Amitabh Bachchan, often referred to as the “Star of the Millennium” or “Big B”, is a legendary Indian film actor who has left an indelible mark on Bollywood and global cinema. The Bollywood actor his journey, filled with ups and downs, is a testament to his talent, resilience, and unwavering dedication to his craft.
This blog post delves into the life and career of this iconic figure, shedding light on his early life, rise to stardom, career highlights, and more.
Early Life and Upbringing
Born as Inquilaab Srivastava on October 11, 1942, in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, Amitabh Bachchan was the son of renowned Hindi poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan and social activist Teji Bachchan. His early education took place at Sherwood College, Nainital, and he later graduated from Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi.
Despite the hardships faced by his family during his childhood, Bachchan’s early life was steeped in literature and social activism, which would later influence his career.
Personal Life – Age, Zodiac Sign
| Personal Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Amitabh Harivansh Rai Shrivastava |
| Nickname | Big B, Shahenshah of Bollywood, Angry Young Man |
| Alternative Names(s) (also known as) | Amit, Munna, AB Sr. |
| Date of Birth | 11 October 1942 |
| Age (as of 2023) | 81 years |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Zodiac Sign | Libra |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Birthplace | Allahabad, British India (now Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India) |
| Hometown | Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Current Address | Jalsa, B/2, Kapol Housing Society, VL Mehta Road, Juhu, Mumbai – 400049, Maharashtra, India |
| Education Qualification | Bachelor of Science |
| Hobbies and Interests | Singing, Blogging, Reading |
| Languages Known | Hindi, English, Urdu, Bengali, Awadhi |
| Social Media Profiles link (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) | Facebook, Instagram, Twitter |
| Wikipedia Profile link | Amitabh Bachchan |
| IMDb Profile link | Amitabh Bachchan |
| Website link | N/A |
Physical Appearance – Height, Weight, Body Measurements
| Physical Stats | Information |
|---|---|
| Body Type | Slim |
| Body Measurements (Chest – Waist – Hips) | 40-34-13 inches |
| Height in feet, inches, cm | 6’ 2″, 188 cm |
| Weight in kg, lbs | 80 kg, 176 lbs |
| Chest | 40 inches |
| Waist | 34 inches |
| Biceps | 13 inches |
| Eye Colour | Dark Brown |
| Hair Colour | Salt & Pepper |
| Hairstyle | Short and Straight |
| Distinctive Features | Deep Baritone Voice, Tall Stature, French Beard |
| Tattoos | N/A |
Family and Relationships – Girlfriend/Wife, Affairs
Amitabh Bachchan is married to Jaya Bhaduri, a respected actress in her own right. The couple has two children, Shweta Bachchan Nanda and Abhishek Bachchan.
Shweta is married and leads a non-filmy life, while Abhishek followed in his parents’ footsteps and became an actor.
| Relationships Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse – Wife | Jaya Bhaduri |
| Father | Harivansh Rai Bachchan |
| Mother | Teji Bachchan |
| Children | Shweta Bachchan Nanda, Abhishek Bachchan |
| Siblings | Ajitabh Bachchan |
| Affairs – Girlfriend(s) | Rekha, Parveen Babi |
| Significant Relationships | Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (daughter-in-law), Agastya Nanda (grandson), Navya Naveli Nanda (granddaughter), Aaradhya Bachchan (granddaughter) |
Rise to Stardom
Amitabh Bachchan started his film career in 1969 as a voice narrator in Mrinal Sen’s Bhuvan Shome. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s for films such as Zanjeer, Deewaar, and Sholay, and was dubbed India’s “angry young man” for his on-screen roles in Bollywood.
He consistently starred in top-grossing Indian films with critical acclaim since mid-1970s to 80s, such as Amar Akbar Anthony, Muqaddar Ka Sikander, Namak Halaal, as well as some of his most acclaimed performances include Namak Haraam, Chupke Chupke, and Agneepath.
After taking a break from acting in the 1990s, his resurgence was marked in 2000 with Mohabbatein. Since then, he starred in several successful and acclaimed films such as Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Bunty Aur Babli, and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna.
Debut Film – Saat Hindustani
Successful Film – Sarkar
Career, Awards, and Achievements
Amitabh Bachchan has won numerous accolades in his career, including four National Film Awards as Best Actor and many awards at international film festivals and award ceremonies. He has won sixteen Filmfare Awards and is the most nominated performer in any major acting category at Filmfare.
