Amitabh Bachchan (born October 11, 1942, Allahabad, India) also known as Big B, is an Indian actor.

Amitabh in white on the right, Sholay (1975)

Amitabh's parents, Harivanshrai Bachchan, a well-known poet, and Teji Bachchan, raised him in a cultivated and literary household. He attended Sherwood College in Nainital and went on to Delhi University to earn a science degree.

Amitabh as national icon

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 broke through to major stardom in 1973, with the hit films Abhimaan and Zanjeer. Zanjeer introduced Amitabh as the "angry young man ", driven into revolt by outrageous oppression. Millions identified with both the anger and the idealism. He became a film phenomenon, drawing crowds into the theatres no matter the quality of the films. He did film after film, several in a year, and never seemed to wear out his appeal.

Amitabh's most loved films and characters date from this period. Millions of fans remember him from hits like Sholay, Amar Akbar Anthony, and Deewar. However, even his fans will admit that many of his films were forgettable; they were run-of-the-mill masala movies with creaking plots and sub-par production values. When he was a mega-star , none of this 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 hospital in critical condition. His condition was major news, as millions of avid fans waited for hospital bulletins and prayed for his recovery.

He resumed making films, but his career seemed to falter after this incident. He made fewer films, and his name on the marquee could no longer guarantee a film's success.

Amitabh's political career

In 1984, he briefly entered politics in support of long-time family friend Rajiv Gandhi. He contested Allahabad's parliament seat -- 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 would say that all these events are connected; the Big B will only say that he found politics unpleasant and resigned for personal reasons.

Amitabh's business career

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 failed.

Amitabh again a headliner

He had been making films all through the 1980s and 1990s, but few had succeeded. Mrityudatta (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 Bachchan still had charisma. 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.

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 Amtitabh still had box-office magic.

Since his game show success, he has appeared in several hit movies, most notably Baghbaan , Veer-Zaara, and Black.

Most recently, a film retrospective is being held between April 8 and April 19 2005 at the Lincoln Center in New York. The retrospective features films starring Bachchan including Hrishikesh Mukherjee 's Anand and Abhimaan and Sanjay Bhansali 's Black.

Family life

After the success of Zanjeer, Amitabh Bachchan married actress Jaya Bhaduri with whom he has co-starred in many films. Some of the films starring Amitabh and Jaya : Zanjeer, Abhimaan, Sholay, Silsila, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham.

The couple have two children, Abhishek and Shweta. Abhishek Bachchan has already followed his father's footsteps, having starred in such movies as Refugee, Tera Jadoo Chal Gayaa , Dhai Askar Prem Ke , Hain Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya , Om Jai Jagdish , Mein Prem Ki Diwani Hoo , Kuch Na Kaho, Zameen, and L.O.C .

Filmography

External links

• IMDB: Amitabh Bachan
• Bachchan film retrospective at Lincoln Center