Amitabh Bachchan
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| Amitabh Bachchan | |
 Amitabh Bachchan in Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006) |
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| Born | October 11, 1942 (age 64) Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India |
Amitabh Bachchan (/əmitɑːbʱ bətʃtʃən/; Devanagari: अमिताभ बच्चन), (also known as Amitabh and Big B) born October 11, 1942 is a Hindi film actor. His career started in 1969 and has spanned four decades.
Amitabh Bachchan was also a member of Indian Parliament (MP), being elected in 1984 from Allahabad. He resigned from this post after serving three years.
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[edit] Biography
Amitabh Bachchan was born in the city of Allahabad, India. His father, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, was a well-known poet of Urdu and Hindi. The original last name of the family is "Srivastava"; "Bachchan" was in fact a pen name used by his father. However, when Bachchan entered films he did so under his father's pen name. Now he is never known as anything but Amitabh Bachchan. His immediate family has also adopted the Bachchan surname. His mother is Teji Bachchan, who is a Sikh born in Punjab, India. His father is a Hindu Kayastha from Uttar Pradesh, hence popularly known as a UPite.
Bachchan attended Allahabad's Boys' High School, followed by Nainital's Sherwood College, where he gained a degree in art. He later went on to study at Kirori Mal College in Delhi University earning a degree in science. When he was in his twenties, Bachchan gave up a job as freight broker for the shipping firm, Bird and Co., based in Kolkata, to pursue a career in acting.
He is married to actress Jaya Bhaduri (now Bachchan). The couple have two children: daughter Shweta and son Abhishek. Abhishek Bachchan has also entered the Bollywood film industry.
Bachchan is said to have met Jaya Bhaduri at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) at Pune[1], [2], though there is no evidence to confirm that he was ever enrolled there as a student.
In 1984, Bachchan briefly entered politics in support of long-time family friend Rajiv Gandhi. He contested Allahabad's Parliament seat against H. N. Bahuguna, a well-known politician, and won by a large margin (68.2% of the vote).[1] His political career, however, was short-lived: he resigned after only three years, not finishing his term. At the time of his resignation, it was rumoured that he might have been involved in the Bofors Scandal. Bachchan was not implicated in the case, and has since distanced himself from the Gandhi family. He denies that the two events were connected, commenting that he "should have never got into politics".
In November 2005, Bachchan was admitted to India's Lilavati Hospital,[3] in order to undergo surgery on his intestine. The procedure came after Bachchan complained of pain in his abdomen. After the operation, Bachchan took several months off from work, unable to leave his home even to shoot the sequel to his recently-launched television program, Kaun Banega Crorepati 2. By April 2006 Bachchan had resumed shooting for most of his projects.[citation needed]
[edit] Early career
Bachchan's first film, Saat Hindustani, his only black-and-white film, was released in 1969. In this film he played a Muslim poet. The film was not a success at the box office and he went unnoticed. However for his second film Anand he won a Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for his performance.
He went on to appear in films such as Reshma Aur Shera, playing a mute man (1971), and Parwaana (1971), where he played a psychopath, but neither of these films established him as a celebrity.
Bachchan's first box office success came in 1973 when director Prakash Mehra cast Bachchan in the film Zanjeer. The film was a cops-and-robbers melodrama which helped establish Amitabh's persona as an "angry young man" and was the first major hit of his career. Bachchan then had at least one major hit every year for the next decade. Some of his hit films included Deewaar (1975), Sholay (1975), Trishul (1978), Kaala Patthar (1979) and Shakti (1982) which further cemented his image as an "angry young man."
In addition to being an "angry young man", he also become known for his comedy roles in hit films such as Chupke Chupke (1975), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977) Do aur Do Paanch (1980), Namak Halaal (1982), etc. and romantic roles in films such as Kabhie Kabhie (1976) and Silsila (1981).
