Amitabh
Bachchan (born October 11, 1942, in Allahabad, India)
is one of India's most popular movie stars, having acted
in over 160 Hindi movies. In 1999, in a BBC Online Poll,
he was named the Superstar of the Millennium ahead of
the likes of Alec Guinness and Marlon Brando. In June,
2000 he became the first living Asian to have a wax
statue erected in his honour at Madame Tussaud's. He
is frequently cited in the media as the Big B.
Upbringing
Amitabh's parents were Harivanshrai and Teji Bachchan.
Harivanshrai was a well known poet. Amitabh attended
Boys' High School in Allahabad followed by Sherwood
College in Nainital and went on to Delhi University
to earn a degree in science
Early career
His first film was Saat Hindustani (1969). The film
was not a hit, but he slowly built up a following
and became a sought-after leading man. He became well
known as a movie star in 1973, with the hit films
Abhimaan and Zanjeer. He became a phenomenon, drawing
crowds into the theatres no matter the quality of
the films. He acted in several films every year, and
never seemed to wear out his appeal.Amitabh's most
loved films and characters date from this period.
Fans remember him from box office hits like Sholay,
Amar Akbar Anthony, Trishul, Don and Deewar . Amitabh
often played an angry young man fighting a corrupt
establishment -- a theme that had immense appeal in
the India of that period. Moreover, he had great on-screen
presence and a real flair for comedy. However, even
his most ardent fans will admit that many of his films
would be forgettable if not for his presence; they
were run-of-the-mill masala movies with creaking plots
and sub-par production values. While he was a star,
none of that mattered, but lack of selectivity may
have had something to do with his later career doldrums
.
Life-threatening injury
In 1983, Amitabh was filming Coolie when he was injured
in an on-set accident. He was rushed to a hospital
in critical condition. His condition was major news,
as millions of avid fans waited for hospital bulletins
and prayed for his recovery.Amitabh recovered and
resumed making films. Popular interest in his injury
had been so high that when Coolie was released, it
featured a freeze-frame and caption, isolating the
exact instant during a fight scene when Amitabh was
hurt.
Politics
In 1984, Amitabh 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. However, his political
career was short-lived; he resigned after three years
without finishing his term. At the same time, Gandhi's
Congress Party government was reeling from accusations
of corruption. Amitabh was never implicated in the
corruption and has since distanced himself from the
Gandhi family. Some say that all these events are
connected; Amitabh will only say that he found politics
unpleasant and resigned for personal reasons.
Business
In 1995, Amitabh went into business, starting the
Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited, or ABCL. ABCL
was to be a media conglomerate, a Hollywood-style
entertainment company. Amitabh may have been ahead
of his time, or just unsuited to be a business mogul,
as the company did not succeed. He did not file for
bankruptcy, but has used his acting income to pay
his business debts, which are rumored to have been
completely cleared in 2005. Some observers speculate
that he will try to revive his company.
Amitabh again a headliner
He had been making films all through the 1980s and
1990s, but few had succeeded. Mrityudata (1997), failed
at the box office. Lal Badshah and Major Saab did
little better. Bade Miyan Chhote Miyan and Mohabbatein
were hits, but critics credited his co-stars Govinda
and Shahrukh Khan, not Amitabh. Industry gossip said
that the Big B was finished as an actor.But despite
having been overshadowed by a new king of Hindi cinema--Shah
Rukh Khan-- Bachchan still had charisma.In 2000, he
was chosen as the host for a new Indian game show,
Kaun Banega Crorepati, the Indian version of Who Wants
to Be a Millionaire?. Amitabh was a suave, assured
host and the show was an enormous hit. Critics finally
admitted that Amitabh still had box-office magic.Since
his game show success, he has appeared in several
hit movies, most notably Baghbaan, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie
Gham, Waqt, Black, Sarkar, and Viruddh.
An Amitabh film retrospective was
held between April 8 and April 19, 2005 at the Lincoln
Center in New York. The retrospective featured films
starring Bachchan including Hrishikesh Mukherjee's
Anand and Abhimaan and Sanjay Bhansali's Black. Amitabh
was there for the plaudits; he also took this opportunity
to appear on a number of television talk shows.
Family life
After the success of Zanjeer and Abhimaan, Amitabh
Bachchan married actress Jaya Bhaduri in 1973. He
has co-starred with Jaya in many films: Zanjeer, Abhimaan,
Sholay, Silsila and, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham. The
marriage produced two children: Shweta Bachchan Nanda
(b. 1974) and Abhishek Bachchan (b. 1976). Abhishek
Bachchan has already followed his father's footsteps,
having starred in a number of recent movies. (For
Abhishek's filmography, see the article on Abhishek
Bachchan.)
