Amitabh Bachchan was paid rs 5,000 (indian rupees) for his first role. Tinnu Anand made the negotiations with Amitabh Bachchan and informed Amitabh this would be his full salary whether the film took one year or five to make.
Loosely based on the novel "For Whom The Bell Tolls" (1943).
All the actors played a character against their real-life region or religion. Bengali actor Utpal Dutt played a Punjabi in the film, while Malayalm actor Madhu played a Bengali character. Muslim actors Irshad Ali and Jalal Agha played South Indian and Maharashtrian characters and Muslim actress Shenaaz played a Christian character. Son of Hindu poet Amitabh Bachchan played a Muslim poet, while Muslim actor Anwar Ali played a staunch Hindu.