Brilliant Bollywood Star
Amitabh Bachchan, film actor and politician, screenwriter and television presenter, was born in 1942 in Alahabad. His father is the popular Indian poet Harivansh Shrivastav, his mother is Teji Suri. Amitabh's parents were active in political and social activities. Mother, for example, was an assistant to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Bachchan is actually the nickname of Amitabh's father. This is what my grandmother called Harivansha for his stern disposition. Amitabh subsequently took this nickname as a pseudonym - it was much more sonorous than the surname Shrivastav.
Amitabh's parents sent him to study at Sherwood College, then he was transferred to the Nainital boarding school. The young man completed his studies at Krirori Mal College at Delhi University. By Indian standards, he received a simply brilliant education - not every family could afford to give this to their children.
Every Indian boy has his own dreams and dreams. Amitabh really wanted to become a film artist. Handsome, tall, impressive, with a bewitching velvety baritone, he was created for cinema. While studying in college, he recorded his songs in a studio, where representatives of one of the radio stations noticed him and offered him a job as an announcer.
There were problems with cinema. The producers were frightened by his appearance. Amitabh's beauty was very stern, his gaze heavy. Filmmakers were afraid of this formidable beauty. The most that they trusted him at first was voicing roles.
But those who want will achieve it. Amitabh, with the help of his parents, was able to obtain a written recommendation from Indira Gandhi herself, who strongly “advised” the producers not to reject the young talent. The authority of the Prime Minister did its job, and the young man received his debut, and already the main role in the film “Seven Indians”. The film did not generate much money at the box office, but Bachchan was awarded one of the most prestigious awards for it, “Best Debutant.”
His next film, Anand, brought Amithab a prize in the Best Supporting Actor category. But real success and recognition would come to him with the appearance in theaters of the film “Protracted Reckoning” in 1973. Bachchan played a policeman in the film, fighting alone against the criminal world. This film, in addition to awards, earned him the nickname “Angry Young Man.” It was this film that became the catalyst for the popularity of action, romantic and detective films in Bollywood. In the seventies, Bollywood was ruled by one king - Amithab Bachchan. Bachchan's box office was much higher than that of other Indian film stars. He creates for himself the image of a fearless defender of ordinary people, always ready to come to the aid of the weak and oppressed.
Childhood and youth
Abhishek Bachchan is a popular actor and producer from India.
Bachchan is his pseudonym, actually the actor's surname is Shrivastav. Traditions are respected in his family, especially when it comes to the famous Bachchan acting dynasty. It becomes clear why the man took the pseudonym of his grandfather and father, the outstanding Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan. The future Indian star's mother, Jaya, is also a popular Indian actress.
When the time came to decide on his future profession, he didn’t even have to choose anything. Although the guy once thought about studying to become an economist, his fate was predetermined from birth.
The actor's hometown is Mumbai. Here he was born on 02/05/1976 under the sign of Aquarius. By that time, Shveta’s elder sister was already growing up in the family.
His first school years were spent in Mumbai. It was a difficult time for the boy, as dyslexia made it difficult for him to study. But Abhishek was not going to give up in the face of difficulties, and by studying hard, he got rid of the unpleasant problem.
When the family moved to Delhi, the boy transferred to a local school. He was able to completely finish school in Switzerland. Having entered Boston University, the young man began studying economics. But nature took its toll, he changed direction and began studying acting.
Despite the fact that the young man’s parents are actors themselves, they were not very happy about the changes in their son’s life, but did not interfere with him.
Love of the whole nation
The success was stunning. People's love is limitless. Bachchan's personal charm was genuine - he tried to play every role extremely believably and he did it well. Amithab very quickly became a national symbol of India.
At the Berlin International Film Festival, Bachchan received the Golden Bear prize for his voice-over work in the film The Chess Players, directed by Ray Satyajit, who was delighted by Bachchan's baritone voice. In 205, the film “March of the Penguins” with the voice acting by Bachchan received an Oscar.
Early biography
Amitabh Bachchan and his family have always been at the forefront of the fight for progress. The actor’s mother, Teiji Suri, was a follower of Sikhism, a social activist and a teacher. She later became an advisor to Indira Gandhi. His father, Harivansha Rai Bachchan, was a Hindi poet-translator and a fighter against class and religious prejudices.
The future actor was born in October 1942 in the city of Allahabad, which is located in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
He received his education at Sherwood College and a boarding school in Nainital, and completed his education at the Kirari Mal College at the University of Delhi.
