Amitabh Bachchan, originally named Amitabh Shrivastav, was born on October 11, 1942, in the vibrant city of Allahabad, emerged as an iconic figure in Indian cinema. With a career spanning over five decades, he has graced the screens in more than 200 films. Amitabh is widely acclaimed as one of the most accomplished and influential actors in the annals of Indian cinema. Tomorrow is the actor's birthday.
The 'One-Man Industry': Truffaut's Praise
During the 1970s and 1980s, Amitabh's dominance in the Indian film scene was so significant that the renowned French director François Truffaut dubbed him a "one-man industry." His journey in the world of cinema commenced in 1969 as a voice narrator in Mrinal Sen's film "Bhuvan Shome." He rose to fame in the early 1970s with notable films like "Anand", "Zanjeer", "Roti Kapada Aur Makaan", "Deewaar" and the iconic "Sholay." His stardom reached even greater heights in the subsequent years.
Decades of Dominance: Hits and Critical Acclaim
Consistently featuring in high-grossing Indian films that received critical acclaim from the mid-1970s to the 1980s, his repertoire included classics like "Amar Akbar Anthony", "Don", "Trishul", "Muqaddar Ka Sikander", "Suhaag", "Dostana", "Kaalia", "Laawaris", "Naseeb", "Namak Halaal", "Coolie", "Sharaabi" and "Mard." Some of his most lauded performances include "Namak Haraam", "Abhimaan", "Majboor", "Mili", "Chupke Chupke", "Kabhi Kabhie", "Kaala Patthar", "Shaan", "Silsila", "Shakti", "Shahenshah" and "Agneepath."
After a brief hiatus in the 1990s, Amitabh made a triumphant return in 2000 with 'Mohabbatein'. From then on, he graced the silver screen with hits like "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham", "Aankhen", "Baghban", "Veer-Zaara", "Black", "Bunty Aur Babli", "Sarkar", "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna", "Cheeni Kum", "Paa", "Piku","Pink" and "Badla", showcasing his enduring prowess.
Global Stature: Hollywood Debut and Beyond
Amitabh's stardom transcended borders when he made his Hollywood debut in 'The Great Gatsby' alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire in 2013. This marked a significant milestone in his already illustrious career.
DiCaprio revealed his thoughts about Amitabh in an interview with NDTV, He stated, “He couldn’t be a more gentle, wonderful individual to work with, and astoundingly talented. To come and play Meyer Wolfsheim in this movie and embody that roughness and a mystery, everything that comes out of his mouth is filled with so much more and so much presence. And then you see the camera cut and he’s the perfect gentleman, just a joy to be around and a wonderful collaborator. He’s a magnificent actor and I was honoured to work with him.”
An Epochal Career: Awards and Recognitions
Amitabh Bachchan's cinematic journey is adorned with accolades. With four National Film Awards in the Best Actor category, sixteen Filmfare Awards, and numerous international recognitions, he stands as a true luminary in the world of cinema. In 1991, he made history by becoming the inaugural recipient of the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award, a prestigious accolade named in honor of Raj Kapoor. Additionally, he was bestowed with the title of 'Superstar of the Millennium' at the 2000 Filmfare Awards.
His contributions were acknowledged by the Indian Government through the Padma Shri (1984), Padma Bhushan (2001), and Padma Vibhushan (2015). In 2018, he received the highest honor in Indian cinema, the ‘Dadasaheb Phalke’ Award.
Beyond India, Amitabh was granted the 'Actor of the Century' award at the Alexandria International Film Festival in Egypt in 2001. He was knighted with the ‘Legion of Honour’ by the Government of France in 2007.
A particularly noteworthy moment occurred on 27 July 2012, when, at the age of 69, Bachchan had the privilege of carrying the Olympic torch during its final leg of the relay in London's Southwark, further exemplifying his global influence and recognition. His global appeal is further evident with wax statues at Madame Tussauds in London, New York, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Washington, DC, and Delhi.
Master of the Game: Hosting Kaun Banega Crorepati
Amitabh's charisma also extended to television, where he hosted several seasons of the immensely popular game show 'Kaun Banega Crorepati', India's version of 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'.
In an upcoming episode of 'Kaun Banega Crorepati', the nation is set to unite in celebration of Amitabh Bachchan's 81st birthday. The promo teases a visibly emotional Amitabh, expressing his gratitude and humorously remarking, "Aur kitna rulayenge aap log? (How much more will you make me emotional?)" He also says, “Mai logo ko tissue deta hu, aaj meri bari aa gayi (Usually I am the one offering tissues to people. It's my turn now).” He is seen wiping tears from his eyes. He also thanked everyone and the KBC team for the celebration.
Apu Biswas' heartfelt wish to the Bollywood Legend
Apu Biswas expressed on the same day as Amitabh Bachchan's birthday, "Respected Amitabh Bachchan is my most favourite actor. I have seen many movies starring him. Since my name is Apu Biswas, many people call me AB in short. Amitabh Bachchan sir is also called AB in short. This fact greatly excites and brings me joy. However, since our birthdays are on the same day, even if I don't celebrate my birthday with Amitabh Bachchan sir once in my life, I strongly hold the intense desire to meet him at any other time. I don't know if fate will fulfill this dream of mine. However, it can be said that this is a very big dream for me."
