Amitabh Bachchan Biography: Birth, Family, Education, Bollywood Career and More (2024)

Without Amitabh Bachchan, there would be a significant void in the Indian film industry. His iconic performances and charismatic presence have solidified his status as a legendary actor.

Turning 82 this year, Amitabh Bachchan has given Bollywood a million-dollar superhit film and continues to inspire generations of actors with his talent and dedication to the craft. His contributions to Indian cinema are unparalleled, making him a true icon in the industry.

Currently hosting the popular television show "Kaun Banega Crorepati," Amitabh Bachchan remains a beloved figure in the hearts of millions of fans worldwide. His versatility as an actor and his ability to connect with audiences of all ages have made him a timeless star in Indian cinema.

Amitabh Bachchan: Birth, Early Life, Family, and Education

Amitabh Bachchan is a legendary figure in Indian cinema, often referred to as the "Shahenshah of Bollywood" or "Big B." He is recognized as one of the greatest and most successful actors in the history of Indian film, with a career spanning over five decades and more than 200 films to his credit

Amitabh Bachchan was born on October 11, 1942, in Allahabad to Teji Bachchan and Harivansh Rai Bachchan. He was initially named Inquilab Shrivastava but later adopted the name Amitabh, which means "one with boundless light," given to him by poet Sumitranandan Pant.

His mother Teji Bachchan was a social activist and was from Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan. His father, Harivansh Rai Bachchan was a famous poet. Amitabh's younger brother is Ajitabh. He is an alumnus of Sherwood College, Nainital. He did his graduation from Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi.

Amitabh Bachchan: Personal Life

Amitabh married actress Jaya Bhaduri on June 3, 1973. Their wedding was a private affair, held to avoid media attention and fan frenzy due to Amitabh's rising popularity following the success of films like Zanjeer.Together, Amitabh and Jaya have two children:

  • Shweta Bachchan Nanda: An author and former model, married to businessman Nikhil Nanda.
  • Abhishek Bachchan: An actor married to actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, with whom he has a daughter named Aaradhya.

The Bachchan family is deeply rooted in the Indian film industry, with connections to other prominent families such as the Kapoors.

Amitabh is known for leading a disciplined lifestyle; he is a teetotaler and does not smoke. He has expressed a strong commitment to social causes and philanthropy.

The family resides in Mumbai, primarily at their home known as Jalsa, along with another property called Pratiksha. In November 2023, Amitabh gifted the latter to his daughter Shweta, further solidifying the family's legacy in real estate.

Amitabh Bachchan: Career

Amitabh Bachchan's career is a remarkable journey that spans over five decades, making him one of the most iconic figures in Indian cinema. He began his professional journey in 1969 with a minor role in the film Bhuvan Shome, but his first significant breakthrough came with Saat Hindustani (1969), where he played a lead role.

However, it was his performance in Anand (1971) that garnered him critical acclaim and his first Filmfare Award.

The turning point in his career arrived with the release of Zanjeer (1973), which established him as the "angry young man" of Bollywood, a persona that resonated with audiences and set the stage for a series of successful films throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including classics like Deewar (1975), Sholay (1975), and Don (1978).

Bachchan's unique blend of charisma, powerful dialogue delivery, and versatility allowed him to explore various genres, from action to drama and comedy.

Despite facing a near-fatal accident while filming Coolie in 1982, which led to a nationwide prayer vigil for his recovery, he made a triumphant return to the screen. His foray into politics in 1984 was short-lived, as he resigned after a bribery scandal. He returned to acting in 1988 with Shahenshah, which marked a successful comeback.

In the 1990s and 2000s, Bachchan continued to evolve as an actor, taking on diverse roles in films like Hum (1991), Mohabbatein (2000), and Black (2005), for which he received multiple awards including National Film Awards.

His foray into television as the host of Kaun Banega Crorepati in 2000 further solidified his status as a household name. Over his illustrious career, Amitabh has acted in over 200 films and has received numerous accolades, including sixteen Filmfare Awards and the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

His influence extends beyond cinema; he is also recognized for his philanthropic efforts and remains an enduring symbol of Indian culture and cinema.