While filming Coolie in 1982, Bachchan was seriously injured during the filming of a fight scene with co-star Puneet Issar.[4]. He was in the hospital with a ruptured intestine for months, and at times was close to death. A remarkable outpouring of support and concern by his fans and the nation in general followed. After recovery Bachchan resumed the shooting for Coolie, and it finally released and was a huge success owing to its pre-release over-rated publicity.[5]
The director, Manmohan Desai altered the ending for Coolie after Bachchan's accident. Bachchan's character was originally intended to have been killed off but after the change of script, the character lived in the end. It would have been inappropriate, said Desai, for the man who had just fended off death in real life to be killed on screen as well. Also, remarkably, in the released film the footage of the fight scene is frozen at the critical moment, and a caption appears onscreen marking this as the instant of the actor's injury to encash the pre-release over-rated publicity of the accident episode.[6]
[edit] Later career
During the late 1980s, after his brief stint in politics, Bachchan's films became less successful. Many films did very poorly, such as Jaadugar and Toofan, both from 1989. His 1991 film Hum did well, but later films also suffered at the box office. Starting in 1992, after the release of Khuda Gawah, he took a break from the film industry.
He returned to films in 1997, but for a year or so, hits still eluded him. His first comeback vehicle, Mrityudaata produced by his own production company ABCL, was a box-office disaster.[7]Subsequent films, such as Major Saab (1997), Sooryavansham (1999), and Lal Baadshah (1999) also failed at the box office.
The first two of his comeback films to succeed were the 1998 comedy Bade Miyan Chote Miyan[8] in which he starred with Govinda, and 2000's Mohabbatein[9], which co-starred Shah Rukh Khan.
Bachchan then accepted an television offer to host an Indian version of the popular British game show, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, or Kaun Banega Crorepati?. The show was a hit, to the point that the Theatre Owner's Association president requested it be aired in the morning, as it was seriously cutting into theatre attendance on the four nights per week it was aired.[2]
Two films that followed, in which he appeared as a stern patriarch, Ek Rishta (2001) and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001), were both box office hits and Bachchan regained his old fame
He has since appeared in a number of films each year, sometimes in unconventional or supporting roles. He has been praised for his performances in films such as Aks (2001)[10], Aankhen (2002)[11]Baghban(2003)[12], Khakee (2004)[13] and Dev [14]
In 2005, he appeared in the film Black, in which he played the driven, eccentric teacher of a deaf and blind student played by Rani Mukherjee. In the same year he co-starred for the first time with his son Abhishek in the comedy Bunty Aur Babli and the Godfather-esque crime drama Sarkar both of which were hits at the box office.[15] He once again appeared with Abhishek, playing a sex-obsessed father in the newly-released Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna (2006).
[edit] Trivia
- Amitabh Bachchan married Jaya Bhaduri after the success of the movie Abhimaan (directed by Hrikhesh Mukerjee). In this movie Amitabh and Jaya play a successful singing couple. In addition to Abhimaan, Amitabh and Jaya acted together in Zanjeer, Chupke Chupke, Mili, Sholay and later in Silsila and Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham.
- He has not made a public appearance without his goatee since Mohabbatein, although in Khakee and Lakshya the goatee was reduced to a moustache; he grew it back as soon as the films finished post-production.
- His parents initially planned to name him "Inquilaab", which means "Revolution".[16]
- Amitabh Bachchan is 6' 0.5" (not 6' 2") as measured by the regular check-up doctors at the Lilavati hospital[17]
- He is ambidextrous, though on-screen he is most often seen using his left hand.[18]
- He once burned his hand badly while lighting a firecracker. For this reason, he kept the hand concealed throughout much of the filming of Sharaabi. Most viewers took this to be an artistic "statement".[citation needed]
- Before entering the film industry, Bachchan applied for a job with All India Radio. He was turned down because of his unusual voice.[19]
- He learned sign language for his 2005 film, Black.[citation needed]
- He has played a dual role in many films such as Don, Satte Pe Satta, Aakhree Raasta, Toofan, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, Sooryavansham, and Lal Baadshah. He also played a triple role in Mahaan. But looked Amitabh only throughout the film. No characterization ability.
