Here is a Biography of Amitabh Bachchan: Education, Career, Life Story, Family, Early Life, Movies, Awards, and honors.
We are sharing with you the Biography of Amitabh Bachchan, Bollywood actor, occasional playback singer, film producer, television host, and former politician.
Who Is Amitabh Bachchan?
Amitabh Bachchan is a Bollywood actor, occasional playback singer, film producer, television host, and former politician who, in 1969, debuted in Saat Hindustani.
He started his own production company in 1990. His role in Zanjeer, Deewaar and Sholay made him an action movie star and was dubbed India’s “angry young man” for his on-screen roles. Bachchan held a seat in the Indian Parliament in 980s.
In 1997, Amitabh returned to acting with Mrityudaata. In 2000, He began hosting Kaun Banega Crorepati” the Indian version of British programme “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”.
Beyond the Indian subcontinent, Amitabh Bachchan also has a large overseas following in markets including the Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, Russia, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, and parts of the United States.
Early Life & Family
Amitabh Harivansh Bachchan, known as Amitabh Bachchan, was born on 11 October 1942 in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. Amitabh named Inquilaab, inspired by the phrase Inquilab Zindabad.
However, at the suggestion of fellow poet Sumitranandan Pant, his father changed his name to Amitabh, which means “the light that will never die”.
His father’s name is Dr. Harivansh Rai and his mother name is Teji Bachchan. His father was an Awadhi Hindu.
His father was fluent in Awadhi, Urdu, and Hindi and renowned Hindi poet. His mother was a social activist and Punjabi Sikh woman.
Amitabh’s father, Dr. Harivansh Rai had adopted the pen name, Bachchan. Dr. Harivansh Rai died in 2003, and his mother, Teji Bachchan in 2007.
His mother, Teji Bachchan had a keen interest in theatre. She offered a role in the feature film, but she preferred her domestic duties.
Teji Bachchan had some influence in Amitabh’s choice of career because she always insisted that he should “take the centre stage”.
Amitabh is married to Indian film actress Jaya Bhaduri. The couple have two children, a daughter, Shweta and a son, Abhishek. Shweta is married to industrialist Nikhil Nanda. Their son, Abhishek, is an actor and is married to actress Aishwarya Rai.
Education:
Bachchan completed his school and college in Sherwood College boarding school.
Amitabh obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from Delhi University. He worked as a business executive in Calcutta (Kolkata).
Amitabh was a good athlete and won the 400-metre races during his college days. He wanted to become an engineer.
Early Career:
Amitabh made his film debut in Saat Hindustani in 1969 directed by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas and featuring Madhu, Anwar Ali (brother of comedian Mehmood), Utpal Dutt, and Jalal Agha. Saat Hindustani tanked at the box office.
Bachchan’s performances in films like Naseeb, Laawaris, Shaarabi, Coolie, Jaadugar, and Silsila continued to enamor fans and landed him multiple Fanfare Awards.
From 1970 to 1980, Amitabh appeared in about 100 feature films. He seized opportunities to work Prakash Mehra, India’s most acclaimed directors and dominated the films like Sholay, Trishul, and Chashme Buddoor.
In 1971, Amitabh Bachchan starred alongside Rajesh Khanna in Anand. His role as a doctor garnered Amitabh his first Filmfare Best Supporting Actor award.
During this time, Bachchan made a guest appearance in the film Guddi that starred his future wife Jaya Bhaduri.
In 1972, Amitabh made an appearance in Bombay to Goa, the road action comedy film directed by S. Ramanathan that was moderately successful. He narrated part of the film Bawarchi.
During this early period, many of Amitabh’s films did not do well, but that was about to change. Sanjog, his only film with Mala Sinha was a box office success.
By the age of 30, Amitabh Bachchan was struggling, who had only two hits (Bombay to Goa and Anand, in supporting role) and twelve flop films. Amitabh was soon discovered by screenwriter duo Salim-Javed, consisting of Javed Akhtar and Salim Khan.
In 1973, Salim Khan wrote the script, story, and screenplay of Zanjeer, and conceived the “angry young man” persona of the lead role.
Prakash Mehra, who saw the script as the film’s director and Javed Akhtar came on board as cowriter. However, they were struggling to find an actor for the lead role.
Soon, Salim-Javed discovered Amitabh and “saw his talent, which most makers didn’t.
Salim Khan introduced Amitabh Bachchan to Prakash Mehra, and Salim-Javed insisted that Amitabh be cast for the role. Amitabh earned his first Filmfare Award nomination for Best Actor.
Zanjeer was a huge success. The film was one of the highest-grossing films of that year, breaking Amitabh’s dry spell at the box office and making him a star.
