Some Lesser Known Facts About Amitabh Bachchan

• His forefathers belonged to the village- Babupatti of Pratapgarh District in Uttar Pradesh.

• His mother, Teji Bachchan, was a Sikh and hailed from Lyallpur (now, in Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan).

• His father, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, was a renowned Hindi Poet.

• Initially, he was named- ‘Inquilab,’ but after the suggestion of Sumitranandan Pant (a fellow poet of Harivansh Rai Bachchan), it was changed to ‘Amitabh,’ which means- ‘The light that will never die.’

  

  Amitabh Bachchan in his childhood

• Although his real surname is ‘Srivastava,’ his father replaced it with ‘Bachchan, because his father Harivansh Rai abandoned the surname ‘Shrivastava’ to protest against the caste system in India.

• His mother had interest in theatres and was even offered a feature film role, which she denied later and preferred her domestic duties.

• During his college days, he used to act in plays.

  

  A picture of a play starring Amitabh Bachchan during his college days

• When he was young, he wanted to become an engineer and was eager to join the Indian Air Force.

• During his college days, he was a good athlete and won the 100, 200 and 400-metre races. At the Sherwood in Nainital, he also won a Boxing Championship.

• In 1983, his left hand was burnt during Diwali.

• Amitabh, known for his Baritone voice, was once rejected by All India Radio.

• Before making his acting debut in “Saat Hindustani,” he made his film debut as a voice narrator in the National Award winning film- “Bhuvan Shome” (1969) by Mrinal Sen.

  

  Amitabh Bachchan gave his voice in Bhuvan Shome

• For his role as a doctor in the 1971 film- Anand, he got his first Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor.

• He shared the screen with his future wife Jaya Bhaduri for the first time in the film- Guddi (1971); in which he made a guest appearance.

  

  Amitabh Bachchan with Jaya Bachchan in Guddi

• He rose to stardom after the 1973 film- Zanjeer by Prakash Mehra; in which he played the role of Inspector Vijay Khanna. This film gave him the nickname- Angry Young Man, his performance in the film is also considered one of the most iconic performances in the history of Bollywood.

  

  Amitabh Bachchan in Zanjeer

• Before the success of ‘Zanjeer,’ he was a part of 12 consecutive flop films.

• Amitabh shared a close bond with late actor Mehmood Ali who used to call him Danger Diabolic. While remembering Mehmood Ali on his eighth death anniversary in July 2012, Amitabh said,
  

  Mehmood Bhai was among the early contributors to my career graph, he having faith from day one in me, much against the wishes and comments of naysayers.

  For some peculiar reason, he would address me as Danger Diabolic, and was the first producer to give me a lead role ? Bombay to Goa, a remake of a Tamil hit ‘Madras to Pondicherry.”

  

  Amitabh Bachchan With Mehmood Ali

• Reportedly, he was paid Rs. 1 lakh for his role of Jai in the iconic Indian film- Sholay (1975). 

  

  Amitabh Bachchan in Sholay

  

  Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Amjad Khan during the filming of Sholay

• On 26 July 1982, he suffered a near-fatal injury while filming Coolie at the University Campus in Bangalore. He was also declared clinically dead for 11 minutes by the doctors till they plunged adrenaline injections into his chest saving his life.

• After the Coolie incident, he was diagnosed with Myasthenia gravis (a long-term neuromuscular disease that leads to varying degrees of muscle weakness).

• In 2017, during one of the episodes of “Kaun Banega Crorepati” (KBC), he spoke about his tryst with Hepatitis B. He said that he had lost 75% of his liver due to late diagnosis of the disease, which he contracted through a blood transfusion after the Coolie accident. He also said that he was infected with Tuberculosis (TB) on the set of KBC in 2000.
• However, after proper treatment, he is now free from Tuberculosis (TB). Amitabh was also appointed the UNICEF ambassador of the hepatitis B awareness campaign.
• In 1984, he took a break from acting and entered politics to support his friend Rajiv Gandhi. He also contested for the Allahabad seat in the 8th Lok Sabha elections against H.N. Bahuguna and won with the highest victory margin in the history of the general elections (68.2% of the vote).

  

  Amitabh Bachchan Campaigning During The 8th Lok Sabha Elections

• After 3 years in politics, he resigned, calling politics a cesspool.

• Reportedly, when his company- ABCL (Amitabh Bachchan Corporation) failed, his friend, Amar Singh, had helped him financially, following which, Amitabh started to support Amar Singh and his party- Samajwadi Party.

• He won his First National Film Award for the Best Actor for his role as a Mafia Don in the 1990 film- Agneepath.
  

• After the box-office failure of his film- Insaniyat (1994), he didn’t appear in any film for 5 years.

• In 1996, he formed his film production company- Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited (ABCL). ABCL was also the main sponsor of the 1996 Miss World beauty pageant at Bangalore but lost millions.

