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There is no stopping to this living legend, named Amitabh Bachchan! Bollywood now is synonymous to his name eternally, probably! For as long as one can remember, Amitabh Bachchan has adorned the big and small screens be it the angry young man, the revenge-seeking common man, the disciplinarian and yet a lovable father. There are no words to describe the phenomenon that is Amitabh Bachchan, who never falls short of impressing his audience. The charisma is unbounded. Born to poet Harivanshrai Bachchan and freedom fighter wife Teji on October 11, 1942. He went to Nainital’s Sherwood College and then to Delhi’s Kirori Mal College. He married Jaya Bhaduri, his co-star of many films, a month before their film Abhimaan released, in 1973 – the year that he became a bona fide star. Celebrating his 80th birthday this year, Amitabh still remains the most sought after choice of the directors and one of India’s most followed film stars.
Ironically, when he moved to Mumbai with stars in his eyes, prospects seemed bleak for this tall, dark, lanky and not so handsome young man. Despite being referred by the than Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who was close friends with his mother Teji Bachchan, Amitabh was offered a mediocre role in the nationalistic Saat Hindustani (1969). The lanky young man was turned down repeatedly in favour of heroes like Rajesh Khanna.
#WATCH | Actor #AmitabhBachchan greets his fans who have gathered outside his residence ‘Jalsa’, in Mumbai, on his 80th birthday today. pic.twitter.com/eMahx6uOWi
— ANI (@ANI) October 11, 2022
Though his third film, Anand (1971), fetched him the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor for his sensitive performance as an idealistic doctor, it was not until 1973’s Zanjeer that Amitabh struck box office gold and became a sensation overnight with his ‘angry young man’ tag. And then there was no stopping to the journey of this living legend till date, with movies like 1975’s seminal Deewar to 1978’s Trishul and 1990’s Agneepath, Sholay, Amar Akbar Anthony, Don, Do Aur Do Paanch, Shaan, Naseeb, Satte Pe Satta, Namak Halaal. Abhimaan, Kabhi Kabhie, Lawaaris, Silsila to name a few.
In 1984, Amitabh tried his hands in politics at the insistence of good friend Rajiv Gandhi. He defeated former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, H N Bahuguna, by one of the highest margins in India’s election history from his hometown of Allahabad. However, his tryst with political destiny was short-lived being implicated in the Bofors scandal. He quit politics soon. Journey of life wasn’t that smooth when he started a production company called Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Ltd or ABCL, who lost millions after the company sponsored the 1996 Miss World pageant in Bengaluru. The company and the legend himself were declared bankrupt. But as luck would have it, a job hosting Kaun Banega Crorepati, turned his stars overnight and Amitabh was born again!
He continues to host Kaun Banega Crorepati and has his pick of roles. He has received the Padma Shri, the Padma Bhushan, the Padma Vibhushan as well as the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
