A working still from Manmohan Desai's 1983 film Coolie, produced under the banner M.K.D. Films Combine and Aasia Films Pvt. Ltd., was captured on Amitabh Bachchan's return to the shooting of the film after his prolonged stay in hospital. Coolie remains an integral part of the illustrious filmography of Amitabh Bachchan and one of the landmark films of the collaboration between Bachchan and Desai.\nA classic example of the masala films, Coolie was a blockbuster hit. The film bore all the famous tropes of lost and found family members, romance and a trusted animal coming to the aid of the hero. The film was also spotlit for the near fatal accident that occurred on the sets of the film during a fight scene between Bachchan and Puneet Issar, leaving the former hospitalised for two months at Breach Candy Hospital, Bombay, while the entire nation prayed for the superstar's recovery. Kader Khan, who played the role of the main antagonist in the film also served as its writer, incorporating several references to Sufi mysticism in the script. The sacred number 786, served as the badge number of the coolie Iqbal (played by Bachchan), his falcon named Allah Rakha (meaning in God's protection), and a shroud from the Haji Ali Dargah which landed on Iqbal's shoulder during the final scenes of the film, as he took his revenge from Zafar, killing him at the end while nearly surviving multiple injuries himself.\nThe climax of the film was changed and re-shot after Bachchan's return from hospital capitulating to audience sentiment, which had feverishly prayed for their hero's safe recovery. Prayag Raaj, a trusted collaborator of Desai, directed and co-wrote the script of the film along with some songs. Desai's name was later added as the co-director of the film to get better distribution price; he was originally the producer of the film. Coolie went on to become one of the ten highest grossing films of the decade and the biggest hit of 1983, exceeding 75 weeks in several regional centres with people sleeping overnight at theatres to secure a place in next morning's booking queues.