- While filming the movie Aks, he did much of his own stunt work even though he was 58 years old at the time. During one fight scene, he jumped 30 feet down a waterfall.[20]
- At the age of 64, Amitabh Bachchan creates cinematic world record. He shocked the entire unit of Apoorva Lakhia's Shootout at Lokhandwala by completing 23 scenes in 5 hours....an unheard-of feat in any part of the world. [21]
[edit] Awards, Honors and Recognitions
[edit] National Film Awards
Amitabh Bachchan has won the National Film Awards (the Indian version of the Oscar) thrice.
- 1970 - Best Newcomer for Saat Hindustani
- 1991 - Best Actor for Agneepath
- 2005 - Best Actor for Black [22]
[edit] Popular Film Awards
- Amitabh Bachchan has won fourteen Filmfare Awards in various categories. The most recent award was the 2005 Filmfare Best Actor Award for his role in the film Black.
- Amitabh Bachchan has been nominated as Filmfare Best Actor twenty-eight times (a record).
- Apart from National Film Awards and Filmfare Awards, Amitabh Bachchan has won many IIFA Awards, Zee Cine Awards, Star Screen Awards, Stardust Awards, Sansui Awards, Aashirwaad Awards, Apsara Awards and other awards.
[edit] National honors and recognitions
- In 1982, Amitabh Bachchan was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award from the Government of India. [23]
- In 1994, Amitabh Bachchan was awarded the Yash Bharati Samman, UP state's highest award from the Government of Uttar Pradesh. [24]
- In February of 2000, Amitabh Bachchan was crowned Filmfare Superstar of the Millennium for his sterling performances over the years. [25]
- On January 8, 2001, Amitabh Bachchan was honoured with Best Artist of the Millennium award by Hero Honda and file magazine "Stardust". [26]
- On January 26, 2001, Amitabh Bachchan was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award from the Government of India. [27]
- In December of 2005, Amitabh Bachchan and Sonia Gandhi were voted as NDTV’s Urban "INDIAN(s) OF THE YEAR" through a nationwide poll. [28]
- After receiving accolades and encomiums for putting the Indian movie industry on the world map, Amitabh Bachchan was conferred an honorary doctorate degree on November 4, 2006 by his Alma Mater Delhi University. [29]
- Amitabh Bachchan was voted the hottest male vegetarian by 'People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' (PETA) for two years running.[30]
[edit] International honors and recognitions
- In July of 1999, Amitabh Bachchan was named the Superstar of the Millennium by BBC Online poll where he defeated many Hollywood legends such as Alec Guinness, Marlon Brando, Sir Laurence Olivier and Charlie Chaplin. [31]
- In June of 2000, Amitabh Bachchan became the first living Asian to have been immortalised in wax at London's prestigious Madame Tussauds Wax museum. [32]
- In March of 2001, Amitabh Bachchan was ranked as the most powerful actor in Bollywood, by Forbes.com[33]
- On September 10, 2001 Amitabh Bachchan was awarded the Star of the Century award, the closing day of the Alexandria International Film Festival. Egyptian Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni presented Bachchan with the award in recognition of his contribution to international cinema. [34]
- In a poll conducted by Britain's Channel 4 television in May of 2003, Amitabh Bachchan has been voted as "one of the greatest 100 Film Stars of All time". Amitabh Bachchan is the only Indian actor on the list, which is dominated by American actors. [35]
- In October of 2003, Amitabh Bachchan was honoured at the Marrakech International Film Festival. [36]
- In April of 2005, The Walter Reade Theater of Lincoln Center in New York honors Amitabh Bachchan with a special tribute, retrospective--titled "Amitabh Bachchan: The Biggest Film Star in the World"-- [37] The tribute also included "An Evening with Amitabh Bachchan", a live appearance by Bachchan hosted at the Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall.