Amitabh Bachchan: Movies

Movie Name

Year

Director

Role

Language

Saat Hindustani

1969

Khwaja Ahmad Abbas

Anwar Ali

Hindi

Bhuvan Shome

1969

Mrinal Sen

Narrator (Voiceover)

Hindi

Bombay Talkie

1970

James Ivory

Himself

English

Anand

1971

Hrishikesh Mukherjee

Dr. Bhaskar (Babu Moshai)

Hindi

Parwana

1971

Jyoti Swaroop

Kumar Sen

Hindi

Pyar Ki Kahani

1971

Ravikant Nagaich

Ram Chandra

Hindi

Reshma Aur Shera

1971

Sunil Dutt

Chotu

Hindi

Guddi

1971

Hrishikesh Mukherjee

Cameo (Himself)

Hindi

Sanjog

1972

S. S. Balan

Himself

Hindi

Piya Ka Ghar

1972

Basu Chatterjee

Cameo (Himself)

Hindi

Bombay to Goa

1972

S. Ramanathan

Ravi Kumar

Hindi

Bawarchi

1972

Hrishikesh Mukherjee

Narrator (Voiceover)

Hindi

Bansi Birju

1972

Prakash Verma

Birju

Hindi

Ek Nazar

1972

B.R. Ishara

Manmohan Mehra

Hindi

Raaste Kaa Patthar

1972

Mukul Dutt

Jai Shankar Rai

Hindi

Garam Masala

1972

Aspi Irani

Himself

Hindi

Jaban

1972

Brij Sadanah

Himself

Hindi

Zanjeer

1973

Prakash Mehra

Inspector Vijay Khanna

Hindi

Bandhe Haath

1973

O.P. Goyle

Shyamu/Deepak

Hindi

Gehri Chaal

1973

C.V. Sridhar

Ratan

Hindi

Abhimaan

1973

Hrishikesh Mukherjee

Subir Kumar

Hindi

Saudagar

1973

Sudhendu Roy

Moti

Hindi

Namak Haraam

1973

Hrishikesh Mukherjee

Somu

Hindi

Bada Kabutar

1973

Deven Verma

Himself

Hindi

Dost

1974

Dulal Guha

Himself

Hindi

Kasauti

1974

Aravind Sen

Amit

Hindi

Benaam

1974

Narendra Bedi

Amit Shrivastav

Hindi

Roti Kapda Aur Makaan

1974

Manoj Kumar

Himself

Hindi

Kunwara Baap

1974

Mehmood

Himself

Hindi

Majboor

1974

Ravi Tandon

Ravi Khanna

Hindi

Deewaar

1975

Yash Chopra

Vijay Verma

Hindi

Zameer

1975

Ravi Chopra

Badal

Hindi

Sholay

1975

Ramesh Sippy

Jai

Hindi

Faraar

1975

Shankar Mukherjee

Rajesh

Hindi

Chhoti Si Baat

1975

Basu Chatterjee

Himself (Cameo)

Hindi

Chupke Chupke

1975

Hrishikesh Mukherjee

Prof. Sukumar Sinha

Hindi

Mili

1975

Hrishikesh Mukherjee

Shekhar Dayal

Hindi

Do Anjaane

1976

Dulal Guha

Amit Roy

Hindi

Kabhie Kabhie

1976

Yash Chopra

Amitabh Malhotra

Hindi

Hera Pheri

1976

Prakash Mehra

Vijay

Hindi

Adalat

1976

Narender Bedi

Dharma

Hindi

Balika Badhu

1976

Tarun Majumdar

Himself (Narrator)

Hindi

Charandas

1977

B.R. Ishara

Himself

Hindi

Amar Akbar Anthony

1977

Manmohan Desai

Anthony Gonsalves

Hindi

Immaan Dharam

1977

Desh Mukherjee

Ahmed Khan

Hindi

Khoon Pasina

1977

Rakesh Kumar

Shiva

Hindi

Shatranj Ke Khilari

1977

Satyajit Ray

Narrator (Voiceover)

Hindi

Parvarish

1977

Manmohan Desai

Amit

Hindi

Chala Murari Hero Banne

1977

Asrani

Himself

Hindi

Alaap

1977

Hrishikesh Mukherjee

Alok Prasad

Hindi

Ganga Ki Saugandh

1978

Sultan Ahmed

Jeeva

Hindi

Kasme Vaade

1978

Ramesh Behl

Amit

Hindi

Besharam

1978

Deven Verma

Ram Kumar

Hindi

Trishul

1978

Yash Chopra

Vijay

Hindi

Don

1978

Chandra Barot

Don/Vijay

Hindi

Muqaddar Ka Sikandar

1978

Prakash Mehra

Sikandar

Hindi

The Great Gambler

1979

Shakti Samanta

Jai/Mohammad Ali

Hindi

Gol Maal

1979

Hrishikesh Mukherjee

Cameo (Guest Appearance)

