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Amitabh Bachchan

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Amitabh Bachchan is a legendary Indian actor working in Hindi cinema.

Amitabh-Bachchan
Amitabh-Bachchan

He is widely considered one of the most accomplished and commercially successful actors in Indian history. Throughout his career, he has starred in over 200 films. Because of his massive influence, many people call him the "Shahenshah" of Bollywood. Others use titles like "Sadi ke Mahanayak," which means superstar of the century in Hindi.

BACHCHAN Amitabh 03-24x30-2009b
BACHCHAN Amitabh 03-24x30-2009b

His dominance in the industry during the 1970s and 1980s was so great that French director François Truffaut described it as a "one-man industry."

Bachchan's journey began with modest starts and several early struggles. He was born on October 11, 1942, in Allahabad, which is now called Prayagraj. His father, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, was a Hindi poet. His mother, Teji Bachchan, was a social activist.

Bachchan family still6
Bachchan family still6

While his family name was originally Shrivastava, his father adopted the pen name "Bachchan," meaning "child-like" in Hindi. The family chose to use this name for all practical purposes. Before acting, Bachchan studied science at Kirori Mal College in Delhi. He also worked as a business executive for Bird & Company in Kolkata. He even attempted to become a newsreader for All India Radio, but he failed that audition.

His film career officially started in 1969 as a voice narrator in the film Bhuvan Shome.

Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra in 2016
Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra in 2016

Early roles included work in films like Anand and Roti Kapada Aur Makaan. However, many of his early films did not find commercial success. By the age of 30, he was often viewed as a "failed newcomer." This changed when he met the famous screenwriter duo Salim–Javed. Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar saw a unique talent in him that other filmmakers had missed. They created a specific persona for him that would change Indian cinema forever.

This new persona was known as the "angry young man."

The writers conceived this role for the film Zanjeer in 1973. In this film, Bachchan played a hero fighting against a crooked system. This character resonated deeply with the youth of the 1970s. Many people felt frustration regarding social issues like poverty, unemployment, and corruption. Bachchan's characters became a metaphor for the rebellion of an entire generation. This era of success included massive hits such as Deewaar, Trishul, and Sholay. He became a dominant force in the industry, often starring in the highest-grossing films of the year.

Bachchan's career has been marked by incredible longevity and many different roles. After taking a break from acting in the 1990s, he made a major comeback in 2000 with the film Mohabbatein.

Amitabh Bachchan and Yash Chopra in the premiere of Paa
Amitabh Bachchan and Yash Chopra in the premiere of Paa

Since then, he has starred in acclaimed films like Black, Paa, Piku, and more recently, Kalki 2898 AD. He has also expanded his skills beyond acting. He has worked as a playback singer and a film producer. He is also a famous television presenter, hosting the Indian version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" called Kaun Banega Crorepati. He even made a brief appearance in the Hollywood film The Great Gatsby in 2013.

His talent has earned him a record number of prestigious awards.

The President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil presenting the Best Film Actor Award for the year 2005 to Shri Amitabh Bachchan
The President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil presenting the Best Film Actor Award for the year 2005 to Shri Amitabh Bachchan

He has won six National Film Awards. Notably, he is the only actor to win four National Film Awards specifically in the Best Actor category. He has also received sixteen Filmfare Awards. He holds a record for being the most nominated performer at the Filmfare awards, with 34 nominations for Best Actor and 42 nominations overall. The Indian government has honored him with the Padma Shri, the Padma Bhushan, and the Padma Vibhushan. In 2018, he received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest honor in cinema. He was also named an Officer of the Legion of Honour by the government of France in 2007.

Beyond the film sets, Bachchan's influence reaches a global scale. He has a massive following among the South Asian diaspora across the world. This includes large audiences in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. His fame also extends to Africa, the Middle East, Russia, and Oceania.

Vijay receiving award from amitabh 2011
Vijay receiving award from amitabh 2011

He has also been involved in politics during the 1980s and has participated in various humanitarian works. His life and career represent a deep connection between individual talent and the changing social history of India.

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🖼️ Images & Media (11)
File:Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra in 2016.jpg
Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra in 2016.jpg
File:Amitabh Bachchan and Yash Chopra in the premiere of Paa.jpg
Amitabh Bachchan and Yash Chopra in the...
File:Bachan mohanlal.jpg
Bachan mohanlal.jpg
File:Vijay receiving award from amitabh 2011.jpg
Vijay receiving award from amitabh 2011.jpg
File:Amitabh Bachchan KBC5 Press.jpg
Amitabh Bachchan KBC5 Press.jpg
File:Amitabh Bachchan - TeachAIDS Recording Session (19284544383).jpg
Amitabh Bachchan - TeachAIDS Recording...
File:Bachchan family still6.jpg
Bachchan family still6.jpg
File:BACHCHAN Amitabh 03-24x30-2009b.jpg
BACHCHAN Amitabh 03-24x30-2009b.jpg
File:Amitabh-Bachchan.jpg
Amitabh-Bachchan.jpg
File:The President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil presenting the Best Film Actor Award for the year 2005 to Shri Amitabh Bachchan.jpg
The President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh...
File:Amitabh Bachchan with Olympic torch.jpg
Amitabh Bachchan with Olympic torch.jpg
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