Amitabh Bachchan (born October 11, 1942, in Allahabad, India) is an Indian film actor who is most known for his appearances in action movies. Bachchan attended Sherwood College in Nainital and the University of Delhi, the son of famed Hindi poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan. Before pursuing a career in film, he worked as a business executive in Calcutta (Kolkata) and performed in theatre. Bachchan made his big-screen debut in Saat Hindustani (1969; “Seven Indians”), and for his portrayal in Anand, he won the first of his many Filmfare Awards (1971).
Zanjeer (1973; “Chain”) was his first great breakthrough. Deewar (1975; “Wall”), Sholay (1975; “Embers”), and Don (1975; “Embers”) were among the action flicks that followed (1978). Bachchan, often known as “Big B,” embodied a new breed of an action star in Indian cinema: the “angry young man,” as opposed to the romantic hero. He was sometimes likened to Clint Eastwood, but unlike Eastwood and other American action actors, Bachchan was known for his versatility, with many of his performances showcasing his singing, dancing, and comedic abilities.
Bachchan had acted in over 35 films by the end of the 1970s and was widely considered India’s greatest cinema star. His popularity grew to the point where he became a cultural phenomenon, attracting vast groups of adoring followers wherever he went. In 1982, a near-fatal accident on the production of his movie Coolie sparked a nationwide prayer vigil for his recovery. Following the failure of his subsequent films at the box office, Bachchan entered politics at the urging of his friend, Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. He was elected to India’s parliament by a large majority in 1984, but he resigned in 1989 after being embroiled in a bribery scandal that brought Gandhi’s administration down.
Bachchan returned to film in Agneepath (1990; “Path of Fire”), winning a National Film Award for his depiction of a mafia don. He eventually became the chairman of Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Ltd., a film production and event management company. However, the business was beset by financial difficulties, and Bachchan returned back to the stage. His following films included the criminal thriller Hum (1991), the musical Mohabbatein (2000; Love Stories), and the film Black (2005), which was inspired by Helen Keller’s life story. Bachchan earned another National Film Award for the latter film, as well as for his portrayal in the drama Paa (2009), in which he played a youngster suffering from an aging ailment related to progeria.
Bachchan had acted in more than 175 Bollywood films by the early twenty-first century, and at the age of 70, he made his Hollywood debut as a small part in Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby (2013). Piku (2015), for which he won his fourth National Film Award, and Pink (2016), a crime drama in which he played a lawyer, were among his later prominent films. In the 2018 film 102 Not Out, he plays a man attempting to set a new world record for the oldest living person. Badla (2019), a crime drama, was one of Bachchan’s most successful projects.
Furthermore, Bachchan also hosts the Indian version of the American and British hit Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, Kaun Banega Crorepati. His easy-going demeanor and charisma contributed to the show’s success in India as reported by Britannica.
