Amitabh Bachchan. The name alone evokes images of burning intensity, iconic baritones, and towering charisma. In the vast galaxy of Indian cinema, no star has loomed larger, fallen deeper, and risen more gloriously than this living legend. From facing rejection early in his career to becoming the very face of Bollywood across generations, Bachchan’s life is a tale of grit, talent, transformation, and triumph.
Early Life: The Poet’s Son with a Dream
Amitabh Harivansh Rai Bachchan was born on 11 October 1942 in Allahabad (now Prayagraj), Uttar Pradesh, to the celebrated Hindi poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan and social activist Teji Bachchan. His early exposure to the arts and literature shaped his sensibilities. However, it was not poetry but the magic of cinema that captured his imagination.
Educated at Sherwood College, Nainital, and later at Delhi University’s Kirori Mal College, Amitabh was known for his tall frame, deep voice, and serious demeanor. Yet, early on, it seemed Bollywood had no room for him. His voice, which would one day become his signature, was considered “too deep” for mainstream cinema.
In fact, one of his earliest
rejections came from All India Radio, where he was told his voice was
unsuitable. Little did they know that this very voice would one day become the
sound of a nation.
Breaking Through: Saat Hindustani to Zanjeer
Amitabh’s film debut came in 1969 with Saat Hindustani, a patriotic ensemble drama directed by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas. Though the film did not achieve commercial success, Bachchan won the National Award for Best Newcomer. Still, his journey to stardom remained elusive. He was cast in several films during the early 1970s, often in supporting roles or as part of ensemble casts.
It was 1973’s Zanjeer that changed everything. Cast as Inspector Vijay, a brooding, silent hero fuelled by injustice and personal loss, Bachchan captured the collective angst of a generation. India, grappling with political unrest and societal changes, found its cinematic voice in him - the “Angry Young Man.” The film was a smash hit, redefining the template of Hindi film heroism.
From
there, Amitabh Bachchan’s ascent was meteoric.
The 1970s and 1980s: The Reign of the Angry Young Man
What followed was a string of legendary performances that turned Bachchan into a cultural phenomenon. Deewaar (1975), Sholay (1975), Kabhi Kabhie (1976), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Trishul (1978), Don (1978), Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978), and Kaala Patthar (1979) showcased his versatility - heroic, romantic, intense, comic, and tragic - all rolled into one.
His portrayal of Vijay in Deewaar remains etched in public memory,
especially the iconic temple scene. Scripted by Salim-Javed and directed by
Yash Chopra, Deewaar solidified
Bachchan’s screen persona - a rebellious son shaped by society’s inequities.
In Sholay, despite being a quiet Jai to Dharmendra’s flamboyant Veeru, Bachchan’s understated presence, chemistry with Jaya Bhaduri (his real-life wife), and tragic end added emotional depth to the film’s action-packed narrative. The film remains India’s most iconic blockbuster.
The late ’70s saw him balancing intense roles with crowd-pleasing entertainers. Amar Akbar Anthony revealed his comic timing, while Don gave him a double role of charm and menace.
Amitabh wasn’t just a star - he was a phenomenon. Fans wrote letters in blood. Temples were built in his name. Street kids wore bell-bottoms and spoke in his style. He wasn’t playing roles; he was shaping masculinity, class rebellion, and urban angst on screen.
The
Coolie Accident: Brush with Death
On 26 July 1982, while shooting an action scene for Coolie at Bangalore’s University campus, disaster struck. A mistimed punch from co-star Puneet Issar during a fight scene led to Amitabh suffering a near-fatal abdominal injury. He was rushed to the hospital, underwent multiple surgeries, and slipped into a coma.
The nation held its breath.
For weeks, news bulletins tracked every medical update. Crowds prayed outside the hospital. Blood donation camps were organized en masse. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, a family friend, visited him. It was a rare moment when a film actor became a matter of national concern.
He finally regained consciousness, but the road to recovery was long and painful. Coolie was completed with adjustments, and in a touching tribute, the moment of injury was retained in the final cut and freeze-framed with a message thanking audiences for their prayers.
Amitabh emerged from the accident physically frailer but more spiritually introspective. It was a turning point in his life.
Personal Life: Love, Family, and Loyalty
In June 1973, Amitabh Bachchan married Jaya Bhaduri, a successful actress known for her girl-next-door charm. Their wedding was hastily arranged before the release of Zanjeer, amid growing speculation of their romance.
The couple has two children - Shweta Bachchan Nanda and Abhishek Bachchan. Despite the pressures of stardom and reported rumours of linkups (most famously with Rekha), the Bachchan family has largely presented a united and dignified front. Jaya’s quiet strength and unwavering support have often been credited as the foundation of Amitabh’s enduring success.
Son Abhishek eventually followed in his father’s footsteps, forging a respectable career of his own in Bollywood. Daughter Shweta chose a more private life, becoming a columnist and author.
Political Stint: A Misstep in the Public Eye
In 1984, urged by friend Rajiv Gandhi, Amitabh Bachchan contested and won a Lok Sabha seat from Allahabad by a landslide. However, the world of politics, riddled with mudslinging and compromises, was not for him.
