Why did you choose to write on Amar Akbar Anthony — why not, say, other blockbusters of that time, such as Sholay, or the ones before it?
My publishers approached me and said that, in four months, they wanted me to write about a Hindi film that was iconic — that’s the only brief I had. I did consider choosing a film from the ’50s or ’60s, but that, at best, would have had a curiosity value. I am least interested in the films of the ’80s and ’90s — which left me with the ’70s. I actually considered Zanjeer and Don, because Sholay had been written about extensively. But these films had one star, one theme, whereas Amar Akbar Anthony (AAA) was a magnum opus with the three biggest stars of those times. My choice was quite clear then.

Sidharth Bhatia says he chose to write about Amar Akbar Anthony for its sheer timelessness. Pic/Nimish Dave