Amitabh Bachchan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amitabh Bachchan
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Bachchan in 2018
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| Born |
Amitabh Srivastava
11 October 1942 |
| Other names | Angry Young Man, Mahanayak, Shahenshah, Big B |
| Alma mater | Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi |
| Occupation | Actor, film producer, television presenter |
| Years active | 1969–present |
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Works
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Full list |
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| Family | See Bachchan family |
| Awards | Full list |
| Honours |
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| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| In office 31 December 1984 – July 1987 |
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| Prime Minister | Rajiv Gandhi |
| Preceded by | Janeshwar Mishra |
| Succeeded by | V. P. Singh |
| Constituency | Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Indian National Congress (1984–1987) |
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Amitabh Bachchan (born Amitabh Srivastava; 11 October 1942) is a famous Indian actor who works in Hindi cinema. Many people think he is one of the greatest and most successful actors in the history of Indian movies. He has been acting for over 50 years and has been in more than 200 films!
People often call him the "Shahenshah of Bollywood" (which means Emperor of Bollywood), "Star of the Millennium," or simply "Big B." In the 1970s and 80s, he was so popular that a French director called him a "one-man industry." He has won many awards, including six National Film Awards and sixteen Filmfare Awards.
Amitabh Bachchan was born in 1942 in Allahabad (now called Prayagraj). His father was a famous Hindi poet named Harivansh Rai Bachchan, and his mother was a social activist named Teji Bachchan. He went to school at Sherwood College and Kirori Mal College at the University of Delhi.
He started his film career in 1969 by narrating a film called Bhuvan Shome. He became popular in the early 1970s with movies like Anand and Zanjeer. He was known as India's "Angry Young Man" because of the strong, serious roles he played.
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Early Life and Family
Amitabh Bachchan was born on 11 October 1942. His father, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, was a poet. His mother, Teji Bachchan, was a social activist. His parents first thought of naming him Inquilaab, which means "Revolution." But another poet suggested the name Amitabh.
Even though his family name was originally Shrivastava, his father didn't like the caste system. So, he started using the pen name Bachchan, which means "child-like." When Amitabh went to school, his parents decided that Bachchan would be the family's last name. This is the name he has used ever since.
Before becoming an actor, Amitabh tried out for a job as a newsreader for All India Radio, but he didn't get it. He also worked as a business executive for a company in Kolkata. His mother always encouraged him to be in the spotlight, which might have influenced his acting career.
Acting Career
Starting Out (1969–1972)
Amitabh Bachchan's first movie role was in Saat Hindustani in 1969. He then starred with Rajesh Khanna in Anand (1971). For this role, he won his first Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor. He also played a bad guy in Parwana (1971).
He made a special appearance in Guddi, which starred his future wife, Jaya Bhaduri. In 1972, he was in the comedy Bombay to Goa, which did fairly well. However, many of his early films were not very successful.
Becoming a Star (1973–1974)
By the age of 30, Amitabh was still struggling to find big success. Then, two screenwriters, Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, saw his talent. They wrote the movie Zanjeer (1973) with him in mind. This film was different from the romantic movies popular at the time. It was an action-packed crime film.
Zanjeer made Amitabh famous as the "angry young man" of Bollywood. He was nominated for his first Filmfare Award for Best Actor. The movie was a huge hit and made him a star. After this, he worked with Salim-Javed and directors like Manmohan Desai and Yash Chopra on many successful films.
In 1973, he married Jaya Bhaduri. They starred together in Abhimaan, which was also a success. He won another Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Namak Haraam. In 1974, he had more hits like Roti Kapada Aur Makaan and Majboor.
Superstardom (1975–1988)
In 1975, Amitabh Bachchan starred in two very important films: Deewaar and Sholay. Both were written by Salim-Javed. Deewaar was a big hit, and Sholay became the highest-grossing film in India at that time. These movies made him a huge superstar.
In 1976, he played a romantic hero in Kabhie Kabhie. In 1977, he won his first Filmfare Best Actor Award for Amar Akbar Anthony. He often played double roles in films like Kasme Vaade (1978) and Don (1978), winning another Filmfare Best Actor Award for Don.
The year 1978 was very successful for him, with six big hits. In 1979, he sang for the first time in the film Mr. Natwarlal. He continued to have many successful films in the early 1980s, including Dostana, Silsila, and Shakti.
In 1982, he played double roles in Satte Pe Satta and Desh Premee. He also had hits like Namak Halaal and Khud-Daar. In 1983, he played a triple role in Mahaan.
Health Issues and Break
Later, Amitabh Bachchan faced some health problems. This made him feel weak, and he decided to take a break from films. He also briefly entered politics during this time.
Ups and Downs (1989–1999)
After his break, some of his films didn't do well. However, he still had hits like Aaj Ka Arjun (1990) and Hum (1991). He won his first National Film Award for Best Actor for his role in the film Agneepath.
After the film Khuda Gawah in 1992, he took a break from acting for five years. During this time, he started a company called Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Ltd. (ABCL) in 1996 to produce films and manage events. The first film his company produced, Tere Mere Sapne, was a hit. However, the company faced financial difficulties, and he had to work hard to recover.
He tried acting again in 1997 with Mrityudata, but it didn't do well. He later found success with Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998) and Major Saab (1998).
