Amitabh Bachchan

Big B Amitabh Bachchan is undoubtedly the biggest superstar of Indian Cinema. Action, comedy, romance or drama, there is no genre which is not performed by the Angry Young Man. Amitabh Harivansh Rai Bachchcan has been called 'One Man Industry' by French Director Francois Truffaut. He is only the 2nd Super star of Indian Film Industry and no one else has ever experienced the superstardom enjoyed by the Persona.

Amitabh was born to the renowned poet Dr.Harivansh Rai Bachchan and wife Teji Bachchan on 11th October 1942 in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh in India. Amitabh was previously going to be christened as 'Inquilab' as born at the times of India's struggle of independence but was later named as Amitabh (meaning Eternal light).Bachchan's real surname is Shrivastava but his father, a non-believer in racism used 'Bachchan' as his pen name. When Amitabh entered movie industry he too used it as the last name. Amitabh's Mother is a Sikhni. He is married to yesteryear superstar Jaya Bhaduri who is a Bengali. They have two kids, son Abhishek Bachchan and daughter Shweta. Aishwarya Rai, a south Indian, is his daughter in law.

Amitabh tried his luck on All India Radio and came to become a Radio Presenter, but failed as 'Harish Bhimani' was chosen, instead. Bachchan then lent his voice in Mrinal Sen's 1969 National award winning movie 'Bhuvan Shome'. His first movie as an actor was 'Saat Hindustani' a film based on Goa Freedom Fight. Amitabh played a Muslim young man, one of the 7 freedom fighters in the movie. For this he won his first national Film award as a Newcomer. It is heard that Teji Bachchan's friend Indira Gandhi helped Amitabh to get him some offers. He was noticed by Ace Director Hrishikesh Mukherjee who then offered him a Role in 1971 movie 'Anand' alongside Superstar Rajesh Khanna. Bachchan received a Filmfare award for the best supporting Actor category. Hrishida planned to cast Amitabh opposite Jaya Bhaduri in 'Guddi' but after two three days of shooting he sued him off and gave that role to a Bengali Actor although the film has AB in a Special Appearance. He narrated in Hrishida's Movie 'Bawarchi'. He then also appeared in comic flick 'Bombay to Goa'.

He was suggested to Prakash Mehra to cast him in his 1973 blockbuster 'Zanjeer' after a bunch of actors refused to do the role. The role where he essayed the character of an honest Police inspector conferred him with the title of Angry Yong Man of Indian Cinema. His co-actress for the movie Jaya Bhaduri married him in the same year. 'Abhimaan' of Hrishikesh Mukherjee released only a month later of their marriage was a Box office success. Bachchan went on doing successful movie such as 'Namak Haram', 'Roti Kapada Aur Makaan', Comic Caper 'Chupke Chupke' alongside Dharmendra,'Faraar' and 'Mili'.

In the year 1975, he appeared in the movie 'Deewaar' directed by Yash Chopra. From this movie he captured the much attention of the audience and became a household name. In the same year released the remarkable 'Sholay' which completed a successful golden jubilee. The film was awarded Filmfare best film of 50 years. Amitabh was first approached to play the negative character of Gabbar but later was zeroed for the role of Jaidev who dies in the end. He gained thorough sympathy for his character. He received his first Fimfare award for the Best actor category for his role of Anthony Gonsalves in Manmohan Desai's 'Amar Akbar Anthony'. He then went on to do hit after hit films such as 'Kabhi Kabhi', 'Parvarish', 'Khoon Pasina','Kasme Vaade','Trishul','Muqaddar Ka Sikandar','Suhaag','Kaala Patthar' etc. He won his second Filmfare best actor award for his lead role in 'Don'. He was nominated in Fimfare awards for best male playback singer for his song 'Mere Paas Aao' in 'Mr. Natwarlal'. He was seen in Yash Chopra's 'Silsila' along with Jaya Bhaduri, Rekha and Sanjeev Kumar.

In the year 1982, while shooting a fighting sequence with co-actor 'Puneet Issar' for the movie 'Coolie' in a university campus in Bangalore he contracted an intestinal injury. He was critically injured and was even warned that he may lose his life. As soon as this news went on air people all over India started praying, going to temples, mosque, and church for his well-being. This had never happened before for any star. The well wishes of billions worked and the actor was rescued. This was enough to declare the next superstar of India. In the movie his character was scripted to be dead in the end but Manmohan Desai changed it to live and strive in the end stating that it would have been appropriate for the man who has lately beaten death. The injury made him weak mentally and physically and the actor decided to quit films.

He entered politics from the party of family friend Rajiv Gandhi and won the general elections of 8th LokSabhaa from UP, But left politics after 3 years. He re-entered movies in 1988 and went on giving some hit movies like 'Shahenshah', 'Hum', 'Agneepath', 'Khuda Gawah'. Bachchan had opened a production house during his temporary retirement and he also produced some main events and movies but it soon went into a deep financial crisis. After it Bachchan moved to acting to gain the lost wealth in 1998. But he really properly came back in Yash Raj's 'Mohabbatein' after which he never looked back. Also in the same year he debuted on Television as TV host with the trend setting game show 'Kaun Banega Crorepati' which revolutionized the television industry.

Amitabh is still going great in both the industries and continues to grace the screen with his performances.