It was the first collaboration between Amitabh Bachchan and Salim-Javed. Salim Khan also introduced Amitabh to director Manmohan Desai alongside Prakash Mehra and Yash Chopra.
Salim-Javed wrote scripts with Amitabh in mind for the lead role and insisted on him being cast for their later films including Deewaar and Sholay.
Eventually, Amitabh became one of the most successful actors in the film industry. The year 1973 was also when Bachchan married Jaya Bhadudi, and around this time, they appeared in several films together.
Amitabh played the role of Vikram in the film Namak Haraam along with Rajesh Khanna. Namak Haraam is a social drama, scripted by Biresh Chatterjee and directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee.
His supporting role in Namak Haraam won him his second Filmfare Best Supporting Actor award.
In 1974, Amitabh played a supporting role in Roti Kapda Aur Makaan. He made many guest appearances in films including Dost and Kunwara Baap.
Amitabh played the leading role in the film Majboor, written by Salim-Javed and directed by Ravi Tandon. Majboor film was a success at the box office.
In 1975, Amitabh starred in a variety of film genres, from the Chupke Chupke, Faraar to Mili, the romantic drama.
This was also the year in which Amitabh starred in two films regarded as important in Hindi cinema history, The first was Deewaar, directed by Yash Chopra and written by Salim-Javed.
In Deewar, he worked with Nirupa Roy, Shashi Kapoor, Neetu Singh, and Parveen Babi and earned another Filmfare nomination for Best Actor.
It ranked at number four and became a major hit at the box office in 1975. Indiatimes Movies ranks, Deewaar amongst the Must See Bollywood Films.
The other was Sholay, released on 15 August 1975, which became the highest-grossing film ever in India at the time, in which Amitabh played the role of Jai. Sholay and Deewaar credited with exalting Amitabh to the heights of superstardom.
The judges of the 50th annual Filmfare Awards awarded it as the Filmfare Best Film of 50 Years.
In 1976, Amitabh cast by Yash Chopra in Kabhie Kabhie, the romantic family drama.
The film was notable for portraying Amitabh Bachchan as a romantic hero. The film evoked a favourable response from audiences alike. Bachchan nominated for the Filmfare Best Actor Award for his role in Kabhie Kabhie.
Amitabh played a father and son double role in film Adalat. That same year he played a leading role in Amar Akbar Anthony. For his best performance in Amar Akbar Anthony, Bachchan won his first Filmfare Best Actor Award.
His other successes that year include Khoon Pasina and Parvarish. Amar Akbar Anthony was the highest-grossing film of that year.
He once again played double roles in films Don and Kasme Vaade. His performance in Don won him his second Filmfare Best Actor Award.
Amitabh also gave towering performances in Prakash Mehra’s Muqaddar Ka Sikandar and Yash Chopra’s Trishul both of which earned him further Filmfare Best Actor nominations.
1978 is arguably considered his most successful year. Since all of his six releases the same year, namely Don, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Ganga Ki Saugandh, Trishul, Kasme Vaade, and Besharam were massive successes.
Amitabh Bachchan played role in Suhaag in 1979 that was the highest- earning film of that year. In 1980, he also played role in Dostana, directed by Raj Khosla, in which he starred opposite Zeenat Aman and Shatrughan Sinha and proved to be the top-grossing film of 1980.
Bachchan also received Best Actor nomination for Kaala Patthar. In the same year, he also enjoyed commercial success with films like Kaala Patthar, Mr. Natwarlal, The Great Gambler and Manzil.
Amitabh’s performance in the film saw him nominated for both the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer and the Filmfare Best Actor Award.
In 1981, Amitabh Bachchan starred in Silsila, a melodrama film by Yash Chopra, where he starred alongside Bhanurekha Ganesan, known by her stage name Rekha and his wife Jaya.
Other successful films of this period include Naseeb (1981), Shaan (1980), Kaalia (1981), Ram Balram (1980), Barsaat Ki Ek Raat (1981), Lawaaris (1981), Yaarana (1981), and Shakti (1982).
In 1982, he played double roles in Satte Pe Satta and Desh Premee that succeeded at the box office along with Namak Halaal, Khud-Daar and Bemisal.
Amitabh played a triple role in Mahaan in 1983. Other releases during that year included Pukar, Andha Kanoon and Nastik. During a stint in politics from 984 to 1987, his completed major hit films Aakhree Raasta (1986) and Mard (1985).
Coolie injury
On 26 July 1982, while filming Coolie, Amitabh Bachchan suffered a near-fatal intestinal injury during the filming of a fight scene in the University Campus in Bangalore, with co-actor Puneet Issar.
Bachchan remained critically ill in hospital for many months, at times close to death. Fans prayed for his recovery.