- British newspaper The Sunday Times has described Amitabh Bachchan as "Tom Cruise, Sean Connery and Clint Eastwood rolled into one.” "Certainly there is no British actor alive who shares his fame," the British newspaper said on December 4, 2006. [38]
- Amitabh Bachchan is the only Asian to feature on BBC's Wogan Show. [39]
- UNICEF has signed Amitabh Bachchan, as a goodwill ambassador.[40]
- Amitabh Bachchan was given an honorary degree of Doctor of Arts by De Montfort University in Leicester, UK on July 19, 2006 in recognition of his distinguished career in films. He is the first Indian star to be feted by a foreign university. [41]
- On Amitabh Bachchan's 64th birthday, the French Government announced that it would honour him with its highest civilian award, the Legion of Honour. [42]
- Amitabh Bachchan will be honoured along with actors and directors from Hollywood at an International Film Festival in Rabat, Morocco. [43]
- Amitabh Bachchan has become the first Indian celebrity and the sixth in the world to be presented with a special certificate for his support to the International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFI) in London. [44]
[edit] Filmography
| Acting Filmography | |
| Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (2007) | Special Appearance |
| Ram Gopal Varma Ke Sholay (2007) | Gabbar Singh |
| Sarkar 2 (2007) | Subhas Nagre/"Sarkar" |
| Sivaji: The Boss (2007) | |
| Nishabd (2007) | |
| Cheeni Kum (2007) | |
| Exclusion (2007) | |
| Bhoothnath (2007) | |
| God Tussi Great Ho (2007) | |
| Shootout at Lokhandwala (2007) | |
| Eklavya: The Royal Guard (2007) | Eklavya |
| Struggler (2007) | |
| Zamaanat (2006) | Shiv Shankar |
| Baabul (2006) | Balraj Kapoor |
| Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006) | Samarjit Singh Talwar (aka. Sexy Sam) |
| Darna Zaroori Hai (2006) | Professor |
| Family - Ties of Blood (2006) | Viren Sahi |
| Amrithadhaare (Kannada) (2005) | Amitabh Bachchan as himself |
| Ek Ajnabee (2005) | Suryaveer Singh |
| Dil Jo Bhi Kahey... (2005) | Shekhar Sinha |
| Viruddh... Family Comes First (2005) | Vidhyadar Ramkrishna Patwardhan |
| Parineeta (2005) | Narrator |
| Sarkar (2005) | Subhash Nagre/"Sarkar" |
| Paheli (2005) | The Shepherd |
| Ramji Londonwaley (2005) | Amitabh Bachchan as himself |
| Bunty Aur Babli (2005) | D.C.P. Dashrath Singh |
| Waqt: The Race Against Time (2005) | Ishwarchand Thakur |
| Black (2005) | Debraj Sahai |
| Khakee (2004) | D.C.P. Anant Kumar Shrivastav |
| Aetbaar (2004) | Dr. Ranveer Malhotra |
| Rudraksh (2004) | Narrator |
| Insaaf: The Justice (2004) | Narrator |
| Deewaar (2004) | Maj. Ranvir Kaul |
| Dev (2004) | D.C.P. Dev Pratap Singh |
| Lakshya (2004) | Col. Sunil Damle |
| Kyun...! Ho Gaya Na (2004) | Raj Chauhan |
| Hum Kaun Hai? (2004) | Dual role (Major Frank John Williams & Frank James Williams) |
| Veer-Zaara (2004) | Chaudhary Sumer Singh |
| Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo (2004) | Major General Amarjeet Singh |