• His career and fame were revived in 2000 when he made his television debut with a game show- Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC).
  

• In June 2000, he became the First living Asian whose statue was modelled at the London’s Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.

  

  Amitabh Bachchan’s wax statue at the Madame Tussauds, London

• He had a pet dog, Shanouk, who died in June 2013 after a brief illness. It was a Piranha Dane dog, one of the world’s tallest dog breeds. ^[9]Hindustan Times

  

  Amitabh Bachchan with his pet dog, Shanouk

• He can write evenly well with both of his hands.

  

  Amitabh Bachchan Writing

• In 2017, All Bengal Amitabh Bachchan Fans’ Association unveiled the life-size statue of Mr. Bachchan in Tiljala, a neighbourhood of South Kolkata. Crafted by Subrata Bose, the statue has given Bachchan’s ‘Sarkar’ avatar. ^[10]The Times of India

  

  Amitabh Bachchan’s Temple in Tiljala, Kolkata

• On 24 September 2019, the Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar announced through a tweet that Mr. Bachchan conferred the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award. The award came in the year that marked Mr. Bachchan’s golden jubilee in cinema since his debut in 1969 with Khwaja Ahmad Abbas’ Saat Hindustani.
• Interestingly, the Dadasaheb Phalke award itself was first presented in the year of Mr. Bachchan’s debut.
• It was introduced by the government in 1969 to commemorate the “father of Indian cinema” who directed Raja Harischandra (1913), India’s first feature film, and it was awarded for the first time to Devika Rani, “the first lady of Indian cinema.”
• When a KBC contestant asked him about his real name, he shared an interesting story behind his name. He said, during Quit India Movement in 1942 (his birth year), people used to organize rallies. His mother Teji Bachchan who was eight-month pregnant at that time joined one of the rallies.
• Unable to find her at the house, the family members got worried and searched for her at the rally.
• When they brought her back, one of Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s friends joked about Teji Bachchan’s patriotism and said that the baby (Amitabh Bachchan) should be named Inquilab.
• He added that later his father’s close friend Sumitra Nandan Pant, who visited the family on the same day Big B was born, came up with the name Amitabh.
• In April 2020, he shared a throwback picture on his social media account, reminiscing his first photo-shoot for a film magazine – ‘Star & Style.’

  

  Amitabh Bachchan’s Post About His First Photo Shoot For a Magazine

• On 11 July 2020, he tested positive for COVID-19 and admitted to the Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai. The actor announced the news on his Twitter handle.

T 3590 -I have tested CoviD positive .. shifted to Hospital .. hospital informing authorities .. family and staff undergone tests , results awaited ..
All that have been in close proximity to me in the last 10 days are requested to please get themselves tested !

— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) July 11, 2020

• The megastar often campaigns against smoking and drinking habits. In a blog post that he shared in April 2023 on social media. He talked about his smoking and drinking habits. He wrote,
  

  When in job in the City of Joy, the natural curriculum seemed to be in line with that phrase ‘social drinking’ .. I shall not deny the consumption of it, but its reason or resolve in leaving for years and years now, I shall not deliberate .. it is a personal choice and demeanour .. yes I do not .. but why the announce of it.”

  He added,

  As is the case with the cigarette .. in abundance in the years of free, and the sudden and immediate resolve to leave it and the way to leave is really quite simple chuck that glass of the intoxicant. While in the middle of it and crush the ‘ciggi’ on your lips at the same time and sayonara the very best way to be in riddance not some part time exigencies to stop the use.

  Its the removal of the cancer at once .. done at the rush of a stroke .. the more the dwindling , the greater the undesired habit of remaining.” ^[11]India Today

T 2441 – #WorldNoTobaccoDay – 31 May 2017, “Tobacco – a threat to development.” .. I left smoking almost 35 years ago ..!! Will you ? pic.twitter.com/V9rbD7hcrF

— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) May 30, 2017

• On 25 November 2022, the Delhi High Court issued an interim order restraining persons at large from infringing the personality and publicity rights of Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan after the actor approached.
• The court to request an omnibus order protecting his name, image, voice, or any of his characteristics without his consent in any way or form.
• Moreover, someone is using his picture and selling lottery while the other person is using his voice for mobile app. One is using his image to sell G.K. books. I am giving you an idea that what is going on.” ^[12]The Hindu

Amitabh Bachchan Biography, Height, Wife, Family, Caste & More

The Living Legend: Amitabh Bachchan’s Journey Through Cinema

Introduction:

Amitabh Bachchan, the name itself resonates with cinematic excellence, unparalleled charisma and a career that has withstood the test of time. Born on October 11, 1942, in Allahabad, India. Beside, Amitabh Bachchan is more than just a Bollywood actor; he is also a living legend whose influence transcends borders.

Early Life:

Amitabh Bachchan was born to renowned poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Teji Bachchan. His initial years marked by academic pursuits, with a strong desire to join the Indian Air Force.

