against Time marked the second collaboration of the talented director with the likes of Amitabh Bachchan and Akshay Kumar. Their first collaboration ‘Aankhen’ was received very well by the critics and the audiences. The trust Vipul Shah had instilled in the megastars by delivering such a brilliant film made both the megastars very keen on collaborating again.

Talking about the graciousness and support the director received from the both the stars when he told them that he was turning a producer, Vipul Shah revealed, “When I informed Amitji and Akshay about me turning producer with this film, both of them were willing to waive off their fees but me and my partner Mr Manmohan Shetty did not agree to it and paid them their remuneration but the fact that such big superstars stood by me and were even willing to waive off their fees, was a very touching and heartwarming gesture”.

True artists always recognise greatness. The fact that both the actors, within a split second decided to waive off their fees speaks volumes of the trust they had in Vipul’s direction and the bond they share. Both the actors did eventually get their remuneration but the fact that they were ready to waive their fees shows the amount of support Vipul Amrutlal Shah had from his comrades.

Waqt: The Race Against Time is a one of its kind movie that marked Vipul Amrutlal Shah’s journey as a producer. The visionary director went on to produce superhits like Singh is Kinng, Holiday: A Soldier Never Off Duty, and many more.

The Visionary director is now gearing up to blow the audiences all over again with his next, Hisaab, a heist thriller which has already excited his audiences ever since it has been announced.