Date of Birth:
11 October 1942, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
Birth Name:
Amitabh Harivansh Srivastav
Nicknames:
Big B
Munna
One Man Industry
Angry Young Man
Bollywood's Shahenshah
Amith
AB Sr.
Height:
6' 2" (1.88 m)
Early Life:
Amitabh Harivansh Bachchan was born on October 11, 1942 in Allahabad city of Uttar Pradesh to the pair of Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Teji Bachchan. His father was a renowned writer and poet while his mother was a Punjabi from Faisalabad. He has a younger brother Ajitabh Bachchan.
He was initially given the name Inquilab by his father but later changed to his current name on advice of a friend.
Amitabh studied at Boy’s High School and Sherwood College where he took up arts as his subject of choice. He did his graduation in B.Sc from Kirori Mal College of Delhi University.
He married Jaya Bachchan in 1973 soon after his hit film Zanjeer and before Abhimaan.
They have a son Abhishek Bachchan and daughter Shweta Bachchan.
His father died in the year 2003 while mother Teji Bachchan in 2007.
Bollywood Career:
The trademark deep baritone voice, the tall, brooding persona, and intense eyes, made Amitabh Bachchan gain popularity in the early 1970s as the "angry young man" of Hindi cinema, and has since appeared in over 180 Indian films in a career spanning more than four decades. Bachchan is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential actors in the history of Indian cinema.
Amitabh Bachchan started his film career as a voice narrator in Bhuvan Shome (1969). He got his first opportunity as an actor in Saat Hindustani that won him the Best Newcomer National Award.
He won his first Filmfare Award in 1971 as a supporting actor in Anand along side Rajesh Khanna. He played doctor to his ailing friend. Then he starred in Parwaana (1971), Reshma aur Shera (1971), Guddi and many other films during 1969-1972.
His first major performance that was noticable came in 1973 flick Zanjeer where he played Inspector Vijay alongside Pran. It was after this film that he earned the tag of "Angry Young Man" of Bollywood.
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| ZANJEER (1973) |
1975 is still remembered as historic for Bollywood cinema as two of the most blockbuster hits released.
First was Yash Chopra’s Deewar where Amitabh played brother to Shashi Kapoor. The film was ranked as the 4th highest grosser of 1975.
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| DEEWAR (1975) |
Next was all time blockbuster hit and Film of the Millennium Sholay starring Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar and Amjad Khan. It became the highest grossing film in Indian cinema and is still ranked among top grocers. The movie lasted for more than 30 years in theatres.
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| SHOLAY (1975) |
Upto this point Amitabh gave many hits but won his first Filmfare Award for Best Actor for Amar Akbar Anthony in 1977 in which he played Anthony Gonsalves. Before that he was nominated for Best Actor Award in Kabhie Kabhie (1976).
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| Amar Akbar Anthony (1979) |
Some of his other acclaimed movies include Trishul, Muqaddar Ka Sikander, Mr. Natwarlal, Silsila, Dostana, Ram Balram, Shaan, Lawaaris and Shakti.
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| Trishul (1978)
He was seriously injured on the sets of his film Coolie on July 26, 1982 while shooting for a fight scene with Puneet Issar. Amitabh fell on a table and struck his abdomen to the corner of the table. He was hospitalized for many months putting breaks to the film. He started working only in 1983 and the movie was a success.
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| DON (1978) |
That injury made him ill and weak and he decided to quit films to make his mark in Politics. He returned to films in 1988 with Shahenshah a hit again, and then with Hum (1991) that won him his third Filmfare Best Actor Award.
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| Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978) |
After a four year break, he was back in the unsuccessful Mrityudaata (1997), a comeback which the actor wanted to forget. Critics written him off but his career was saved with Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998). But four flops in 1999 and incurring debt of over 90 Crores rupees of his sinking company ABCL saw him at an all-time low. To make matters worse, after the defeat of the Congress party, Amitabh lost considerable political support, the opposition made him a target, and his credit rating deteriorated to such an extent that a leading nationalized bank, Canara Bank, sued him for outstanding loans. He did bounce back, presenting the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire called "Kaun Banega Crorepati?"(2000). After a series of hits with Mohabbatein (2000), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001) and Baghban (2003) and Khakee (2004), this elderly Bachchan is showing no signs of slowing down and proving the critics wrong once again.
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| Kaala Patthar (1979)
Awards & Achievements:
Bachchan has won numerous major awards in his career, including four National Film Awards, three of which are in the Best Actor category, and fourteen Filmfare Awards. He is the most-nominated performer in any major acting category at Filmfare, with 36 nominations overall. In addition to acting, Bachchan has worked as a playback singer, film producer and television presenter, and was an elected member of the Indian Parliament from 1984 to 1987.
Some of the awards won by Amitabh Bachchan includes:
Filmfare Awards:
Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Anand (1971)
Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Namak Haraam (1973)
Filmfare Best Actor Award for Amar Akbar Anthony (1977)
Filmfare Best Actor Award for Don (1978)
Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (First Recipient 1990)
Filmfare Best Actor Award for Hum (1991)
Filmfare Best Actor Award for Black(2005)
Filmfare Best Actor Award for Paa (2010)
Superstar of the Millennium 2000
National Awards:
National Film Award for Best Newcomer for Saat Hindustani in 1970
National Film Award for Best Actor for Agneepath (1991) National Film Award for Best Actor for Paa (2010)
Other Awards & Honors:
•Padma Shri (1984)
•Padma Bhushan (2001)
•Actor of the Century (2001)
•Honorary Citizenship Deauville (2003)
•The Knight of the Legion of Honour (2007)
•Honorary Doctorate (Jhansi University, Delhi University, De Montfort University)
•Lifetime Achievement Award (Asian Film Award 2010)
Besides, Amitabh Bachchan films, Amitabh Bachchan profile would include his career as a politician, singer, television presenter, film producer and many more roles in his life. Amitabh Bachchan biography can be extended to:
•Politics: 1984-1987 (contested election from Allahabad for Lok Sabha Seat and won by a record margin. His victory margin of 68.2 % is still the highest victory margin in general elections.)
•Producer: 1996-1999 (As a producer, A.B.C.L. producedTere Mere Sapne, which marked the acting career debut for Arshad Warsi and South Star Simran, 1996 Miss World Pageant, Mritydaat)
•Television Presenter: 2000-2005 (Hosted game showKaun Banega Crorepati – Season 1 and Season 2. Also hosted Junior KBC).
•Playback Singer: Sang in many Hindi movies like The Great Gambler, Mr. Natwarlal, Laawaris, Naseeb, Silisila,Mahaan, Pukar, Sharaabi, Toofan, Jaadugar, Khuda Gawah,Major Saab, Sooryavansham, Aks, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Aankhen, Armaan, Baghban,Dev, Aitbaar, Baabul, Nishabd, Cheeni Kum, and Bhoothnath.
He continues to be one of the busiest actors and singers in Bollywood as well as on TV, as can be seen from the commercials that he appears on, especially on Sahara One. Looks like there are no limits for this super-star and once the "Angry Young Man" of Bollywood.
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