Hailed as one of the greatest actors that the Indian Film Industry has ever produced, The Superstar, The Angry Young Man, Big B, The Living Legend, The Star of the Millennium, yes Amitabh Bachchan is a name that needs no introduction. Born on 11th October 1942 his rise to stardom started with the 1973 Hindi film “Zanjeer”.
His acting career now spans more than four decades during which he has acted in more than 180 films. Besides acting Amitabh Bachchan has sung many songs as a playback singer, has produced films and has also worked as a television presenter.
Amitabh Bachchan was born in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. His father Harivansh Rai Bachchan was a famous Hindi Poet and mother Teji Bachchan was a Sikh from Faisalabad (Pakistan). Amitabh Bachchan did his early schooling from Allahabad and later went to Nainital’s Sherwood College. He then graduated with Bachelor of Science Degree from Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi. In his late twenties he decided to give up his job as a freight broker in a shipping company, Bird and Co. in Kolkata and came to Bombay (now Mumbai) to pursue his career as an actor.
Amitabh Bachchan started his film career in 1969 as a voice narrator in Mrinal Sen’s film Bhuvan Shome. His first role as an actor was in the film Saat Hindustani which was directed by Hhwaja Ahmed Abbas. Though this film was not a box office hit, he won the National Award for the Best Newcomer. His early phase as an actor which saw him acting in films of the likes of Anand, Parwana, Reshma Aur Shera, Guddi, Bombay to Goa and others though were appreciated but did not meet the much needed box office success.
However all this changed from 1973 with Amitabh Bachchan playing the lead role in Prakash Mehra’s Zanjeer which was a huge hit at the box office. This film established Amitabh Bachchan in the Hindi Film Industry and gave him the title of “Angry Young Man”. This was the year when he got married to Jaya Bhaduri.
Amitabh Bachchan then went on to become the Super Star of the Hindi Film Industry and gave several box office hits like Deewar, Sholay, Amar Akbar Anthony, Muqaddar ka Sikandar, Don, Chupke Chupke, Trishul, Dostana, Ram Balram, Shaan, Lawaris, Shakti, Kala Pathar and many others.
In 1983 he met with a serious accident while shooting for the film Coolie in which he was injured seriously. He recovered from this injury and went on to complete the shooting of the film. The film “Coolie” was also a huge success at the box office. He was being referred as a “one-man industry”.
The later period from 1984 to 1987 saw him entering in the political arena when he was elected as a MP from Allahabad. But he quickly realized that politics was not made for him and reentered into acting giving smashing hits with the films of the likes of “Shahanshah” and “Akhari Raasta”.
After this he saw a mixed period with some hits and flops. Amitabh Bachchan’s major films during this period included Hum, Agneepath, and Khuda Gawah. He won the National Award for the Best Actor for his acting in the film Agneepath. He again came to prominence with the TV Quiz Show “Kaun Banega Crorepati” in which he performed as the host of the show. This show became a huge success with the Indian audience.
He is still actively working in films. Some of his latest releases being Aarakshan, Budda Hoga Tera Baap and Department. Amitabh Bachchan is truly the greatest superstar of the Indian Film Industry.
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