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Amitabh Bachchan
Also known as:Big B, Shahenshah, Munna, Angry Young Man
Occupation:Actor • Singer • Narrator • Special Appearances • Producer • Voice Cast
Born:October 11, 1942
Birthplace:Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
Spouse:Jaya Bachchan
Children:2
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About
Born on 11th October 1942, Amitabh Harivansh Rai Bachchan is one of the most iconic film stars in the history of Indian cinema. Instantly recognizable courtesy of his unparalleled `baritone` voice and imposing frame, the superstar is an integral part of Bollywood and Indian television history. Originally from Uttar Pradesh, the actor took the Bollywood industry by storm in the 1970s and early 80s with movies like Anand, Zanjeer, Deewar, and Amar Akbar Anthony. His performances revolutionized the image of protagonists in the industry and Amitabh Bachchan, due to his movie roles, was popularly referred to as "the angry young man" of India.

Bachchan continues to be one of Bollywood`s most prominent figures and even made his Hollywood debut in The Great Gatsby, in 2013.

Early Life
Originally named Inquilab Shrivastava, Amitabh Bachchan was born in British-ruled India to famous poet Harivansh Rai "Bachchan" and Teji Bachchan on 11th October 1942, in Allahabad. His name was later changed to Amitabh and he adopted his father`s pen name "Bachchan" as his surname. Five years later, Amitabh Bachchan was blessed with a younger brother, Ajitabh.

Amitabh Bachchan attended the Sherwood College in Nainital and followed it up with a bachelor`s of arts degree from the Kirori Mal College, Delhi University. After working as a freight broker in Calcutta, the ambitious young man decided to move to Bombay and take a shot at the booming Bollywood industry.

Personal Life
Amitabh Bachchan was born to famous Hindi poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan and social activist Teji Bachchan, whom he lost in 2003 and 2007 respectively.

Shortly after the release of the mega-hit film Zanjeer in 1973, Amitabh Bachchan married his co-star- Jaya Bhaduri. The duo first met at the Film and Television Institute of India, where Jaya claims that she instantly fell for the actor. Amitabh Bachchan admits to falling in love with his co-star a little later, on the sets of the movie, Ek Nazar. The two got married and were soon blessed with two children- Abhishek Bachchan and Shweta Bachchan-Nanda. Abhishek Bachchan is a prominent Bollywood actor who is married to former Miss World, Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. The iconic Bollywood couple has a daughter. Big B`s daughter Shweta Bachchan-Nanda is married to industrialist Nikhil Nanda, and the couple has two children.

Movie Career
Amitabh Bachchan struggled when he came to Bombay and even spent a few nights on a bench at Marine Drive. He was considered "too dark" to play a protagonist in Bollywood by many. However, his deep baritone voice was put to use in 1969, when Amitabh Bachchan voice narrated the award-winning Bhuvan Shome. He followed this up with his acting debut as one of the seven heroes in Khwaja Ahmad Abbas` Saat Hindustani. The public first took notice of the 6`1" actor when he played a doctor alongside Rajesh Khanna in the movie Anand and bagged a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor. A series of unsuccessful films followed but that didn`t dissuade the young man from pursuing his dreams.

Amitabh Bachchan set the industry on fire with his lead role in Prakash Mehra`s 1971 hit film Zanjeer. His stunning performance as an angry inspector was in stark contrast to the prevalent romantic heroes that dominated the protagonists` roles in Bollywood. He earned the title "the angry young man of India" and his rise to the top was well underway. He later appeared in the musical romantic film Abhimaan (1973). The actor went on to star in numerous successful movies across various genres and earned awards for several of them. In 1975, the superstar featured in two blockbusters, widely considered to be two of the greatest films in the history of Indian cinema- Yash Chopra`s Deewar and Ramesh Sippy`s Sholay.

The versatile superstar won critical acclaim for his performance as a romantic hero in Yash Chopra`s Kabhi Kabhie and for his role in the 1977 mega-hit Amar Akbar Anthony. The angry young man of Bollywood also mastered playing double roles, most notably in movies like Adalat, Kasme Vaade, and the award-winning Don. The roles and awards kept coming in for the Bollywood sensation and he was even nominated for Filmfare`s `Best Male Playback Singer` for his vocal performance in the 1979 film Mr. Natwaral.