Return to Success (2000–Present)
In 2000, Amitabh Bachchan made a big comeback with the romantic film Mohabbatein. He played a strict headmaster, and his role won him his third Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor. He then appeared in many successful family dramas like Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001) and Baghban (2003).
He also received great reviews for his acting in films like Aks (2001), Aankhen (2002), and Khakee (2004). His performance in Black (2005), where he played a teacher for a deaf-blind girl, was highly praised. He won his second National Film Award for Best Actor and his fourth Filmfare Best Actor Award for this film.
He continued to star in successful films with his son Abhishek, including Bunty Aur Babli (2005) and Sarkar (2005). In 2009, he played a 13-year-old boy with a rare disease in the film Paa. This role earned him his third National Film Award for Best Actor and fifth Filmfare Best Actor Award.
In 2013, he made a special appearance in the Hollywood film The Great Gatsby. In 2015, he played a grumpy father in the hit film Piku, winning his fourth National Film Award for Best Actor. In 2016, he starred in the highly praised courtroom drama Pink. More recently, he appeared in Badla, Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva (2022), and Kalki 2898 AD (2024), which was a huge success.
Other Works
Television Appearances
In 2000, Amitabh Bachchan started hosting the first season of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC). This is the Indian version of the game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. The show became very popular. He hosted several seasons of KBC and also hosted the third season of the reality show Bigg Boss in 2009. In 2014, he starred in the TV series Yudh.
Voice Acting
Amitabh Bachchan is known for his deep, powerful voice. He has narrated many films, including Satyajit Ray's Shatranj Ke Khiladi (1977) and Ashutosh Gowarikar's Lagaan (2001). He has also lent his voice to several other movies and projects.
Business Ventures
After facing financial challenges with his company, ABCL, Amitabh Bachchan worked hard to overcome them. He has also invested in various new businesses.
Political Career
In 1984, Amitabh Bachchan took a break from acting to briefly enter politics. He supported a long-time family friend. He won a seat in the Lok Sabha (Indian Parliament) from Allahabad. However, he resigned from his position in July 1987.
Humanitarian and Social Causes
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Amitabh Bachchan has been involved in many social causes. He has donated money to help farmers clear their debts. In 2013, he started the Harivansh Rai Bachchan Memorial Trust, named after his father. This trust helps provide electricity to homes using solar energy. In 2019, he helped clear the debts of 2100 farmers in Bihar.
He became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2002 to help with the polio eradication campaign in India. In 2017, he became a WHO Goodwill Ambassador to raise awareness about hepatitis. He has also supported campaigns for tiger conservation and animal welfare.
In 2014, he lent his voice and image to the TeachAids software, which is an educational tool for preventing HIV/AIDS. He is also a "brand ambassador" for the Swachh Bharat Mission (Clean India Mission) and has appeared in advertisements to promote it. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he helped the Government of India promote public health messages and donated to relief efforts.
Personal Life
Amitabh Bachchan married actress and politician Jaya Bhaduri on 3 June 1973. They have two children: a daughter named Shweta and a son named Abhishek. Abhishek is also an actor and is married to actress Aishwarya Rai. They have a daughter named Aaradhya.
Shweta is married to businessman Nikhil Nanda. They have a daughter, Navya Naveli, and a son, Agastya. The Bachchan family lives in Mumbai, India.
Legacy
Amitabh Bachchan is seen as one of the most important and influential actors in Indian cinema history. He is respected for his amazing performances and strong presence on screen. Many actors, including Rajinikanth, Shah Rukh Khan, and Mohanlal, have been inspired by him.
In 1999, the BBC voted him the "greatest star of stage or screen" in an online poll. In 2003, Time magazine called him "the Undisputed Godfather of Bollywood." In 2005, the Walter Reade Theater in New York honored him with a special event called "Amitabh Bachchan: The Biggest Film Star in the World."
In 2000, he became the first living Asian to have a wax statue at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in London. More statues were later placed in other cities around the world. In 2010, CNN named him one of the "top 25 Asian actors of all time." There are also places named after him, like the Amitabh Bachchan Sports Complex in Allahabad and a waterfall in Sikkim.
Biographies
Several books have been written about Amitabh Bachchan's life and career. Some of these include:
- Amitabh Bachchan: the Legend (1999)
- To be or not to be: Amitabh Bachchan (2004)
- AB: The Legend (A Photographer's Tribute) (2006)
- Looking for the Big B: Bollywood, Bachchan and Me (2007)
Awards and Honours
Amitabh Bachchan has received many awards for his acting. In 1991, he was the first person to receive the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2000, he was named "Superstar of the Millennium" at the Filmfare Awards.
In 2001, he was honored as the "Actor of the Century" at the Alexandria International Film Festival in Egypt. He has also received Lifetime Achievement Awards at other international film festivals.
The Government of India has given him some of its highest civilian awards: the Padma Shri in 1984, the Padma Bhushan in 2001, the Padma Vibhushan in 2015, and India's highest film honor, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, in 2019. In 2007, the French Government gave him their highest civilian honor, the Officer of the Legion of Honour.
On 27 July 2012, Amitabh Bachchan carried the Olympic torch during its relay in London.
See Also
In Spanish: Amitabh Bachchan para niños
- List of Bollywood actors
- Lists of Indian actors