Trouble came from where we didn't expect it
Amithab Bachchan's brilliant career ended as unexpectedly as it began. In 1982, he received a terrible injury while filming the film “The Porter.” Deciding to do without a stuntman, he receives a strong blow to the corner of the table. Result: splenic rupture. Doctors fought for the actor’s life for a long time.
Several weeks of coma. The nation froze, awaiting the outcome. And Bachchan survived. He woke up from his coma and got back on his feet. The creators of the film "The Porter" reworked the script. In the initial version, the hero Amithab died. In the new version, the writers left him alive.
A turning point in life
Amitabh Bachchan became so beloved by the audience and popular at home and far beyond its borders that he became practically a national hero. It is not surprising that the injury that nearly cost Amitabh his life was hailed as a national tragedy. On the set of the film “The Porter” (1982), during a fight scene, the actor hit the edge of the table hard and damaged his internal organs. Doctors fought for his life for a long time, Amitji underwent several operations and spent three weeks in a coma. Crowds of fans besieged the hospital, and the news announced the condition of their favorite artist on central television. Having come to his senses, this is what Amitabh Bachchan learned first, whose biography has experienced a sharp turning point.
Despite the fact that the actor’s filmography at that time numbered about two hundred works, and the films with his participation were a huge success in all countries of the civilized world, Amitabh took a break in his career, distracted by politics. Supporting his longtime friend Rajiv Gandhi, he stood for election as an MP from his hometown of Allahabad and won by a huge margin. Later, this victory turned into big losses - Rajiv was killed, and a case was opened against Amitabh Bachchan, in which he, however, was later acquitted. But the seizure of property and a damaged reputation led the actor to a period of financial shortage. His friend Amar Singh helped him and, as gratitude, our hero joined Singh’s Samajwati Party.
In 1994, the most famous Indian actor announced his retirement from cinema and went into business in partnership with his younger brother. However, it didn’t last long, and already in 1997 his film “Our Dreams with You” (“We”) was released. From that moment on, Amitji has not left the screens, embodying image after image, becoming more and more interesting and deeper in his acting. In one of the interviews, he admitted that he does not see his life without a filming environment and is ready to play any role, even as an extra, as long as he lives and breathes.
For many years, the actor was the host of the program “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”, until he was replaced by Shah Rukh Khan. However, a couple of years later, Amitji returned to play the role.
To live on
Bachchan then entered politics. Wins parliamentary elections from Alahabad. A criminal case was opened against Bachchan, which was destroyed by lawyers as a complete falsification. The actor runs for the Indian Senate and wins. In 1994, he announced his final farewell to cinema. But in 1997, Bachchan made a victorious return in the title role of the film “The Bringer of Death.” Bachchan has acted in more than 200 films. At one time he hosted the program “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” In 2000, he was recognized as the Film Actor of the Millennium by the Indian National Film Association.
Amitabh Bachchan (biography, 26 photos)
Currently, Amitabh Bachchan has more than a hundred films in his career, the most famous of which is “Revenge and Law” (1975). In 1999, BBC India declared Revenge and the Law the "Film of the Millennium". In this film, Amitabh Bachchan plays opposite his wife Jaya Bhaduri, whom he married in 1973. Now the Amitabh-Jaya couple has two children: daughter Shweta (born 03/17/1974) and son Abhishek (born 02/05/1976).
Amitabh Bachchan with his daughter Shweta
Amitabh Bachchan with his wife Jaya and children Shweta and Abhishek
Amitabh Bachchan's family is probably the most famous acting family in India. Abhishek Bachchan is also a successful actor and is married to the equally successful Indian actress Aishwarya Rai. In 2011, it became known that the star couple Abhishek-Aishwarya had a daughter.
Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya, Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai
Amitabh Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai
Amitabh Bachchan's daughter Shweta is married to entrepreneur Nikhil Nanda, the grandson of the famous actor and director Raj Kapoor. Shveta's family already has two children. Amitabh Bachchan speaks of his wife: “Jaya is a very spontaneous person. Not at all like me. Luckily for me, she comes from the same profession as me. Therefore, she understands me very well. She knows what cinema is and the world that surrounds it. I don’t know what would happen if I were married to a woman not in my profession.” “I value simple, normal relationships. That's what attracts me to Jaya. She is simple, sober-minded, far from nonsense and whims. Jaya is a straightforward and open person. Sometimes too direct, but that’s her nature. I never tried to break this quality of hers and she never stopped me from being myself. When I want to be alone, she leaves me alone. It's like my parents' relationship." In an interview given in 1995, Amitabh, in response to the question “What is your ideal of beauty?” said, “My mother, Jaya and my daughter Shweta.” When asked which actress was his ideal beauty, Amitabh named Waheeda Rehman. Amitabh once starred with Waheeda Rehman, and in 2009, Abhishek Bachchan also played alongside Waheeda Rehman in the film “Delhi-6”.
