Born on the 11th of October in a well-known family (his father Harivansh Rai Bachchan is a respected Hindi poet), Amitabh studied at a boarding school (Sherwood College) in Nainital where his acting skills first surfaced. He continued participating in plays while studying at Delhi's Kirorimal College.
After college, Amitabh got a job as an executive in a company but soon quit to pursue his interest in films. His struggle in Bollywood was long and filled with rejection - the common opinion was that he was too tall, too dark, and too lean to be a leading star.
Amitabh's first appearance was in the movie 'Saat Hindustani', which failed to make an impact at the box office. Amitabh continued to struggle (even playing the role of a mute in Reshma and Shera) and hope for success. His talent for acting was noticed and he landed the leading role in Zanjeer, even though it was only because all the leading stars of that time refused to play the part.
Zanjeer became a super hit and Amitabh Bachchan was established as a movie star. The film was also his first portrayal of the 'angry young man' - (angry at the evil surrounding him and thirsty for revenge) - a persona in which he blasted his way to box office success and into India's heart..
Why was the angry young man so successful?
The personality of Amitabh apart, the situation of the 1970's with its political instability and increasing corruption, student unrest and high level of unemployment was enough to make many young men angry. Amitabh for them was just portraying some of their own anger and restlessness on the screen.
For years on end, the on-screen Amitabh was largely angry, be it Deewar, Trishul, Shakti, Sholay, Don, Sharabi. But when he wasn't shooting down villains, he was making the audience laugh with lines like, "You see, I can walk English, talk English...".
His dialogues captivated audiences and were repeated in the nooks and corners of India by the youth who adored him. No other star in the 70s and 80s was half as successful as Amitabh. It seemed as if the whole nation was spell bound by his screen presence, his voice and his unique style of acting. Any film Bachchan did was almost guaranteed to be a box office hit!
DID YOU KNOW?
Amitabh was once refused a job at Vividh Bharati because the selectors felt he did not have a good enough voice!
When he was seriously injured during the shooting of the movie Coolie, the whole country prayed for his recovery.
In 1999, , Amitabh was voted the Star of the millennium in BBC's poll on the Internet. Amitabh defeated the likes of Charlie Chaplin and Robert De Niro to win this honour.
Amitabh gave up his film career in the nineties to join politics and even won the Allahabad Parliament seat, but he couldn't succeed in Politics.
He then founded his own company called ABCL but the company soon faced bankruptcy!
Next Bachchan launched his career as a pop singer with the album 'Abby Baby' but that flopped too.
His latest avatar is that of an anchor of the Indian version of 'Who wants to be a millionaire' on the television channel Star Plus and so far he's doing very well.
Some of Amitabh' s famous lines
"Tumhare pas kya hai?" - Deewar
"Agar apni maa ka doodh piya hai to saamne aa." - Laawaris
"Mai aur meri tanhaai - aksar ye baatein karte hai...." - Silsila
"Daaru peene se liver kharab ho jaata hai" - Satte Pe Satta
"Rishte me to hum tumhare baap lagte hain, naam hai Shahenshah." - Shahenshah
Amitabh is the only Bollywood Star to have been honoured by the Madame Tussad's museum in England. The museum will soon feature a life size wax idol of Amitabh. The actor was chosen after an open poll in which the public could vote for any Bollywood star of their choice.
Goes to prove that even despite his recent failures Amitabh is till date the biggest Bollywood Star. Some of the over 100 films in which Amitabh Bachchan has acted
Chhoti si Baat, Chupke Chupke, Deewar, Milli, Sholay, Zameer, Kabhie Kabhie, Amar Akbar Anthony, Khoon Pasina, Parvarish, Don, Kasme Vaade, Trishul, Gol Maal, Kaala Pathar, Mr Natwarlal, Muqaddar ka Sikandar, Do aur do Paanch, Kaalia, Lawaaris, Naseeb, Silsila, Yaraana, Namak Halal, Nastik, Satte pe Satta, Andha Kanoon, Coolie, Sharaabi, Mard, Shahenshah, Main Azaad Hoon, Agneepath, Hum, Khuda Gawah, Major Saab.
Awards
Filmfare
Best Actor: Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Don (1978), Hum (1991)
Best Supporting Actor: Anand (1971), Namak Haram (1973)
National Award
Best Actor: Agneepath (1990)
Technorati Profile
Virtual World, Real Profit! 
| ; "amitabhbachchan.com")
button beside categories below to add/edit content