Bachchan became the face of Indian cinema and enjoyed phenomenal success for his roles in movies like Suhaag, Dostana, Silsila and Mahaan, where he played a double role. The actor overcame a fatal injury in the form of a splenic rupture in 1982 which he received while filming a fight scene for Coolie with co-star Puneet Issar. The nation held their collective breath but Bachchan was released from the hospital a few months later and continued filming. Coolie was a great success but the face of Bollywood decided to take a sabbatical from movies after he was diagnosed with the rare disease Myasthenia gravis, which made him extremely weak.

After a brief stint in politics, Amitabh Bachchan returned with the box-office hit Shahenshah. Although he enjoyed bits of success through films like Hum and Agneepath, the angry young man`s career was on a downward spiral and the actor effectively retired in 1992. He set up his own production house, `Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Ltd.` in 1996. The company never really took off and even Amitabh Bachchan himself appearing in its movies failed to spearhead its growth. The company collapsed in 1997 and lost crores of rupees. Several legal battles haunted the man`s life and he was even sued by Canara Bank. Multiple failed attempts to resurrect his career cast doubts over the actor`s hopes of rejuvenated stardom.

However, in the year 2000, the film star finally got back to the top. The mega-hit film Mohabbatein, produced by the actor`s old friend Yash Chopra, where Amitabh Bachchan played a supporting role to Bollywood`s new hero Shah Rukh Khan. Bachchan`s performance earned him another much-awaited Filmfare award and the actor was back in business. Amitabh Bachchan also went on to host the tremendously popular TV show Kaun Banega Crorepati (India`s version of `Who Wants to be a Millionaire`). The superstar enjoyed further success in the form of Karan Johar`s Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Ravi Chopra`s Baghban and Sanjay Leela Bhansali`s Black. Bachchan was back in the spotlight and he earned several endorsement deals. From 2005-2006, the Bollywood legend starred in three hit films with his son Abhishek Bachchan - Bunty Aur Babli, Godfather tribute Sarkar, and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. In an intriguing twist, Amitabh Bachchan played Abhishek Bachchan`s teenage son in the 2009 hit film Paa, produced by Big B`s production house Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Ltd.

The year 2013 saw Indian cinema icon Bachchan make his Hollywood debut in The Great Gatsby starring Hollywood legends Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire. Amitabh Bachchan proceeded to capture Indian audiences with his roles in the award-winning Piku. Over the next few years, he even lent his voice for the narration of films like Pad Man (2017) and Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi (2019). Other hit releases in this time include Pink (2016), Sarkar 3 (2017), Badla (2019), Gulabo Sitabo (2020) and AB Aani CD (2020). His 2021 releases include Chehre. His 2022 movies include Jhund, Runway 34, Fakt Mahilao Mate, Brahmastra: Part One - Shiva, Goodbye and Uunchai. His 2023 movies include Project K and Butterfly. His other releases include Mayday and The Intern.

Television Career
In 2001, Amitabh Bachchan began hosting the tremendously popular TV show Kaun Banega Crorepati (India`s version of `Who Wants to be a Millionaire`).
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Did You Know? (27)

  • Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Hassan come together after 39 years since Geraftaar (1985) for Kalki 2898 AD (2024).
  • Amitabh Bachchan`s look in Ganapath was inspired by a viral photograph of an Afghan refugee taken by photographer Steve McCurry.
  • Geraftaar (1985) is the only film that featured three iconic actors Rajinikanth, Amitabh Bachchan, and Kamal Haasan.
  • Before he made it to Bollywood, Amitabh Bachchan spent several nights on a bench at Marine Drive.
  • The Gulabo Sitabo puppets are from Narharpur village in Amitabh Bachchan`s native district Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh.
  • Amitabh Bachchan has played double roles about 15 times, which is more than any other Indian actor.
  • Amitabh Bachchan`s first salary was a reported INR 500 and his first acting salary was INR 1,000 for Saat Hindustan.
  • It would take six hours for Amitabh Bachchan to apply makeup and transform into Auro in Paa (2009).
  • Anil Kapoor wasn`t the first choice for Mr. India. The script was written for Amitabh Bachchan, keeping his voice in mind.
  • Legendary film director Satyajit Ray used Amitabh Bachchan`s voice in his 1977 film Shatranj Ke Khiladi.
  • Several songs and poems in Amitabh Bachchan`s movies were written by his father, the late poet Harivanshrai Bachchan.
  • Amitabh Bachchan`s children Abhishek and Shweta weren`t keen on their father visiting them in school as it caused chaos.
  • English actress Annabelle Wallis appeared in Dil Jo Bhi Kahey in 2005, starring Amitabh Bachchan as well.
  • Amitabh Bachchan was conferred with the Knight of The Legion of Honour, the highest civilian honour of France, in 2007.
  • During a special screening for 102 Not Out, Amitabh Bachchan had a Facebook live chat with the lucky winners of a contest.
  • In the film 102 Not Out, Rishi Kapoor plays the 75-year-old son of Amitabh Bachchan. In reality when the film shoot started Amitabh Bachchan was nearing his 75th birthday.
  • The father-son duo Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan starred together for the third time in Paa.
  • Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan are working together for the first time in Thugs of Hindostan.
  • Amitabh Bachchan is wearing armour for the second time in his career in Thugs of Hindostan (2018) after Shehanshah (1988).
  • Amitabh Bachchan gravely injured himself while shooting for Thugs of Hindostan due to the weight of the leather clothes , which weighed about 30-40 kgs, and intense stunts.
  • Amitabh Bachchan has been named Vijay in as many as 20 movies.
  • For Amitabh Bachchan's look in Wazir (2016), a team of designers was flown down from Los Angeles.
  • Amitabh Bachchan turns composer with the 2018 release 102 Not Out.
  • Amitabh Bachchan's wax statue was erected at the London's Madame Tussauds in 2000, making him the first Indian and Asian star to have his statue at the wax museum.
  • Amitabh Bachchan's real name is Inquilab Shrivastava.
  • Amitabh Bachchan is a vegetarian. He doesn't drink or smoke.
  • The Mahurat clap for Bhoomi was given by Amitabh Bachchan.
  • Personal Quotes (11)

  • "I have the utmost admiration, respect and praise for the younger generation. They are all truly magnificent."
  • "The late Manmohan Desai always believed that audiences wish to see that what they have not seen on screen. Bhaskor in Piku was an intelligent representation of that process."
  • "I have great respect and regard for the people of Kolkata, for they have always given me much, much more than I deserve. "
  • "I would like to believe that every actor seeks a credible script and story, a character that gives opportunity to perform, and a maker that is passionate about the product he or she produces!"
  • "Work, in my profession, is a challenge, an excitement, an opportunity to mingle with great minds and talents. That is foremost. Love and appreciation from the audience is prime. "
  • "I like to feel the butterflies in the stomach, I like to go home and have a restless night and wonder how I'm going to be able to accomplish this feat, get jittery. That hunger and those butterflies in the stomach are very essential for all creative people."
  • "Indian actors, because of the format of our stories, need to be good actors and be able to perform emotional sequences, do a bit of comedy, dance, and singing, action because all of this forms just one film. In many ways, I'd say there are greater demands on Indian actors than there are on Hollywood."
  • "The amount of things I have been through and the remarkable ways in which the body has reacted is just phenomenal. No wonder I became religious because you don't know why something's happening to you and you don't know how you bounced back."
  • "The select group of people who do make realistic cinema, who do make cinema perhaps a little more acceptable to the Western audience, is a very small percentage."
  • "Change is the nature of life but challenge is the future of life. So challenge the changes. Never change the challenges!"
  • "I just lead my life as naturally, as normally as I possibly can. But I can't help it if controversy is hounding me day in and day out. I'm quite amazed sometimes by the way they go about it. I grow a beard and it lands up in the editorial in The Times of India."
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