Amitabh Bachchan and Waheeda Rehman in the film Kabhi Kabhie (Love is Life)
One of the most iconic cinematic couples of Bollywood is Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha.
Rekha speaks of Amitabh like this: “Here is a man who changed my outlook on life. He is the most disciplined, sincere and simple person I have ever met. He is a true example of someone close to me. Everything I learned and everything my mother taught me was embodied in him. For example, since I am from South India, my mother taught me to be punctual, regardless of whether others are punctual. When I entered the Bombay film industry, I felt in chaos. And so I come to the set and find this man here, completely ready and with makeup applied. It was something.
Watching him work on his dialogue and his role, while always keeping an eye on his partners' movements, was a learning experience for me. On set, he always asked the lighting crew if it was too hot and warned them not to fall. Or he asked for another chair when there was a visitor on the set. He is so patient with people that others don't even think about. He is a pure fanatic, fastidious in everything and ideal in behavior. He has amazing taste, whether it's cars, wine or women - it doesn't matter. Be it a suit or a sherwani, he carries it all off with ease. Essentially, he is the perfect combination of Shakespeare and the Mughals. He is a very emotional person. If there is a person who behaves like an extremely exemplary husband and family man, then it is Amitabh Bachchan. He is a wonderful son of his parents. And when he plays with children, he becomes a child himself. I never had a father, but when I see him with his children, I always understand how great it is to have one. I think he would be a good head of state, although he himself believes that he is not suited for politics.
But he needs his space. He gets caught up in a big crowd. Let it exist, don't breathe down your neck. Then he will give it his all. I've seen this man blossom over the 30 years that I've been obsessed with him. He lived a million lives in one of his own, died a million times and rose from the ashes like a phoenix. Over the years, I spent a lot of time watching him rather than talking to him. I could call him my guru, but I am sure that he is even more, and all the inspiration in the world is not enough. I could call him a person who is a ray of hope; the person who made me believe in the best in me. I'm sure he doesn't notice all this. But this is how he burned into my memory, a lesser mortal. He is the perfect balance of metaphor and reality. When you know the sincerity of its simplicity, its beauty is revealed to you.”
Amitabh Bachchan and Juhi Chawla
Amitabh Bachchan and Madhuri Dixit
Amitabh Bachchan and Parveen Babi
Amitabh Bachchan and Anil Kapoor
Amitabh Bachchan and Sridevi in the film “God is My Witness” / Khuda Gawah
Amitabh Bachchan and Shashi Kapoor in the film "Twice two is five" / Do Aur Do Paanch
Amitabh Bachchan and Sushmita Sen
Amitabh Bachchan and Zeenat Aman
Movies
His debut in cinematography took place only in 2000, when Abhishek was already 24 years old. But his first role in the drama “Les Miserables” brought success to the aspiring actor. Brilliant external data (with a height of 188 cm, the actor’s weight does not exceed 78 kg), athletic figure, charming smile and expressive voice did their job - the public became interested in the artist. This inspired Bachchan and he continued his film career. However, subsequent projects were not so successful. Over the course of three years, 17 films in Abhishek’s filmography turned out to be failures.
This did not break the actor’s desire to conquer the Bollywood Olympus; on the contrary, it forced him to improve his skills and achieve his goal. And Bachchan Jr.’s persistence was rewarded. The years 2003-2004 became a turning point in the actor’s creative biography. Two roles at once in the film “I'm Crazy with Love”, and then in the film “At the Crossroads of Fates” were appreciated by viewers and critics. The last film brought Abhishek an award from the Indian Film Institute.
"I'm crazy with love"
In 2004, Abhishek received the title role in the action film Bikers, which became a box office hit. The actor consolidated his success in the comedy with elements of adventure “Bunty and Babli” (2004). And the next project in 2005 was a collaboration between Abhishek and his father. The film "In the Footsteps of Father" not only brought good income at the box office, but also received praise from film critics, as well as an award from the Indian Film Institute.
The actor consolidated his success with his role in the action movie “Hour X,” which also received significant cash receipts. In 2006, the melodrama Never Say Goodbye with his participation managed to collect the largest box office in the history of Indian films outside India at that time. And the sequel to “Bikers” in 2006 confirmed that a new star had lit up in Bollywood.
"Never say Goodbye"
The year 2007 in the actor’s filmography was marked by the release of the drama “Guru: The Path to Success.” But the next work in melodrama failed in India, but was warmly received in the UK. 2008 again reunited father and son Bachchan on the set in the crime drama Sarkar Raj. Abhishek worked with his wife Aishwarya Rai in this project.