He resigned after three years, disillusioned, famously stating, “I entered politics with pure motives, but it turned out to be a cesspool.” His brief political tenure did more harm than good - dragging him into the Bofors scandal (though never proven guilty) and temporarily affecting his spotless image.
The ’90s Downslide: Bankruptcy and Irrelevance
The 1990s were perhaps the most difficult decade of Bachchan’s professional life. His films failed to impress. His production house, Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Ltd. (ABCL), launched amid much fanfare, faced severe financial troubles.
By the mid-1990s, the superstar was reportedly bankrupt. He mortgaged his bungalow “Prateeksha,” faced court cases, and was written off by the media. Bollywood had moved on to younger stars. Critics declared him “finished.”
But if there's one thing history teaches us, it’s never to underestimate Amitabh Bachchan.
Kaun Banega Crorepati: The Phoenix Rises
In 2000, Bachchan made his television debut as the host of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC), India’s version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Skeptics scoffed - how could a film legend be reduced to asking questions on TV?
But from the first “Fastest Finger First,” audiences were hooked.
With his baritone voice, polite demeanor, and towering presence, Bachchan brought gravitas and warmth to the show. KBC became a cultural sensation, breaking TRP records. More importantly, it resurrected Amitabh Bachchan’s career and made him relevant to an entirely new generation.
KBC wasn’t just a game show. It was redemption.
He once said, “I came to KBC with broken finances,
broken health, and broken morale. The show restored all three.”
The 2000s and Beyond: The Reinvention
Post-KBC, a new Amitabh Bachchan
emerged. No longer the invincible hero, he embraced age with grace. Mohabbatein (2000) portrayed him as a stern headmaster. Baghban (2003) struck a chord with
middle-class audiences. Black (2005)
earned him unanimous critical acclaim. In Sarkar
and Paa, he transformed himself into
characters far removed from his earlier persona.
Filmmakers like R. Balki, Shoojit Sircar, and Anurag Kashyap explored his range further in films like Cheeni Kum, Piku, Pink, and Gulabo Sitabo.
At an age when most retire, Amitabh works more than ever - reading scripts, shooting films, hosting shows, and blogging daily.
The Voice: His Greatest Instrument
If his face is iconic,
his voice is immortal.
Amitabh Bachchan’s deep baritone became the benchmark for narration and gravitas in Indian cinema. Be it Lagaan, Parineeta, or Kahaani, his voiceovers added weight and emotion. Advertisers, documentarians, and musicians all sought “The Voice.” In fact, his voice alone is often credited with lifting average material into the extraordinary.
As Shah Rukh Khan once said, “When Amitabh Bachchan speaks, the nation listens.”
Awards, Honors, and Global Recognition
Amitabh Bachchan’s shelf groans under the weight of accolades. Among them:
·
Dadasaheb
Phalke Award (2019) for lifetime achievement.
·
Four
National Film Awards for Best Actor.
·
Fifteen
Filmfare Awards and countless nominations.
·
Padma
Shri (1984), Padma Bhushan (2001), and Padma Vibhushan (2015).
·
Knight
of the Legion of Honour, France’s highest civilian award.
Beyond awards, his wax figure at Madame Tussauds, Time magazine mentions, and Oxford debates underscore his global appeal.
Testimonials: Words from Peers and Protegés
·
Rajinikanth. “He is
not just a star, he is a university of acting.”
·
Shah Rukh Khan. “There
is the sun, the moon, and then there is Amitabh Bachchan.”
·
Vidya Balan. “Even after so many years, he rehearses like a
newcomer. That’s greatness.”
·
R. Balki. “He’s not just relevant - he is timeless.”
Legacy: The Bachchan Name
Today, Amitabh Bachchan is not just a man. He is an institution. His family continues his legacy:
·
Abhishek
Bachchan, carving his space with films like Guru,
Yuva, and Dasvi.
·
Aishwarya
Rai Bachchan, his daughter-in-law, a global star and former Miss World.
·
Shweta
Bachchan Nanda, a public figure and author.
· Navya Naveli Nanda, his granddaughter, emerging as a youth entrepreneur and women’s health advocate.
Through them, and through his films, his legacy continues to evolve.
Conclusion:
An Icon for the Ages
From Saat Hindustani to Piku, from rejection to reverence, from the hospital bed in 1982 to the KBC hotseat in 2000 - Amitabh Bachchan has lived many lifetimes in one. His career reflects the story of India itself: post-colonial, chaotic, aspirational, and ultimately triumphant.
He once wrote, “Main aaj bhi phenke hue paise nahi uthata”, and indeed, he never
needed to. What he picked up instead were the hopes, dreams, and tears of
millions. He spoke for a nation. And he still does.
Amitabh Bachchan is not the past of Indian cinema. He is its eternal present.
Quote
to Remember:
"Bad luck either destroys you or defines you. I chose the latter." - Amitabh Bachchan
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