Veteran actor Asrani’s iconic role in Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s ‘Abhimaan’ was initially offered to Mehmood. However, Jaya Bachchan reportedly refused the idea, and a rift between Amitabh Bachchan and Mehmood led to Asrani stepping in. This collaboration marked the beginning of a strong professional bond between Asrani and Mukherjee.