| Fun2shh (2003) | Narrator |
| Baghban (2003) | Raj Malhotra |
| Boom (2003) | Bade Mia |
| Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost (2003) | Narrator |
| Armaan (2003) | Dr Siddharth Sinha |
| Khushi (2003) | Narrator |
| Kaante (2002) | Yashvardhan Rampal/"Major" |
| Agnivarsha (2002) | Indra (God) |
| Hum Kisise Kum Nahi (2002) | Dr Rastogi |
| Aankhen (2002) | Vijay Singh Rajput |
| Lagaan (2001) | Narrator |
| Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) | Yashvordhan "Yash" Raichand |
| Aks (2001) | Inspector Manu Verma/Raghvan |
| Ek Rishtaa: The Bond of Love (2001) | Vijay Kapoor |
| Mohabbatein (2000) | Narayan Shankar |
| Kohram (1999) | Colonel Balbir Singh Sodi, also known as Devraj Hathoda/Dada Bhai |
| Hindustan Ki Kasam (1999) | Kabeera |
| Hello Brother (1999) | Voice of God |
| Sooryavansham (1999) | Dual role (Thakur Bhanu Pratap Singh & Heera Singh) |
| Lal Baadshah (1999) | Dual role (Lal "Baadshah" Singh & Ranbhir Singh) |
| Bade Miyan Chhote Miyan (1998) | Dual role (Inspector Arjun Singh & Bade Miyan) |
| Major Saab (1998) | Major Jasbir Singh Rana |
| Mrityudata (1997) | Dr Ram Prasad Ghayal |
| Tere Mere Sapne (1996) | Narrator |
| Insaniyat (1994) | Inspector Amar |
| Khuda Gawah (1992) | Baadshah Khan |
| Indrajeet (1991) | Indrajeet |
| Hum (1991) | Tiger/Shekhar |
| Akayla (1991) | Inspector Vijay Verma |
| Ajooba (1991) | Ajooba/Ali |
| Krodh (1990) | Guest appearance as himself |
| Agneepath (1990) | Vijay Dinanath Chauhan |
| Aaj Ka Arjun (1990) | Bheema |
| Toofan (1989) | Dual role (Toofan & Shyam) |
| Main Azaad Hoon (1989) | Azaad |
| Jaadugar (1989) | Goga/Gogeshwar |
| Soorma Bhopali (1988) | (Guest appearance) |
| Shahenshah (1988) | Inspector Vijay Kumar Srivastav/Shahenshah |
| Kaun Jeeta Kaun Haara (1988) | Guest appearance as himself |
| Ganga Jamuna Saraswati (1988) | Ganga Prasad |
| Hero Hiralal (1988) | Special appearance as himself |
| Jalwa (1987) | Special appearance as himself |
| Ek Ruka Hua Faisla (1986) | (Guest appearance) |
| Aakhree Raasta (1986) | Dual role (David/Vijay) |
| Naya Bakra (1985) | Guest appearance as himself |
| Mard (1985) | Raju "Mard" Tangewala |
| Giraftaar (Guest) (1985) | Inspector Karan Kumar Khanna |
| Sharaabi (1984) | Vicky Kapoor |
| Inquilaab (1984) | Amarnath |
| Nastik (1983) | Shankar (Sheru)/Bhola |
| Pukar (1983) | Ramdas/Ronnie |
| Mahaan (1983) | Rana Ranveer, Guru, & Inspector Shankar |
| Coolie (1983) | Iqbal |
| Andha Kanoon (guest) (1983) | Jan Nissar Akhtar Khan |
| Shakti (1982) | Vijay Kumar |
| Satte Pe Satta (1982) | Ravi Anand/Babu |
| Namak Halaal (1982) | Arjun Singh |
| Khud-daar (1982) | Govind Srivastav/Chotu Ustad |
| Desh Premee (1982) | Dual role (Master Dinanath & Raju) |
| Bemisaal (1982) | Dual role (Dr. Sudhir Roy & Adhir Roy) |
| Yaraana (1981) | Kishan Kumar |
| Silsila (1981) | Amit Malhotra |
| Naseeb (1981) | John, Jaani, Janardhan |
