The action thriller movie, The Great Gambler was released on April 6, 1979. C V K Shastri, Vasant and Bahadur collectively produced while Shakti Samanta directed the movie. The lead cast of the movie included Amitabh Bachchan, Zeenat Aman and Neetu Singh while Prem Chopra, Iftekhar, Utpal Dutt and Om Shiv Puri played the supporting roles. Asha Bhosle, Kishore Kumar and Mohammed Rafi sang the songs while R D Burman and Basu Chakraborty gave the music for the movie.

Jai ( Amitabh Bachchan ), an expert gambler catches the attention of the underworld don Saxena ( Utpal Dutt ) by his skills. He hires him for fetching large amount of money from wealthy people by wrong means. Jai agrees and plays successfully, though unknowingly to entrap a patriotic Indian, Nath ( Jagdish Raj ) ,a government officer. After losing large amounts of money, he is blackmailed into disclosing the blueprints of a top-secret military laser weapon.

When things go out of hand, the case is assigned to Inspector Vijay, who is a physical replica of Jai. Both coincidentally are sent to Rome. Jai marries wealthy girl, Mala ( Neetu Singh ) to inherit her money. Because of the similar looks, Mala and Vijay’s girlfriend, Shabnam ( Zeenat Aman ) gets confused and their professional and personal lives get entangled. Shabnam worked for a spy ring and was expected to stop him from retrieving information on the underworld don.

The hit songs of the movie are:
1. Do Labzon Ki Hai Dil Ki Kahaani Ya Hai Muhabbat Ya Hai Jawaani
2. Main Tumko Kya Kahoon Deewana
3. O Deewano Dil Sambhalo Dil Churaane Aayi Hoon Mein
4. Pehle Pehle Pyaar Ki Mulaqaatien Yaad Hain
5. Rakkaasa Mera Naam Ae Saahab Sabko Salaam
6. Tum Kitne Din Baad Mile Tum Itne Din Kahaan Rahe