This Brand ambassador of India is a household name in South Asia. Having touched the heart and souls of millions of fans he has endeared himself to them like no Bollywood actor has ever done.
Early Life: The actor was born in the historical town of Allahabad on the 11th day of October in 1942. Father Harivansh Rai Bachchan, a renowned poet, had a strong influence on his upbringing. His mother Teji Bachchan a great home maker and a lover of the stage gave him the qualities to make a career in acting. Amitabh made a humble beginning. After schooling in a convent and graduating from Delhi University he took up a job in Calcutta. He would have been a freight booking clerk all his life had he not decided to move to Mumbai for an acting career.
The actor debuted in 1969 in Saat Hindustani which crashed at the box office but gave him the National Award for the Best Newcomer. . Due to his great personality and talented acting Amitabh got the opportunity to act in movies along with well known older actors and actresses to the new generation actors. To consider few examples, in 1971 he played the role as an actor opposite to great actress Mala Sinha in the movie 'Sanjog'. Than he acted in the 1983 movie 'Pukar' along with well known old generation actor Randhir Kapoor and actress Zeenat Aman. Actress Rekha can be seen maximum number of times opposite to him in his movies and Kader Khan as villian. He churned out at least one major hit every year, including Deewaar (1975), Sholay (1975) Trishul (1978), Muqaddar Ka Sikander (1978), Don (1978), Kasme Vaade (1978), Kaala Patthar (1979), Mr. Natwarlal (1979), Ram Balram (1980), Shaan (1980), Lawaaris (1981), and Shakti (1982). Raakhee is one of the leading actress in earlier Amitabh Bachchan's movies. In the movie "Anand" he played the role of a Doctor(patient was actor Rajesh Khanna) to win the Filmfare Award of Best Supporting Actor. But superstardom was still distant. Then came a string of non starters till Bombay to Goa, an all time comedy of Bollywood. The road had just begun for the actor.
In 1979 film 'Kaala Patthar' Amitabh acted opposite to well known actress Neetu Singh who is currently the wife of actor Rishi Kapoor .Other actors in the movie were Shashi Kapoor, Shatrughan Sinha and Parveen Babi. This was the time when "revenge" was a theme which was very popular in Bollywood. This led to the "angry young man" which Amitabh was ideally suited to play. His imposing height and splendid dialogue delivery helped him build this image.
Then arrived the golden era of seventies. In Zanjeer he played a dashing police inspector who fights for justice. Deewar, the tale of two brothers, showed Amitabh as a victim of circumstances and was a super duper hit. This catapulted the actor to the prime of his career in Bollywood. Sholay, a phenomenal movie, hit Bollywood like a hurricane. Amitabh immortalized the eternal friend Jai on the silver screen. By now every youth in the country was buzzing dialogues from the movie and every girl fantasized about Amitabh Bachchan. His roles in Muqaddar Ka Sikander and Don made him the undisputed king of Bollywood. The actor showed his versatility by playing a comic role in Chupke Chupke, a great family comedy which is still loved by Bollywood fans. His career peaked with Amar Akbar Anthony sweeping awards en route. 1998 saw Govinda combining with Amitabh Bachchan to produce Bade Miyan Chhote Miyan with David Dhawan. Amitabh first time played the role of an Afghan or pathan in "Khuda Gawah" with leading indian actress Sridevi .
In the meanwhile the actor had married his co star Jaya Bhaduri and settled in personal life. Fame brought rumors. Ironically his suspected romance with Rekha was enacted in Reel Life in Silsila which was again a super hit. All rich and successful men are hated. The eighties brought trouble to this great actor. In 1982 he was severely injured on the sets of the movie Coolie but he recovered miraculously. His decision of foraying into politics and film production by forming a company known as ABCL proved to be critical. After being elected from Allahabad he had to resign within three years. His name was also dragged in the Bofors Controversy. His relations with the Media and the press soured. After his tryst with politics the actor made a comeback in 1988 in Shahenshah, the story of which was written by her wife Jaya Bachchan. All his films did not succeed and it appeared that it was the beginning of the end of a great career. His foray into film making and event management brought huge losses driving him very close to bankruptcy. But many of his later films did well in box office. He did the role of a stern headmaster in the movie 'Mohabbatein' co-starring with Shahrukh Khan, Jugal Hansraj and talented actor Uday Chopra. The film was directed by Uday Chopra's brother and Yash Chopra's son Aditya Chopra.
The new millennium brought new hope. The TV show " Kaun Banega Karodpati" which was anchored by the actor became a huge success and brought the magic of the actor back to audiences. Amitabh once again endeared himself to men and women, old and young alike. This show is said to have bailed out the actor from his financial worries. By now the actor had turned sixty and had to play roles suiting his age and looks. He started playing the father figure in Bollywood films. His role of a father in Baghban became a role model for all the fathers. And in Cheeni Kum he falls in love with a girl whose father is younger than him.
Besides acting, his rich voice can be heard in many documentaries and introduction to dozens of movies. He has also had his share of playback singing. The stature of the actor is so high that his son, Abhishek Bachchan, a rising star, is struggling to emerge from the shadows of his father. In a most significant development for Bollywood Abhishek married Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai to make the Bachchan family even more powerful.
He has graciously acted in commercials promoting social awareness also. The actor has been immortalized in the Madame Tussauds Museum. Having ruled Bollywood for quarter of a century the "Big B" story is still blooming. But still there is one actor who can compete him in the bollywood and he is non other than Hrithik Roshan .I consider Hrithik as a better dancer than Amitabh Bachchan but Amitabh still is better for his tall body, great personality and powerful acting. He is the tallest actor in bollywood and after him is John Abraham who is another body builder and male model of India. All my family members call Amitabh as "Lambu" which means very tall. My mother says he is the most disciplined and sensible actor in the bollywood and she liked him in "Kaun Banega Crorepati" program.
Hit Films of Amitabh bachchan after 1995
Kabhi Alvida Naa Kahena
Khakee
Sarkar
Veer Zaara
Viruddh
Major Saab
Kaante
Cheeni Kum
Ek Rishtaa
Eklavya
Bunty Aur Babli
Aankhen
Bade Miyan Chote Miyan
Baghban
Black
Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham
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