# How B.R. Chopra Rescued Puneet Issar's Career After the Infamous Coolie Accident with Amitabh Bachchan > Following the 1983 accident on the sets of Coolie that left Amitabh Bachchan critically injured, Puneet Issar faced a massive industry boycott before B.R. Chopra cast him as Duryodhana in Mahabharat. **Type:** article · **Category:** Bollywood · **Published:** 2026-09-11 · **Source:** TrendKia **Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/bollywood/br-chopra-ki-mahabharat-ne-kaise-badala-puneet-issar-ka-kariyara-jaba-amitabh-bachchan-ke-satha-hadase-ke-bada-philma-mekarsa-ne-p-31281 · **Language:** English **Tags:** Puneet Issar, Amitabh Bachchan, Mahabharat, BR Chopra, Coolie Movie Accident, Duryodhana, Garv Movie Puneet Issar stepped into the world of Indian cinema in the early 1980s, full of ambition and hope. However, a single tragic incident on a film set in 1983 altered the trajectory of his professional journey for years to come. In Manmohan Desai's action-drama *Coolie*, Issar was cast as the primary antagonist opposite the legendary superstar Amitabh Bachchan. During the filming of a crucial action sequence, the two actors had to perform a choreographed fight. The scene required Issar to throw a punch at Bachchan. Tragically, the punch went misaligned, resulting in Bachchan suffering a life-threatening abdominal injury. The superstar had to be rushed to the hospital in a critical condition, leaving the entire nation in shock and putting his life on the line. ## The Industry's Backlash and the Actor's Long Struggle While Bachchan fought for his life in the hospital and eventually recovered, Issar faced a severe invisible ban within the Hindi film industry. In various candid interviews later in his career, Issar shared the profound emotional and professional trauma he endured during this phase. A strong negative perception had solidified in the minds of filmmakers and actors alike. Producers were genuinely terrified that working with Issar might lead to physical injuries for other lead actors. This psychological fear directly hit his livelihood. Despite being a newcomer who had just started his career, Issar found himself virtually blacklisted. He lost numerous film offers and spent several years struggling constantly to secure even minor roles, watching his promising career slip away. ## The Epic Rebirth as Duryodhana in Mahabharat Just when his career seemed completely stalled, a monumental opportunity emerged in 1988. Master filmmaker B.R. Chopra was casting for his ambitious television adaptation of the epic *Mahabharat*. Chopra recognized the immense screen presence, powerful voice, and towering physique of Issar and offered him the iconic role of Duryodhana, the primary antagonist of the epic. Understanding that this was a do-or-die opportunity, Issar left no stone unturned in his preparation. He underwent an intense physical transformation to look convincing as the legendary warrior. To match the grandeur of the character, Issar gained a massive 22 kilograms, bringing his total body weight to approximately 108 kilograms. His thunderous portrayal of Duryodhana became a massive hit across the nation, permanently etching his name in Indian television history. ## A Versatile Career in Acting and Direction Following the monumental success of *Mahabharat*, Issar's career found its second wind. He went on to portray diverse roles in several blockbuster Hindi movies, proving his range as an actor. Some of his notable cinematic works include *Ram Jaane*, the patriotic war drama *Border*, the superhero film *Krrish*, the romantic comedy *Bachna Ae Haseeno*, *Ready*, *Son of Sardaar*, and the critically acclaimed drama *The Kashmir Files*. Beyond acting, Issar also ventured into filmmaking. In 2004, he made his directorial debut with the action-thriller *Garv: Pride and Honour*, which starred superstars Salman Khan and Shilpa Shetty. He also directed the film *I Am Singh*. Furthermore, Issar remained active on television, even participating as a contestant in the popular reality television show *Bigg Boss 8*, where he survived inside the house for a significant period. ## Why this happened The dramatic fluctuations in Puneet Issar's career were triggered by an unintended on-set accident followed by a massive casting opportunity years later. - **Misaligned Action Timing:** During the filming of an action sequence for the 1983 movie *Coolie*, the timing of a fight move went wrong. As a result, Puneet Issar's punch accidentally struck Amitabh Bachchan, causing severe internal injuries. - **Psychological Fear Among Filmmakers:** Following the superstar's critical hospitalization, a psychological fear spread across the industry that casting Issar could endanger other leading actors due to his heavy build. This mental block led to a systemic loss of work for him. - **B.R. Chopra's Bold Casting Move:** In 1988, director B.R. Chopra recognized Issar's commanding voice and physical stature, offering him the role of Duryodhana in *Mahabharat*. Issar capitalized on this, gaining 22 kg to portray the role perfectly and secure his comeback. ## Questions & Answers ### 1. In which film did Puneet Issar share an action scene with Amitabh Bachchan? Puneet Issar performed the action sequence with Amitabh Bachchan in the 1983 movie *Coolie*, directed by Manmohan Desai. ### 2. How did Amitabh Bachchan's injury affect Puneet Issar's career? Following the accident, filmmakers feared that working with Issar might lead to injuries for other lead actors, which resulted in him losing several film offers and struggling to find work. ### 3. Which role revived Puneet Issar's acting career? Puneet Issar's career was revived by his iconic portrayal of Duryodhana in B.R. Chopra's landmark television series *Mahabharat*, which premiered in 1988. ### 4. How much weight did Puneet Issar gain for the role of Duryodhana? To portray the character of Duryodhana convincingly on screen, Puneet Issar gained around 22 kilograms, bringing his total weight to approximately 108 kilograms. ### 5. Which major Bollywood movies has Puneet Issar directed? Puneet Issar made his directorial debut in 2004 with the Salman Khan starrer *Garv: Pride and Honour*, and he also directed the movie *I Am Singh*. ## Inspiration & Lessons Puneet Issar's life journey teaches us that even the most severe career setbacks can be overcome through sheer perseverance and grabbing the right opportunity. - **Patience During Adversity:** Even when the entire film industry distanced itself from Puneet Issar, he did not lose hope. Believing in yourself during tough times is the first step toward a comeback. - **Complete Dedication to the Craft:** For the role of Duryodhana, he gained a whopping 22 kg to match the character's requirements. True dedication and going the extra mile are essential to achieving outstanding results in any field. - **Embracing Adaptation and Versatility:** When movie roles dried up, he ventured into television and film direction. Not restricting oneself to a single domain and exploring diverse paths ensures career longevity. --- _TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._