| Lawaaris (1981) | Heera |
| Vilayati Babu (special appearance) (1981) | Jagga (special appearance) |
| Kaalia (1981) | Kallu/Kaalia |
| Barsaat Ki Ek Raat (1981) | ACP Abhijeet Rai |
| Commander (Guest) (1981) | Guest appearance |
| Chashme Buddoor (guest) (1981) | Guest appearance |
| Shaan (1980) | Vijay Kumar |
| Ram Balraam (1980) | Inspector Balram Singh |
| Dostaana (1980) | Vijay Varma |
| Do aur Do Panch (1980) | Vijay/Ram |
| Cinema Cinema (1979) | |
| Suhaag (1979) | Amit Kapoor |
| Mr. Natwarlal (1979) | Natwar Lal/Avtar Singh |
| Manzil (1979) | Ajay Chandra |
| Kaala Patthar (1979) | Vijay Pal Singh |
| Jurmaana (1979) | Inder Saxena |
| The Great Gambler (1979) | Dual role (Jay & Inspector Vijay) |
| Gol Maal (1979) | Guest appearance as himself |
| Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978) | Sikandar |
| Trishul (1978) | Vijay Kumar |
| Kasme Vaade (1978) | Dual role (Amit & Shankar) |
| Ganga Ki Saugandh (1978) | Jeeva |
| Don (1978) | Dual role (Don/Vijay) |
| Besharam (1978) | Ram Kumar Chandra/Prince Chandrashekar |
| Shatranj Ke Khilari (1977) | Narrator |
| Parvarish (1977) | Amit |
| Khoon Paseena (1977) | Shiva/Tiger |
| Imaan Dharam (1977) | Ahmed Raza |
| Amar Akbar Anthony (1977) | Anthony Gonzalves |
| Alaap (1977) | Alok Prasad |
| Charandas (special appearance) (1977) | Qawwali singer (special appearance) |
| Adalat (1976) | Dual role (Dharma/Thakur Dharam Chand & Raju) |
| Hera Pheri (1976) | Vijay |
| Kabhie Kabhie (1976) | Amit Malhotra |
| Do Anjaane (1976) | Amit Roy/Naresh Dutt |
| Deewaar (1976) | Vijay |
| Sholay (1975) | Jai (Jaidev) |
| Mili (1975) | Shekhar Dayal |
| Zameer (1975) | Baadal/Chimpoo |
| Faraar (1975) | Rajesh (Raj) |
| Deewar (1975) | Vijay Verma |
| Chupke Chupke (1975) | Professor Sukumar Sinha/Parimal Tripathi |
| Kunwara Baap (guest) (1974) | as himself (guest appearance) |
| Roti Kapda aur Makaan (1974) | Vijay |
| Majboor (1974) | Ravi Khanna |
| Kasauti (1974) | Amitabh Sharma (Amit) |
| Dost (guest) (1974) | Anand (guest appearance) |
| Benaam (1974) | Amit Srivastav |
| Bada Kabutar (guest) (1973) | Guest appearance |
| Zanjeer (1973) | Inspector Vijay Khanna |
| Saudagar (1973) | Mothi |
| Namak Haram (1973) | Vikram (Vicky) |
| Gehri Chaal (1973) | Ratan |
| Baandhe Haath (1973) | Dual role (Shyamu & Deepak) |
| Abhimaan (1973) | Subir Kumar (Beeru) |
| Raaste Ka Patthar (1972) | Jai Shankar Rai |
| Bawarchi (Guest) (1972) | Narrator |
| Jaban (1972) | |
| Ek Nazar (1972) | Manmohan Akash Tyagi |
| Bombay to Goa (1972) | Ravi Kumar |
| Bansi Birju (1972) | Birju |
| Piya Ka Ghar (Guest) (1971) | Guest appearance |
| Reshma Aur Shera (1971) | Chotu |
| Sanjog (1971) | Mohan |
| Parwaana (1971) | Kumar Sen |
| Pyar Ki Kahani (1971) | Ram Chandra |
| Guddi (1971) | as himself; guest appearance |
| Anand (1970) | Dr Bhaskar K. Bannerjee/Babu Moshai |
| Bhuvan Shome (1969) | Narrator, also known as Mr Shome |
| Saat Hindustani (1969) | Anwar Ali Anwar |