However, fate had other plans for him. Despite facing setbacks and rejection in the film industry initially, his determination and resilience ultimately paved the way for his entry into Bollywood.

Debut and Initial Struggles:

Amitabh Bachchan debut in the film industry was in the 1969 film “Saat Hindustani,” but it was the 1973 film “Zanjeer” that catapulted him into stardom.

His intense performance as the ‘Angry Young Man’ struck a chord with the audience, and there was no turning back for the tall and brooding actor.

The Rise to Superstardom:

1975 proved to be a turning point in Amitabh Bachchan’s career with the release of two iconic films – “Deewar” and “Sholay.” These films not only established him as the ‘Superstar of the Millennium’ but also solidified his position as one of the most influential actors in Indian cinema. His baritone voice, intense dialogue delivery, and charismatic presence became synonymous with Bollywood itself.

Injury and Comeback:

A major turning point in Bachchan’s life occurred in 1982 when a severe accident on the set of “Coolie” left him critically injured. The incident led to a temporary hiatus in his acting career, but Bachchan’s resilience was evident in his comeback. The 1980s saw him experimenting with diverse roles, showcasing his versatility in films like “Sharaabi,” “Mili,” and “Coolie.”

Second Innings in Bollywood:

While the 1990s saw a brief slump in his career, Amitabh Bachchan made a triumphant return with a series of critically acclaimed performances in the early 2000s. Films like “Mohabbatein,” “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham,” and “Black” showcased his ability to adapt to changing cinematic landscapes.

Beyond the Silver Screen:

Amitabh Bachchan ‘s influence extends beyond acting. He has also made a mark as a television host with the immensely popular show “Kaun Banega Crorepati.” Additionally, his foray into social media has allowed fans to connect with him on a personal level.

Awards and Honors:

Amitabh Bachchan, the legendary actor of Indian cinema, bestowed with a plethora of awards and honors throughout his illustrious career. His remarkable contributions to the film industry have not only earned him critical acclaim but also numerous accolades that reflect the magnitude of his impact on Indian cinema.

1. National Film Awards:

   • Best Actor (Agneepath – 1990): Amitabh Bachchan obtained the National Film Award for Best Actor for his powerful portrayal of the character Vijay Deenanath Chauhan in the film “Agneepath.” His intense performance in this cult classic is often regarded as one of the finest in his career.

2. Filmfare Awards:

   • Numerous Best Actor Awards: Bachchan won numerous Filmfare Awards for Best Actor for his roles in iconic films such as “Zanjeer” (1973), “Abhimaan” (1974), “Black” (2005), and “Piku” (2015), among others. His ability to excel in diverse roles has consistently earned him recognition from the industry.

3. Padma Awards:

   • Padma Shri (1984): In recognition of his contribution to the arts, Amitabh Bachchan honored with the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1984. This civilian award is among the highest in the country and acknowledges individuals who have made exceptional contributions in various fields.

4. Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (1991):

   • Amitabh Bachchan conferred with the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1991, a testament to his enduring impact on Indian cinema. This prestigious award acknowledged his outstanding and sustained contribution to the film industry.

5. Screen Awards:

   • Screen Lifetime Achievement Award (2002): In acknowledgment of his extraordinary career, Bachchan honored with the Screen Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002. This award recognized his unparalleled contribution to Indian cinema over the years.

6. Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2019):

   • Amitabh Bachchan honored with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2019, the highest honor in Indian cinema. This prestigious award recognizes individuals for their outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema.

7. Global Honors:

   • Honorary Doctorate from Jhansi University: In recognition of his exceptional contributions to the world of entertainment. Amitabh Bachchan conferred with an honorary doctorate by Jhansi University.

8. Other Recognitions:

   • Bachchan has received honorary citizenship of the French town of Deauville, and in 2015. He honored with the Global Diversity Award in the British Parliament for his remarkable contribution to cinema.

Amitabh Bachchan’s awards and honors not only celebrate his acting prowess but also underscore his impact on the cultural landscape of India. Each accolade serves as a testament to his enduring legacy and the mark he has left on the hearts of millions of fans worldwide. As he continues to captivate audiences with his performances. The honors bestowed upon him stand as a fitting tribute to the ‘Shahenshah’ of Indian cinema.

Legacy:

As of 2023, Amitabh Bachchan continues to be an integral part of the film industry, with a career spanning over five decades. His ability to reinvent himself and adapt to the changing times has solidified his status as a cultural icon and a true legend in Indian cinema.

Conclusion:

Amitabh Bachchan ‘s journey from an aspiring young man with dreams of joining the Air Force to becoming the ‘Shahenshah’ of Bollywood is nothing short of inspiring. His resilience, talent, and ability to connect with the audience have made him a timeless figure in the world of entertainment.

As fans eagerly await his upcoming projects, one thing is certain – the legacy of Amitabh Bachchan will continue to shine brightly in the annals of Indian cinema.