When Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan shared the screen in this film

Indian cinema has witnessed many legendary collaborations, but very few match the historic moment when Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan appeared together in a single film. That rare event took place in 1985 with the crime thriller 'Geraftaar' — the first and only time all three superstars acted in the same movie.

How three legends landed in one film

The project began in 1984 when writer-director Prayag Raaj started working on 'Geraftaar'. Kamal Haasan was cast as the central character. Amitabh Bachchan was initially approached for a brief cameo. At the time, he had just entered politics after winning a Lok Sabha seat and was reducing his film commitments. He declined the offer at first but later agreed to come on board. As the film progressed, his part expanded into a full-fledged role.

Rajinikanth joined the cast for a special appearance, unintentionally creating a once-in-a-lifetime casting coup.

Release and mixed box office response

When Geraftaar hit theatres in 1985, expectations were enormous. Despite the presence of three megastars, the film performed only moderately in India. However, it found considerable success overseas, particularly in Southeast Asia. The film reportedly earned around Rs 5 crore worldwide — enough to be considered a commercial success at the time.

It eventually ranked among the top-grossing Indian films of the year.

From 'Geraftaar' to 'Kalki 2898 AD'

Nearly four decades later, Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan reunited in 'Kalki 2898 AD', a grand sci-fi epic directed by Nag Ashwin and headlined by Prabhas. Kamal portrayed the formidable antagonist, Supreme Yaskin, earning widespread praise for his intense performance.The film emerged as a major box-office success. According to Pinkvilla, production on its sequel has already begun in Hyderabad, with Bachchan and Kamal returning, and Prabhas joining later. While Deepika Padukone may not reprise her role due to scheduling constraints, Sai Pallavi is reportedly in talks to join the cast.