Amitabh survived the accident, but it prompted him to change career paths.
Manmohan Desai, The director, altered the ending of Coolie after Bachchan’s accident.
Politics and Business
His illness made him feel physically and mentally week and he decided to leave the film industry and join politics in support of a long-time family friend, Rajiv Gandhi.
In 1984, Amitabh Bachchan traded his Bollywood stardom for a seat in the Indian Parliament.
He contested Allahabad’s seat for the 8th Lok Sabha won by one of the highest victory margins.
Thereafter Amitabh Bachchan started supporting the Samajwadi Party, which Amar Singh belonged. Amar Singh, his old friend helped him during his financial crisis.
Furthermore, Jaya Bachchan joined the Samajwadi Party and represented the party as a member of parliament (MP) in the Rajya Sabha.
Amitabh has continued to do favours for the Samajwadi Party. These activities have him into trouble in the Indian courts.
His political aspirations proved to be short-lived. Amitabh left his seat due to unexpected controversy in 1987.
Acting comeback and retirement
After a three-year stint in politics, in 1988, Amitabh Bachchan returned to films, playing the title role in Shahenshah.
After the success of his comeback film, however, his star power began to wane as all of his subsequent films like Main Azaad Hoon, Jaadugar, and Toofan failed at the box office.
Successes during this period like Aaj Ka Arjun and Hum, for which he won his third Filmfare Best Actor Award. Amitabh won his first National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance Agneepath as a Mafia don.
After the release of the Khuda Gawah, critically acclaimed epic in 1992, Amitabh Bachchan went into semi-retirement for five years.
Return to prominence
Amitabh Bachchan attempted to revive his acting career, and eventually had commercial success with Major Saab and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan.
Amitabh received positive reviews for Sooryavansham but other films like Hindustan Ki Kasam and Lal Baadshah and were box office failures.
In 2000, Amitabh appeared in Mohabbatein, Yash Chopra’s box-office hit film and directed by Aditya Chopra.
His performance in Mohabbatein won him his third Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award. Bachchan played a stern, elder figure that rivalled the character of Shahrukh Khan.
Other hits followed, with Amitabh Bachchan appearing as an older family patriarch in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Ek Rishtaa, and Baghban.
As an actor, he continued to perform, receiving critical praise for his performances in Kaante, Aks, Dev, Aankhen, and Khakee. His role in Aks won him his first Filmfare Critics Award for the best Actor.
Television appearances
Amitabh Bachchan hosted the first season of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) in 2000. The television game show well received.
A second season of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) followed in 2005 but its run was cut-short when Bachchan fell ill. Amitabh hosted the third season of the reality show Bigg Boss in 2009.
In 2010, Bachchan hosted the fourth season of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC). The television show became a massive hit and broke many Television Rating Point – TRP Records. The fifth season of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) started on 15 August 2011 and ended on 17 November 2011.
The Show also grabbed all the major Awards such as CNN IBN awarded Indian of the Year for its category. Amitabh Bachchan continued to host KBC until 2017. The show received the highest number of viewers thus far.
Humanitarian causes
Amitabh has been involved with many social causes. Amitabh Bachchan devotes his time to charitable causes. Amitabh appointed as an ambassador for the UNICEF, United Nations Children’s Fund in 2003 for the polio Eradication Campaign in.
In 2013, He founded the Harivansh Rai Bachchan Memorial Trust .This charitable trust will be powering 3,000 homes with solar energy in association with Urja Foundation. Amitabh was the face of the ‘Save Our Tigers’ campaign.
Awards and honours
Apart from Filmfare Awards, National Film Awards, and other competitive awards, Amitabh has been awarded several honours for his achievements.
- 1971 – Filmfare Award for best support Actor in Anand
- 1976 – Filmfare Award for the Best Actor in ‘Kabhi Kabhi’
- 1980 – Awadh Samman
- 1984 – Awarded with the Padma Shri by the Government of India
- 1990 – Best Actor for Agneepath
- 1991 – Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award
- 1994 – Yash Bharti Award
- 1999 – Greatest star of stage or screen
- 2001 – Actor of the Century award in Egypt
- 2001 – Awarded with the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India
- 2005 – Best actor for Black
- 2005 – Deenanath Mangeshkar Award
- 2009 – Best Actor for Paa
- 2010 – Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2012 – Named “Hottest Vegetarian” by PETA India
- 2013 – President of India “Medallion of Honour”-
- 2015 – Best Actor for Piku
- 2015 – Awarded with the Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India
- 2019 – Dadasaheb Phalke Award
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Amitabh once rejected by All India Radio for his Bariton voice. Today, he has known for his voice. We hope you find the Biography of Amitabh Bachchan useful and motivating through your entrepreneurial journey and will keep you motivated.