Amitabh Bachhan
Birthday: October 11th,1942
Sun Sign: Libra
Address: Pratiksha, 10th Road JVPD Scheme,Mumbai - 400049
Wife: Jaya Bachchan
First Movie: Saat Hindustani
Amitabh Bachhan is, in popular parlance, the king of Indian cinema, most certainly of the commerical Hindi film. Amitabh has seen it all. From path-breaking films like Zanjeer, fatal accident on the sets of Coolie to huge losses in running a mega company. He has always been described as a phenomenon and his life story is full of  phenomena and incidents.
The older of the two sons of Harivansh Rai, an acclaimed Hindi poet, and the socialite Teji Bachhan, Amitabh went to Sherwood College, a boarding school in the hill-station town of Nainital, and from there to Delhi University where he earned an arts degree. His first appearance was in the movie 'Saat Hindustani' in 1969 , which did not do particularly well at the box office. Nonetheless, Amitabh was not deterred, and he can be said to have arrived in the Hindi film world with the films 'Zanjeer' and 'Deewar'.
With his tall and lean looks, Amitabh became emblematic of the new kind of action hero. Whereas his predecessors such as Rajesh Khanna and Dharmendra played romantic roles, Amitabh introduced the motif of the 'angry young man' to Indian cinema. This is at a time, in the mid-1970s, when domestic politics was in a period of great turmoil, student unrest was high, and the employment prospects for educated young men were bleak at best. In Deewar, which furnishes the classic example of the double in the Hindi cinema, he played the role of a mafia don and smuggler opposite his policeman brother, played by Shashi Kapoor. The theme of 'alienation' is further explored in 'Shakti', where as the son of a strict police officer (Dilip Kumar), Amitabh takes to the life of high crime and smuggling.
Amitabh Bachchan soon shot into limelight with his performances in 'Deewar', 'Zanjeer', 'Muqaddar Ka Sikandar' and the blockbuster Sholay. His angry young man persona on screen has ignited many a blockbuster, leading to scores of box office records. A freak accident on the sets of the movie Coolie had millions of his fans worried and praying for his life. Amitabh made forays into new territory, politics to lend support to his friend Rajiv Gandhi only to return to mainstream cinema, few years later. Though his comeback hasn't been so electrifying he has a spate of films lined up for the ensuing year. Son of well-known poet Harivansh Rai Bachan and Teji Bachchan, Amitabh is married to actress Jaya Bhaduri.
Altogether, Amitabh Bachhan has appeared in over 70 films, many of them, particularly those from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s, resounding successes. During the shooting of the movie Coolie, he injured himself fatally and had a near brush with death. He married Jaya Bhaduri, herself one of the most successful and accomplished actresses in the Hindi cinema, and it is perhaps telling that, quite in the Indian fashion, she ceased to act in Hindi films after their marriage. About ten years age he retired from the film world. He then tried his hand at politics. Due to his enormous popularity, not to mention the close association with Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and members of their family that he has enjoyed, he was elected to parliament with a huge majority from his home city of Allahabad. But his stint in politics did not last long and he was implicated in some scandals. He gave up his seat in parliament, vowing never to be involved in politics again.
Some years ago, Amitabh attempted a return to the commercial cinema, but he has not had the impact that he had in previous years. However, he continues to have an extraordinary public presence in India. It was Satyajit Ray, among others, who found that Amitabh's deep and rich voice, which leaves a lasting impression upon listeners, makes for excellent narration. Amitabh had provided narration for numerous films and cultural programs, and he now also heads an entertainment company. Most recently, his entertainment company was the principal sponsor of the Miss Universe Contest, held in Bangalore in 1996. In this respect, as in many others, whatever Amitabh Bachhan's lasting contribution to Indian cinema, he has shown himself to be naive, socially insensitive, and politically irresponsible; like most other Indians of the upper crust, he is committed to the proposition that India must become a major player in the world stage, and that opposition to 'globalization', 'liberalization', 'modernization' and spectacular 'world events' is not merely inopportune, but a residue of India's attachment to socialism and tradition.
Recognised recently as the Superstar of the Millennium, this man is quite simply a phenomenon. For the last two and a half decades, he has reigned supreme on India's silver screen and in the process, redefined standards of excellence in acting and professionalism. Arguably one of the most recognized faces in India, Big B has touched the heart of millions. His dialogue in the film Dostana portrays him just right, Mere chehre par ek ajeeb si kashish hai, khaas taur se meri aankhen...