Hindi

Ahsaas

1979

Surinder Singh

Himself

Hindi

Jurmana

1979

Hrishikesh Mukherjee

Inder Saxena

Hindi

Manzil

1979

Basu Chatterjee

Ajay

Hindi

Mr. Natwarlal

1979

Rakesh Kumar

Natwarlal

Hindi

Kaala Patthar

1979

Yash Chopra

Vijay Pal Singh

Hindi

Suhaag

1979

Manmohan Desai

Amit

Hindi

Cinema Cinema

1979

Krishna Shah

Himself

Hindi

Do Aur Do Paanch

1980

Rakesh Kumar

Vijay

Hindi

Dostana

1980

Raj Khosla

Vijay Verma

Hindi

Ram Balram

1980

Vijay Anand

Balram

Hindi

Shaan

1980

Ramesh Sippy

Vijay

Hindi

Commander

1981

Rakesh Kumar

Himself

Hindi

Yaarana

1981

Rakesh Kumar

Kishan

Hindi

Barsaat Ki Ek Raat

1981

Shakti Samanta

Abhijeet

Hindi

Anusandhan

1981

Shakti Samanta

Abhijeet

Bengali

Naseeb

1981

Manmohan Desai

John Jani Janardhan

Hindi

Chashme Buddoor

1981

Sai Paranjpye

Cameo (Himself)

Hindi

Silsila

1981

Yash Chopra

Amit Malhotra

Hindi

Lawaaris

1981

Prakash Mehra

Heera

Hindi

Kalia

1981

Tinnu Anand

Kallu/Kalia

Hindi

Bemisal

1982

Hrishikesh Mukherjee

Dr. Sudhir Roy

Hindi

Desh Premee

1982

Manmohan Desai

Master Dinanath/Sonu

Hindi

Namak Halaal

1982

Prakash Mehra

Arjun

Hindi

Satte Pe Satta

1982

Raj N. Sippy

Ravi Anand/Babu

Hindi

Khud-Daar

1982

Ravi Tandon

Govind Srivastav

Hindi

Shakti

1982

Ramesh Sippy

Vijay Kumar

Hindi

Vidhaata

1982

Subhash Ghai

Cameo (Himself)

Hindi

Andha Kanoon

1983

T. Rama Rao

Jan Nissar Akhtar Khan

Hindi

Mahaan

1983

S. Ramanathan

Amit/ Guru/ Shankar

Hindi

Pukar

1983

Ramesh Behl

Jai

Hindi

Coolie

1983

Manmohan Desai

Iqbal

Hindi

Sharaabi

1984

Prakash Mehra

Vicky Kapoor

Hindi

Inquilaab

1984

T. Rama Rao

Amarnath

Hindi

Kaun Jeeta Kaun Haara

1984

Rakesh Kumar

Himself (Cameo)