He has also been honored with the Padma Vibhushan in 2015, and India’s highest award in the field of cinema, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2018 for his contributions to Indian cinema.
| Career Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Profession(s) | Actor, Producer, Singer, Television Host, Former Politician |
| Debut Film | Saat Hindustani (1969) |
| Notable Roles | Vijay in Deewaar, Jai in Sholay, Inspector Vijay Khanna in Zanjeer, Subhash Nagre in Sarkar, Auro in Paa, Bhaskor Banerjee in Piku |
| Recent Films – New Movies | Chehre, Jhund, Brahmastra |
| Upcoming Films | Mayday, Goodbye, The Intern |
| Popular Television Series | Kaun Banega Crorepati, Yudh, Bigg Boss |
| Awards and Achievements | Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Knight of the Legion of Honour, Four National Film Awards, Fifteen Filmfare Awards |
| Endorsements/Brand Collaborations | Cadbury, Dabur, Emami, Gujarat Tourism, ICICI Bank, Kalyan Jewellers, Maggi, Parker Pens, Polio Eradication Campaign, Tata Sky |
| Philanthropy/Charity Work | Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Campaign, Swachh Bharat Mission, Tuberculosis-Free India Campaign, UNICEF Ambassador for Hepatitis B Awareness, Wildlife Trust of India |
| Professional Associations | Indian Film Industry, International Federation of Film Archives, Indian National Congress |
| Training and Education | Sherwood College, Nainital; Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi |
| Production Company | Amitabh Bachchan Corporation |
| Box Office Success – Hit Movies | Sholay, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Amar Akbar Anthony, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Bunty Aur Babli, 3 Idiots, Badla |
| Critical Acclaim Movies | Anand, Abhimaan, Namak Haraam, Agneepath, Black, Paa, Piku, Pink |
Assets and Finances – Net Worth
| Financial Profile | Information |
|---|---|
| Net Worth in Rs. and Dollars | Rs. 3060 crore, $413 million |
| Per Movie Charges in Rs. and Dollars | Rs. 20 crore, $2.7 million |
| Per Endorsement Charges in Rs. and Dollars | Rs. 5-10 crore, $0.7-1.4 million |
| Sponsorship Deals | Just Dial, IDFC First Bank, Alexa, Tanishq |
| Business Ventures | AB Corp Ltd, ABCL, Big B FM |
| Investments | Meridian Tech Pte, Ziddu.com, Stampede Capital, Edelweiss Group, Singapore-based file sharing portal |
| Real Estate Holdings | Jalsa, Prateeksha, Janak, Vatsa, Nilaya, Dimple, Juhu, Paris, Dubai |
| Luxury Items/Properties Owned | Watches, Pens, Sunglasses, Shoes, Suits, Artworks |
| Cars Collection | Rolls Royce Phantom, Bentley Arnage R, Bentley Continental GT, Lexus LX 470, Mercedes-Benz SL 500 AMG, Porsche Cayman S, Range Rover SUV, Mini Cooper, Toyota Land Cruiser, BMW 760Li, BMW X5, Mercedes Benz S320, Mercedes Benz S600, Mercedes Benz E240 |
Favorite Things, Likes and Dislikes
| Favorite Things | Information |
|---|---|
| Favorite Actor | Dilip Kumar |
| Favorite Actress | Waheeda Rehman |
| Favorite Film | Kagaz Ke Phool |
| Favorite Music Bands | The Beatles, ABBA, The Rolling Stones |
| Favorite Sport | Cricket |
| Favorite Books | The Bhagavad Gita, Madhushala, The Godfather |
| Favorite Color | White |
| Favorite Food | Bhindi Sabzi, Jalebi, Kheer, Gulab Jamun |
| Things s/he like | Honesty, Punctuality, Cleanliness |
| Things s/he dislike | Dishonesty, Betrayal, Violence |
Top 5 Best Films – Amitabh Bachchan
| Film Name | Year of Release | Character Played |
|---|---|---|
| Deewaar | 1975 | Vijay Verma |
| Black | 2005 | Debraj Sahai |
| Don | 1978 | Don/Vijay |
| Sholay | 1975 | Jai |
| Zanjeer | 1973 | Inspector Vijay Khanna |
Controversies – Amitabh Bachchan
- Accusations of sexual harassment by former Miss India World Sayali Bhagat, which were later clarified as a case of cybercrime.
- Late actor Kader Khan’s allegations of Bachchan’s arrogance.
- A land dispute case in Uttar Pradesh, which was later resolved with Bachchan receiving a clean chit.
- Accusations of misleading advertising for e-commerce giant Flipkart.
- His involvement in the Panama Papers leak.
Interesting Facts – Amitabh Bachchan
- Bachchan was initially named Inquilaab, inspired by the phrase Inquilab Zindabad popularly used during the Indian independence struggle.
- He wanted to become an engineer and was keen to join the Indian Air Force.
- Bachchan has also worked as an executive in a shipping company in Kolkata.
- He was rejected by All India Radio due to his deep voice.
- Bachchan has been awarded the ‘Knight of the Legion of Honour’, France’s highest civilian honour.
- He is the most nominated performer in any major acting category at Filmfare, with 42 nominations.
In conclusion, Amitabh Bachchan’s journey is a testament to his talent, perseverance, and dedication. His contributions to Indian cinema have not only entertained millions but also inspired countless individuals to pursue their dreams, making him a true icon of Indian cinema.