Amitabh Bachhan Filmography
- Baiju Aur Tansen (2006) -Tansen
- Happy New Year (2006)
- Sholay (2006)
- Darna Zaroori Hai (2006)
- God Tussi Great Ho (2006)
- Baabul (2005)
- Eklavya (2006) -Eklavya
- Khazan (2006)
- Struggler (2005)
- Zamaanat (2005) -Shiv Shankar
- Dil Jo Bhi Kahey... (2005) -Shekhar Sinha
- Family (2005/I)
- Ek Ajnabee (2005) -Suryaveer Singh
- Viruddh (2005) -Vidhyadar Ramkrishna Patwardhan
- Sarkar (2005) -Subhash Nagare 'Sarkar'
- Paheli (2005) -The Shepherd
- Parineeta (2005) -Narrator
- Bunty Aur Babli (2005) -DCP Dashrath Singh
- Waqt: The Race Against Time (2005) -Ishwarchand Thakur
- Black (2005) -Debraj Sahai
- Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna (2005) -Mohinder Sharma
- Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo (2004) -Major General Amarjeet Singh
- Veer-Zaara (2004) -Chaudhary Sumer Singh (Special Appearance)
- Hum Kaun Hai? (2004) -Dual Role (Major Frank John Williams & Frank James Williams) (Special Appearance)
- Kyun...! Ho Gaya Na (2004) -Raj Chauhan (Uncle)
- Deewaar (2004) -Maj. Ranvir Kaul
- Lakshya (2004) -Col. Sunil Damle
- Dev (2004) -JCP Dev Pratap Singh
- Insaaf: The Justice (2004) -Narrator
- Rudraksh (2004) -Narrator
- Aetbaar (2004) -Dr. Ranveer Malhotra
- Khakee (2004) -DCP Anant Kumar Shrivastav
- Fun2shh... Dudes in the 10th Century (2003) -Narrator
- Baghban (2003) -Raj Malhotra
- Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost (2003) -Narrator
- Boom (2003/I) -Bade Mia
- Armaan (2003) -Dr. Siddharth Sinha
- Khushi (2003) -Narrator
- Kaante (2002) -Yashvardhan Rampal 'Major'
- Agni Varsha (2002) -Indra (Special Appearance)
- Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin (2002) -Dr. Rastogi
- Aankhen (2002) -Vijay Singh Rajput
- Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001) -Yashovardhan "Yash" Raichand
- Aks (2001) -Insp. Manu Verma
- Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001) -Narrator
- Ek Rishtaa: The Bond of Love (2001) -Vijay Kapoor
- "Kaun Banega Crorepati Junior" (2001) TV Series -Host
- Mohabbatein (2000) -Narayan Shankar
- Hello Brother (1999) -Voice of God
- Kohram: The Explosion (1999) -Col. Balbir Singh Sodi, aka Devraj Hathoda/Dada Bhai
- Hindustan Ki Kasam (1999) -Kabeera
- Sooryavansham (1999) -Dual Role (Thakur Bhanu Pratap Singh & Heera Singh)
- Lal Baadshah (1999) -Dual Role (Lal 'Baadshah' Singh/Ranbhir Singh)
- Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998) -Dual Role (Insp. Arjun Singh & Bade Miyan)
- Major Saab (1998) -Maj. Jasbir Singh Rana
- Mrityudaata (1997) -Dr. Ram Prasad Ghayal
- Tere Mere Sapne (1996) (voice) (as Mr. Amitabh Bachchan) -Narrator
- Insaniyat (1994) -Insp. Amar
- Khuda Gawah (1992) -Baadshah Khan
- Akayla (1991) -Insp. Vijay Verma
- Indrajeet (1991) -Indrajeet
- Ajooba (1991) -Ajooba/Ali
- Hum (1991) -Tiger/Shekhar
- Aaj Ka Arjun (1990) -Bheema
- Agneepath (1990) -Vijay Dinanath Chavan
- Jaadugar (1989) -Goga/Gogeshwar
- Toofan (1989) -Dual Role (Toofan & Shyam)
- Batwara (1989) -Narrator
- Main Azaad Hoon (1989) -Azaad
- Shahenshah (1988) -Vijay Kumar Srivastava/Shahenshah
- Gangaa Jamunaa Saraswathi (1988) -Ganga Prasad
- Soorma Bhopali (1988) -(Cameo Appearance)
- Aakhree Raasta (1986) -Dual Role (David D'Costa & Insp. Vijay Shindeliya)
- Ek Ruka Hua Faisla (1986) (TV) -(Guest Appearance)
- Mard (1985) -Raju 'Mard' Tangewala
- Geraftaar (1985) -Insp. Karan Kumar Khanna (Guest Appearance)
- Naya Bakra (1985) -(Guest Appearance)
- Inquilaab (1984) -Amarnath