"Guru: the path to success"
"Sarkar Raj"
In the same year, his role in the romantic comedy “Close Friends” became successful. The next film, “Delhi-6,” again became a failure in Bachchan’s career, but he managed to restore his fame by producing and performing one of the roles in the drama “Daddy,” where he again starred with his father. This film was recognized as the best in 2009, shot in the Hindi language.
"Close friends"
2010 again brings together Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai in a joint project. The two stars starred in "Villain", where Bachchan played the role of the main negative character. In 2011, the actor’s track record was supplemented by the action film “The Game” and the crime drama “Vicious Circle,” which received good reviews from the audience and box office receipts. Abhishek and Aishwarya's song together in the film becomes a popular music video.
"The villain"
At the beginning of 2012, the action movie “Players” was released. The remake of the famous Hollywood film “The Italian Job” was filmed in India, Russia, New Zealand and even at the North Pole. For the first time in the history of Bollywood, Indian filmmakers worked in such harsh conditions.
The 2012 comedy “The Reluctant Deceiver” cemented Bachchan Jr.’s reputation as a charismatic actor who can embody any role on screen with equal success. The action film “Bikers 3” (2013) with the participation of the actor became one of the most expensive Bollywood projects. At the same time, the film managed to get into the list of the highest-grossing Indian films.
"Bikers 3"
"Reluctant Deceiver"
In 2014, Abhishek’s filmography was expanded with the action movie “Happy New Year,” and in 2020 with the comedy melodrama “Everything is Fine,” in which he appeared in an acting duet with Rishi Kapoor. Staying true to this genre in 2020, the actor played the role in the film Housefull 3, where he played alongside Akshay Kumar.
"Happy New Year"
"Housefull 3"
Together not only in life
In the spring of 2007, loyal fans of Indian cinema heatedly discussed the wedding of the already world-famous Abhishek Bachchan and actress Aishwarya Rai, winner of the Miss World title in 1994.
In the crime thriller Sarkar Raj (2008), the couple played together, although this was not their first work together. They met on the set of the film “A Few Words about Love” back in 2000, when Abhishek was just taking his first steps in cinema. Then they starred in Bikers 2 (2006), and after the wedding, in Villain, a crime action film, which was far from the first in Abhishek Bachchan’s filmography.
Creativity and career
Thanks to his voice, he got a job as a radio announcer, and got on screen using his parents’ connections. With a letter of recommendation from Indira Gandhi, Amitabh came to the creators of the film “Seven Indians,” for his performance in which he later won the first prize in the “Best New Actor” category.
The second film “Anand” brought Bachchan the Filmfare Award. Popularity and fame overwhelmed the artist after the release of the film “Protracted Reckoning.”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Amitabh Bachchan (@amitabhbachchan) on Dec 30, 2018 at 6:50pm PST
Amitabh becomes the highest grossing actor. He gradually develops the image of a knight who knows no fear, always able to lend a helping hand to the weak and oppressed. The nation's love was largely explained by the personality of Bachchan himself, who has genuine human and masculine charm and a desire to bring verisimilitude and life value to each role.
A brilliant career was almost interrupted in 1982. During the filming of “The Porter,” Amitabh suffered a serious injury - a ruptured spleen, lay in a coma for a month, and when he returned to work, he received a changed script. Initially, Bachchan's character died, but in the new version he remained alive. The country, the directors rightly believed, would not forgive them for the death of the hero.
On the wave of popularity in cinema, the actor won elections to parliament. In 1987, a case was opened against him on charges of corruption, but his guilt was not proven. In the 90s, Amitabh sat in the upper house of parliament, but soon left politics, deciding to focus on producing.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Amitabh Bachchan (@amitabhbachchan) on Nov 7, 2018 at 2:37pm PST
Amitabh Bachchan and wife Jaya Bhaduri
Bachchan also succeeded in business. Together with his brother, he began to develop satellite television, and was the host of the Indian television version of the show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” The film company he founded, Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Ltd, went bankrupt and then rose from the ashes to become one of the largest in the country.
In 1997, Amitabh triumphantly returned to the acting profession with the main role in the film “The Bringer of Death.” Since then, his filmography has been expanded with dozens of projects.
Bachchan became the first actor from Asia, whose wax figure appeared in London's famous Madame Tussauds Museum during his lifetime. In 1984, the Indian government awarded Bachchan the Bronze Lotus Order, considered the fourth most important. France recognized the Indian's contribution to world cinema with the Legion of Honor, the state's highest civilian award.