Filmography
Saat Hindustani (1969)
Bhuvan Shome (Narrator) (1969)
Anand (1970)
Guddi (1971)
Pyar Ki Kahani (1971)
Parwaana (1971)
Sanjog (1971)
Reshma Aur Shera (1971)
Piya Ka Ghar (Guest) (1971)
Bansi Birju (1972)
Bombay to Goa (1972)
Ek Nazar (1972)
Jaban (1972)
Bawarchi (Guest) (1972)
Raaste Ka Patthar (1972)
Abhimaan (1973)
Baandhe Haath (1973)
Gehri Chaal (1973)
Haath (Guest) (1973)
Namak Haram (1973)
Saudagar (1973)
Zanjeer (1973)
Bada Kabutar (Guest) (1973)
Benaam (1974)
Dost (Guest) (1974)
Kasauti (1974)
Majboor (1974)
Roti Kapda aur Makaan (1974)
Kunwara Baap (Guest) (1974)
Chupke Chupke (1975)
Deewar (1975)
Faraar (1975)
Zameer (1975)
Mili (1975)
Sholay (1975)
Do Anjaane (1976)
Kabhie Kabhie (1976)
Hera Pheri (1976)
Adalat (1976)
Charandas (Special Appearance) (1977)
Alaap (1977)
Amar Akbar Anthony (1977)
Imaan Dharam (1977)
Khoon Paseena (1977)
Parvarish (1977)
Shatranj Ke Khilari (Narrator) (1977)
Besharam (1978)
Don (1978)
Ganga Ki Saugandh (1978)
Kasme Vaade (1978)
Trishul (1978)
Muqaddar ka Sikandar (1978)
Gol Maal (Guest) (1979)
The Great Gambler (1979)
Jurmaana (1979)
Kaala Patthar (1979)
Manzil (1979)
Mr. Natwarlaal (1979)
Suhaag (1979)
Cinema Cinema (1979)
Do aur Do Panch (1980)
Dostaana (1980)
Ram Balraam (1980)
Shaan (1980)
Chashme Baddoor (Guest) (1981)
Commander (Guest) (1981)
Barsaat ki Ek Raat (1981)
Kaalia (1981)
Vilayati Babu (Special Appearance) (1981)
Lawaaris (1981)
Naseeb (1981)
Silsila (1981)
Yaraana (1981)
Bemisaal (1982)
Desh Premee (1982)
Khuddar (1982)
Namak Halaal (1982)
Satte pe Satta (1982)
Shakti (1982)
Andha Kanoon (Guest) (1983)
Coolie (1983)
Mahaan (1983)
Pukar (1983)
Nastik (1983)
Inquilaab (1984)
Sharaabi (1984)
Giraftaar (Guest) (1985)
Mard (1985)
Naya Bakra (Guest) (1985)
Aakhree Raasta (1986)
Ek Ruka Hua Faisla (TV Guest) (1986)
Hero Hiralal (Guest) (1987)
Jalwa (Guest) (1987)
Ganga Jamuna Saraswati (1988)
Kaun Jeeta Kaun Haara (Guest) (1988)
Shahenshah (1988)
Soorma Bhopali (Guest) (1988)
Jaadugar (1989)
Main Azaad Hoon (1989)
Toofan (1989)
Aaj ka Arjun (1990)
Agneepath (1990)
Krodh (Guest) (1990)
Ajooba (1991)
Akayla (1991)
Hum (1991)
Indrajeet (1991)
Ajooba Kudrat Ka (1991)
House no. 13 (1991)
Khuda Gawah (1992)
Insaniyat (1994)
Tere Mere Sapne (Narrator) (1996)
Mrityudata (1997)
Majorsaab (1998)
Bade Miyan Chhote Miyan (1998)
Lal Baadshah (1999)
Sooryavansham (1999)
Hello Brother (Voice of God) (1999)
Hindustan Ki Kasam (1999)
Kohraam (1999)
Mohabbatein (2000)
Ek Rishta - The Bond of Love (2001)
Aks (2001)
Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001)
Lagaan (Narrator) (2001)
Aankhen (2002)
Hum Kisise Kum Nahi (2002)
Agnivarsha (Special Appearance) (2002)
Kaante (2002)
Khushi (Narrator) (2003)
Armaan (2003)
Boom (2003)
Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost (Narrator) (2003)
Baghban (2003)
Fun2shh (Narrator) (2003)
Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo (2004)
Veer-Zaara (2004)
Hum Kaun Hai? (Special Appearance) (2004)
Kyun...! Ho Gaya Na (2004)
Deewaar (2004)
Lakshya (2004)
Dev (2004)
Insaaf: The Justice (Narrator) (2004)
Rudraksh (Narrator) (2004)
Aetbaar (2004)
Khakee (2004)
Black (2005)
Waqt (2005)
Bunty Aur Babli (2005)
Paheli (2005)
Viruddh (2005)
Sarkar (2005)
Dil Jo Bhi Kahey(2005)
Current projects
Family
Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna
Yagna
Don
Ek Ajnabee
Ada
Happy New Year
Babul
Baiju Aur Tansen
Zamaanat
Manzil
source from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki
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