Amitabh Bachchan

Lore & Background

Bachchan was born to Hindi poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan and social activist Teji Bachchan. His parents initially planned to name him Inquilaab, but poet Sumitranandan Pant suggested the name Amitabh. His father adopted the pen name Bachchan, which became the family surname. Bachchan attended Sherwood College and Kirori Mal College, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in 1962. He worked as a business executive and in theatre before his film career.

His film career began in 1969 with his first film role as a lead actor in 'Saat Hindustani'. After early struggles, he gained prominence with Zanjeer (1973), which established his 'angry young man' persona. He dominated Hindi cinema from the mid-1970s to the 1980s with films like Deewaar, Sholay, and Don. After a break in the 1990s, he resurged with Mohabbatein (2000) and continued with acclaimed films such as Black, Piku, and Pink. He also appeared in the Hollywood film The Great Gatsby (2013).

Reader's Guide

Amitabh Bachchan's significance lies in his transformation of the Hindi film hero from a romantic figure to the 'angry young man,' reflecting societal frustrations of the 1970s. His career spans over five decades, with a record four National Film Awards for Best Actor and seventeen Filmfare Awards. He was voted the 'greatest star of stage or screen' in the BBC Your Millennium poll (1999) and called the 'undisputed godfather of Bollywood' by Time magazine (2003). Beyond acting, he has worked as a playback singer, producer, and television presenter, notably hosting Kaun Banega Crorepati. His humanitarian work and brand endorsements have made him a pan-Indian icon with a large overseas following. The French government awarded him the Officer of the Legion of Honour in 2007.

Did You Know?

• Bachchan was voted the 'greatest star of stage or screen' in the BBC Your Millennium online users poll in 1999.
• He received the Knight of the Legion of Honour (Chevalier), France's highest civilian honour, in 2007.
• His father, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, was a Hindi poet who adopted the pen name Bachchan.
• He made a guest appearance in the Hollywood film The Great Gatsby (2013) playing a non-Indian Jewish character.

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"Quoted in "Bachchan Receives Lifetime Achievement Award at DIFF". Khaleej Times. 25 November 2009. Retrieved on 15 December 2013. ." — Amitabh Bachchan "His biggest regret is not to share the "growing up moments" of his children quoted in "Bachchan Receives Lifetime Achievement Award at DIFF"." — Amitabh Bachchan "In his blog, reported in Andrew Buncombe, "Slumdogs who seek success", The Independent (January 16, 2009), News, p. 30." — Amitabh Bachchan "We had forgotten the art of using silence to convey emotions in our films and that's what you seem to have mastered. You've used silence to great advantage in the film. It's brilliant." — Amitabh Bachchan