- Kanoon Kya Karega (1984) -Narrator
- Sharaabi (1984) -Vicky Kapoor
- Coolie (1983/I) -Iqbal
- Film Hi Film (1983) -(Special Appearance)
- Nastik (1983) -Shankar (Sheru)/Bhola
- Andha Kanoon (1983) -Jan Nissar Akhtar Khan (Guest Appearance)
- Mahaan (1983) -Triple role (Amit/Rana Ranveer, Guru & Insp. Shankar)
- Pukar (1983) -Ramdas/Ronnie
- Shakti (1982) -Vijay Kumar
- Bemisal (1982) -Dual Role (Dr. Sudhir Roy & Adhir Roy)
- Satte Pe Satta (1982) -Dual Role (Ravi Anand & Babu)
- Desh Premee (1982) -Dual Role (Master Dinanath & Raju)
- Khud-Daar (1982) -Govind Srivastav/Chotu Ustad
- Namak Halaal (1982) -Arjun Singh
- Silsila (1981) -Amit Malhotra
- Naseeb (1981) -John Jaani Janardhan
- Yaarana (1981) -Kishan Kumar
- Anusandhan (1981) -ACP Abhijeet Rai
- Chashme Buddoor (1981) -Guest Appearance
- Commander (1981) -(Guest Appearance)
- Kaalia (1981) -Kallu/Kaalia
- Laawaris (1981) -Heera
- Vilayati Babu (1981) -Jagga (Special Appearance)
- Dostana (1980) -Vijay Varma
- Do Aur Do Paanch (1980) -Vijay/Ram
- Ram Balram (1980) -Insp. Balram Singh
- Shaan (1980) -Vijay
- Suhaag (1979) -Amit Kapoor
- Kaala Patthar (1979) -Vijay Pal Singh
- Manzil (1979) -Ajay Chandra
- Jurmana (1979) -Inder Saxena
- The Great Gambler (1979) -Dual Role (Jay & Insp. Vijay)
- Cinema Cinema (1979)
- Mr. Natwarlal (1979) -Natwarlal/Avtar Singh
- Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978) -Sikandar
- Don (1978) -Dual Role (Don & Vijay)
- Ganga Ki Saugand (1978) -Jeeva
- Besharam (1978) -Ram Kumar Chandra/Prince Chandrashekar
- Kasme Vaade (1978) -Dual Role (Amit & Shankar)
- Trishul (1978) -Vijay Kumar
- Shatranj Ke Khilari (1977) (voice) -Narrator
- Immaan Dharam (1977) -Iqbal
- Alaap (1977) -Alok Prasad
- Amar Akbar Anthony (1977) -Anthony Gonzalves/Raju
- Charandas (1977) -Quwwali Singer (Special Appearance)
- Khoon Pasina (1977) -Shiva/Tiger
- Parvarish (1977) -Amit
- Hera Pheri (1976) -Vijay
- Kabhi Kabhie - Love Is Life (1976) -Amitabh "Amit" Malhotra
- Aadalat (1976) -Dual Role (Dharma/Thakur Dharam Chand & Raju)
- Do Anjaane (1976) -Amit Roy/Naresh Dutt
- Faraar (1975) -Rajesh (Raj)
- Sholay (1975) -Jai (Jaidev)
- Zameer (1975) -Badal/Chimpoo
- Chupke Chupke (1975) -Professor Sukumar Sinha/Parimal Tripathi
- Deewaar (1975) -Vijay Verma
- Mili (1975) -Shekhar Dayal
- Majboor (1974) -Ravi Khanna
- Kunwara Baap (1974) (as Amitabh Bachhan) -Augustine (Guest Appearance)
- Benaam (1974) -Amit Srivastav
- Kasauti (1974) -Amitabh Sharma (Amit)
- Dost (1974) (uncredited) -Anand (Guest Appearance)
- Roti Kapada Aur Makaan (1974) -Vijay
- Namak Haraam (1973) -Vikram (Vicky)
- Abhimaan (1973) -Subir Kumar (Beeru)
- Gehri Chaal (1973) -Ratan
- Zanjeer (1973) -Insp. Vijay Khanna
- Bada Kabutar (1973) -Guest appearance
- Bandhe Haath (1973) -Dual Role (Shyamu & Deepak)
- Saudagar (1973) -Moti
- Piya Ka Ghar (1972) -Guest Appearance
- Bansi Birju (1972) -Birju
- Bawarchi (1972) (voice) -Narrator
- Bombay to Goa (1972) -Ravi Kumar
- Ek Nazar (1972) -Manmohan Akash Tyagi
- Garam Masala (1972) (uncredited) -Robert Taylor
- Jaban (1972)
- Raaste Kaa Patthar (1972) -Jai Shankar Rai
- Pyar Ki Kahani (1971) -Ram Chandra
- Parwana (1971) -Kumar Sen
- Reshma Aur Shera (1971) -Chotu
- Sanjog (1971) -Mohan
- Bombay Talkie (1970) (uncredited) -Mourner in funeral
- Anand (1970) -Dr. Bhaskar K. Bannerjee/Babu Moshai
- Bhuvan Shome (1969) (voice) (as Amitabh) -Commentator
- Saat Hindustani (1969) -Anwar Ali Anwar
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