‘Khaike Paan Banaras Wala’ from Amitabh Bachchan’s 1978 blockbuster Don continues to be one of the most iconic songs in Hindi cinema. Sung with trademark energy by Kishore Kumar, the track remains a fan favourite even decades later. But behind its lively charm lies a surprisingly painful experience that Amitabh Bachchan recently opened up about on Kaun Banega Crorepati 17.
“My mouth was burned from chewing paan again and again”
Speaking to a contestant on KBC, the megastar revealed that filming the song was far from easy. Due to multiple takes and continuity requirements, he had to repeatedly chew paan packed with katha and chuna—ingredients known to cause strong burning sensations.
Amitabh shared:
“We shot that song for four days. There were at least 40–50 shots. Each shot had 3–4 retakes. Every time I had to chew that paan with katha and chuna, and my condition became terrible from chewing it again and again.”
Continuity Made It Harder
The actor added that maintaining continuity in every frame made things even more difficult:
“The director said, ‘Sir, your mouth was moving in the previous shot, it should move here too. Make your lips look red.’ So I had to eat it again and again. It took me a month to heal my mouth. Everything had burned. When chuna gets into the mouth, it burns. But it was a lot of fun doing it.”
Despite the discomfort and the month-long healing process, Amitabh took the challenge in stride, acknowledging that the effort helped the song look authentic and natural on-screen.
A Timeless Classic from a Landmark Film
Along with ‘Khaike Paan Banaras Wala’, Don also featured another evergreen hit—‘Main Hoon Don’. Directed by Chandra Barot, the film starred Amitabh Bachchan in a memorable double role, supported by Zeenat Aman, Pran, Iftekhar and Om Shivpuri.
Decades later, Don remains a defining milestone in Amitabh Bachchan’s career, celebrated for its gripping storyline, outstanding performances, and a soundtrack that has achieved legendary status.
