Short biography of legendary bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan

Amitabh Bachchan was born Amitabh Harivansh Srivastav on 11 October 1942 in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. Big B, as he is fondly called, is the son of well known poet late Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Teji Bachchan. After completing his education from Sherwood College, Nainital, and Kirori Mai College, Delhi University, he moved to Calcutta to work for shipping firm Shaw and Wallace.

Later, he moved to Bombay and struggled for a while to get his foot in the door of the Hindi film industry. Amitabh made an entry in Bollywood, starting with Zanjeer, co-starred with his future wife-to-be Jaya Bhaduri, and since then there has been no looking back. His daughter Shweta is married and has a child. His son Abhishek and his daughter-in-law Aishwariya Rai are also into films.

The trademark deep baritone voice, the tall (6 ft 2 inches), brooding persona, and intense eyes, made Amitabh Bachchan the ideal “Angry Young Man” in the 1970s, which changed the face of Hindi cinema. His persona seemed apt for the 1970s, capturing the resentment of underemployed youth and the increasing cult of violence. Bachchan reworked the image of the Hindi film hero with major hits like Deewar, Sholay, Trishul, Don, Kala Patthar, and Shakti. Adapting former screen idol Dilip Kumar’s mannerisms and adding his own flamboyance, he popularized the violent melodrama.

He proved that he had an equal flair for tragedies (Deewar, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Shakti) and comedies (Chupke Chupke, Don, Naseeb, Amar Akbar Anthony) as well. His most memorable performance was as the renegade against a harsh society in Deewar. After Amar Akbar Anthony, in which he revelled in the role of a Catholic bootlegger, he played similar ‘masala’ roles that required action, comedy, tragedy, and romance in one character.

At the height of his popularity, Bachchan was injured in an accident while shooting for the film Coolie. Long lines of people prayed for his recovery at the Breach Candy hospital, underscoring his megastar status. He left films in 1985 to become a Member of Parliament from Allahabad constituency as a Congress party candidate. A report of involvement in financial irregularities, of which he was completely cleared later, made him decide to step down as MP.

Later, he landed in immense debt when he started his own production company ABCL. Astonishingly, he burst back by hosting Kaun Banegaa Crorepati, the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

While Amitabh’s role in Zanjeer was of an ‘angry young man’, he played the role of a poet (Kabhi Kabhi), a professor (Kasme Vaade), a comedian (Chupke Chupke, Amar Akbar Anthony, Don), a dying lover (Mukaddar Ka Sikander), etc. He has performed almost all kinds of roles. Even today, when he is nearing 70, roles are being written for him. He was declared as Star of the Millenium by BBC poll and by Stardust.

Arguably India’s greatest ever superstar is a vegetarian. He was also the first Asian actor to have his wax model displayed at Madame Tussaud’s in London, UK. He has reaffirmed his reputation as the living legend of Indian cinema with a new series of high profile films such as Mohabbatein (2000), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001), etc.

Amitabh has sung in many movies such as Laawaris, Toofan and Silsila. His favourite screen name is ‘Vijay’, which he had as his character name in over 20 movies. Actress Nirupa Roy is mostly cast as his mother and last time she featured was in Lai Baadshah (1999). The facial caricature of the Indian comic book character ‘Supremo’ is based upon him.

The Bollywood Shahenshah works with the Indian government’s media campaign to publicize the National Immunization Days and encourage people to take their children to be vaccinated against polio and other deadly diseases. He also champions for the cause of encouraging more people to donate blood. In 1984, the Indian government honored him with the Padma Shri Award for his outstanding contribution to the Hindi film industry.

Amitabh is the only actor to achieve at least one hit every year for 15 consecutive years—from 1972 (Bombay to Goa) to 1986 (Aakhree Raasta). He has played double and triple roles in a number of films. His double role starrers include Adalat (1976), Don (1978), Kasme Vaade (1978), The Great Gambler (1979), Bemisaal (1982), Desh

Premee (1982), Satte Pe Satta (1982), Aakhree Raasta (1986), Toofan (1989), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998), Lai Baadshah (1999) and Sooryavansham (1999). The film Mahaan (1983) had the superstar in a triple role. At the age of 58, he jumped from a height of 30 feet, along with co-star Manoj Bajpai, for his 2001 movie Aks (2001). On 31 October 2006, he shocked the unit of a forthcoming movie Shootout at Lokhandwala in Mumbai by recording 23 scenes in 5 hours a feat unheard of before.

Amitabh excelled in all types of scenes be it action, drama, song and dance or comedy and consequently his films began to be a one man variety entertainment show. He won the National Award for his portrayal of an underworld kingpin in Agneepath (1990). In 2001, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan for his contribution to Indian Cinema.

After that there was no looking back and today he is one of the busiest actors in Hindi cinema. In films like Baghban (2003), Khakhee (2004), Dev (2004), Bunty aur Babli (2005), Nishabd (2007), Cheeni Kum and The Last Lear (2008) he shows how easily he can rise above any script and breathe life into each and every role he plays.

Just when people thought his National Award winning performance in Black (2005) was the greatest performance of his career, he astounded everybody by his performance in Paa (2009). Even today, he is not only busy as ever, but also shows the same energy and enthusiasm for his work which is commendable. There are no two ways about it Legends like Amitabh Bachchan come but once in a lifetime. At sixty plus, Amitabh Bachchan is a greater icon than he was at the height of his popularity three decades ago.