Amitabh Bachchan recalls asking surgeon 'How many times have you done this?' on operation table
Synopsis
Amitabh Bachchan, at the Mumbai launch of surgeon Dr. P. Jagannath's memoir 'Dr. Blue', revealed he asked the doctor 'How many times have you done this?' while lying on an operation table at midnight — a remark he now recalls with amused regret. The story doubles as a rare, personal window into the health battles behind Bollywood's most enduring career.
Key Takeaways
Amitabh Bachchan shared a self-deprecating anecdote about asking his surgeon how many times he had performed the procedure, just before a midnight emergency surgery .
The revelation was made at the Mumbai launch of 'Dr.
Blue' , a memoir by surgical oncologist Dr.
Jaya Bachchan and Sachin Tendulkar also attended the book launch event.
Bachchan acknowledged his liver functions at approximately 25% of standard capacity and has a long history of health challenges.
He also referenced his near-fatal injury on the sets of 'Coolie' ( 1983 ), which gripped the entire nation at the time.
Veteran Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan recently recounted a candid, self-deprecating moment from one of his medical emergencies — asking his surgeon how many times he had performed the procedure, just as he was being wheeled into the operation theatre. The actor made the revelation at a book launch event in Mumbai, drawing laughter from the audience.
The Book Launch That Sparked the Memory
On Friday, Bachchan joined his wife Jaya Bachchan and cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar at the official launch of 'Dr. Blue', a memoir authored by renowned surgical oncologist Dr. P. Jagannath. The event brought together luminaries from film and sport to celebrate a doctor who has touched many lives.
Big B's Midnight Surgery — In His Own Words
Speaking at the event, the actor described being admitted to hospital during a late-night medical emergency. He recalled that one of his doctors was not satisfied with initial test results and sought a second opinion, ultimately discovering something the earlier diagnosis had missed.
'They immediately came back and said, 'You have to go in for a surgery'. It was past midnight. I said, 'Look, I want to sleep. I'm in pain. I'll get up in the morning'. He said, 'No, you have to do it tonight',' Bachchan recounted. He said he eventually agreed and was brought to the operation table.
'When I was lying down, I saw this doctor wearing blue coming in front of my face and I said, 'Excuse me, how many times have you done this?' Now I regret having said those words as Dr. Jagannath had this eminent presence in all our lives,' he added with characteristic humour.
A Long History With Hospital Corridors
Bachchan acknowledged that visits to operation theatres are not uncommon in his life. The actor has battled significant health challenges over the decades, including a liver condition — he has previously revealed that his liver functions at approximately 25% of its standard capacity. He also famously sustained a near-fatal injury on the sets of his 1983 film 'Coolie', an event that galvanised an entire nation in prayer for his survival.
What the Moment Says About Dr. Jagannath
Bachchan's anecdote was, in essence, a tribute. By sharing a moment of personal vulnerability — and the inadvertent slight it contained — he underscored the gravity of Dr. Jagannath's reputation as a surgical oncologist. The story drew a clear arc: from an uninformed question in a moment of fear to deep respect built over time. Notably, the memoir's title 'Dr. Blue' itself resonates with the actor's recollection of seeing the surgeon approach in blue surgical scrubs.
The event stands as a reminder that even India's most iconic public figures navigate illness and uncertainty — and that the doctors who operate in those quiet, midnight hours often go unrecognised until someone with a microphone chooses to remember them.
Point of View
But the subtext is significant: Amitabh Bachchan has spent a remarkable portion of his public life navigating serious illness, yet this dimension of his story is rarely foregrounded. A liver functioning at 25% capacity, a near-fatal on-set injury, repeated hospitalisations — the 'indestructible Big B' narrative papers over a fragile reality. That he chooses to surface these moments with humour rather than gravity says something about both his public persona and his coping mechanism. More importantly, the tribute to Dr. Jagannath, delivered in a packed hall with Sachin Tendulkar in the front row, quietly elevates a profession that rarely gets a red carpet.
NationPress
3 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Amitabh Bachchan say to his surgeon on the operation table?
Amitabh Bachchan revealed that as he lay on the operation table before a midnight emergency surgery, he asked the surgeon — who turned out to be Dr. P. Jagannath — 'Excuse me, how many times have you done this?' He later said he regrets the remark, given Dr. Jagannath's eminent standing.
Where did Amitabh Bachchan share this story?
He shared the story at the official launch of 'Dr. Blue', the memoir of renowned surgical oncologist Dr. P. Jagannath, held in Mumbai on Friday. Jaya Bachchan and Sachin Tendulkar were also present at the event.
What are Amitabh Bachchan's known health issues?
Bachchan has acknowledged that his liver functions at approximately 25% of its standard capacity. He also suffered a near-fatal injury on the sets of his 1983 film 'Coolie', which prompted nationwide concern. He has been hospitalised on multiple occasions over the years.
Who is Dr. P. Jagannath?
Dr. P. Jagannath is a renowned surgical oncologist who has authored the memoir 'Dr. Blue'. Amitabh Bachchan's personal anecdote at the book launch suggests Dr. Jagannath was involved in at least one of the actor's emergency surgeries.
Who else attended the 'Dr. Blue' book launch?
Apart from Amitabh Bachchan, the event was attended by Jaya Bachchan and legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, making it a notable gathering of icons from both Bollywood and Indian cricket.