Hindi

Giraftaar

1985

Prayag Raj

Inspector Shekhar

Hindi

Mard

1985

Manmohan Desai

Raju

Hindi

Aakhree Raasta

1986

K. Bhagyaraj

David D'Costa/Vijay

Hindi

Shahenshah

1988

Tinnu Anand

Inspector Vijay Srivastav

Hindi

Gangaa Jamunaa Saraswathi

1988

Manmohan Desai

Ganga

Hindi

Toofan

1989

Ketan Desai

Toofan/ Shyam

Hindi

Jaadugar

1989

Prakash Mehra

Goga

Hindi

Main Azaad Hoon

1989

Tinnu Anand

Azaad

Hindi

Agneepath

1990

Mukul S. Anand

Vijay Dinanath Chauhan

Hindi

Ajooba

1991

Shashi Kapoor

Ali/Ajooba

Hindi

Hum

1991

Mukul S. Anand

Tiger

Hindi

Indrajeet

1991

K. V. Raju

Indrajeet

Hindi

Khuda Gawah

1992

Mukul S. Anand

Baadshah Khan

Hindi

Insaniyat

1994

Tony Juneja

Amar

Hindi

Mrityudata

1997

Mehul Kumar

Dr. Ram Prasad Ghayal

Hindi

Major Saab

1998

Tinnu Anand

Major Jasbir Singh Rana

Hindi

Bade Miyan Chote Miyan

1998

David Dhawan

Arjun Singh/Bade Miyan

Hindi

Lal Baadshah

1999

K.C. Bokadia

Lal Singh

Hindi

Sooryavansham

1999

E. V. V. Satyanarayana

Thakur Bhanu Pratap/Heera

Hindi

Hindustan Ki Kasam

1999

Veeru Devgan

Brigadier Mohan Singh

Hindi

Kohram

1999

Mehul Kumar

Major Balbir Singh Sodhi

Hindi

Mohabbatein

2000

Aditya Chopra

Narayan Shankar

Hindi

Ek Rishtaa: The Bond of Love

2001

Suneel Darshan

Vijay Kapoor

Hindi

Aks

2001

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra

Manu Verma

Hindi

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham

2001

Karan Johar

Yashvardhan Raichand

Hindi

Kaante

2002

Sanjay Gupta

Yashvardhan 'Major' Rampal

Hindi

Aankhen

2002

Vipul Amrutlal Shah

Vijay Singh Rajput

Hindi

Baghban

2003

Ravi Chopra

Raj Malhotra

Hindi

Khakee

2004

Rajkumar Santoshi

DCP Anant Kumar Shrivastav

Hindi

Dev

2004

Govind Nihalani

Joint Commissioner Dev Pratap Singh

Hindi

Black

2005

Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Debraj Sahai

Hindi

Waqt: The Race Against Time

2005

Vipul Amrutlal Shah

Ishwarchand Thakur

Hindi

Sarkar

2005

Ram Gopal Varma

Subhash Nagre (Sarkar)

Hindi

Bunty Aur Babli

2005

Shaad Ali

ACP Dashrath Singh (Cameo)

Hindi

Ek Ajnabee

2005

Apoorva Lakhia

Suryaveer Singh

Hindi

Family

2006

Rajkumar Santoshi

Viren Sahi

Hindi

Darna Zaroori Hai

2006

Ram Gopal Varma

Professor (Story 2)

Hindi

Baabul

2006

Ravi Chopra

Balraj Kapoor

Hindi

Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna

2006

Karan Johar

Samarjit Talwar (Cameo)

Hindi

Nishabd

2007

Ram Gopal Varma

Vijay Anand

Hindi

Cheeni Kum

2007

R. Balki

Buddhadev Gupta

Hindi

Shootout at Lokhandwala

2007

Apoorva Lakhia

Dhingra (Cameo)

Hindi

Jhoom Barabar Jhoom

2007

Shaad Ali

Himself (Narrator)

Hindi

The Last Lear

2007

Rituparno Ghosh

Harish Mishra

Hindi

Sarkar Raj

2008

Ram Gopal Varma

Subhash Nagre (Sarkar)

Hindi

Bhoothnath

2008

Vivek Sharma

Kailash Nath

Hindi

God Tussi Great Ho

2008

Rumi Jaffery

God

Hindi

Delhi-6

2009

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra

Himself (Narrator)

Hindi

Aladin

2009

Sujoy Ghosh

Genius (Genie)

Hindi

Paa

2009

R. Balki

Auro (Child role)

Hindi

Rann

2010

Ram Gopal Varma

Vijay Harshvardhan Malik

Hindi

Teen Patti

2010

Leena Yadav

Venkat Subramaniam

Hindi

Kandahar

2010

Major Ravi

Lokanathan Sharma

Malayalam

Bbuddah... Hoga Terra Baap

2011

Puri Jagannadh

Vijay

Hindi

Aarakshan

2011

Prakash Jha

Prabhakar Anand

Hindi

Ra.One

2011

Anubhav Sinha

Cameo

Hindi

Department

2012

Ram Gopal Varma

Sarjerao Gaikwad

Hindi

Bol Bachchan

2012

Rohit Shetty

Narrator (Cameo)

Hindi

English Vinglish

2012

Gauri Shinde

Cameo

Hindi

Satyagraha

2013

Prakash Jha

Dwarka Anand

Hindi

Boss

2013

Anthony D'Souza

Cameo

Hindi

Krrish 3

2013

Rakesh Roshan

Himself (Cameo)

Hindi

Mahabharat

2013

Amaan Khan

Bhishma (Voice role)

Hindi

Bhoothnath Returns

2014

Nitesh Tiwari

Bhoothnath (Kailash Nath)

Hindi

Manam

2014

Vikram Kumar

Cameo (Telugu film)

Telugu

Shamitabh

2015

R. Balki

Amitabh Sinha

Hindi

Piku

2015

Shoojit Sircar

Bhashkor Banerjee

Hindi

Wazir

2016

Bejoy Nambiar

Pandit Omkarnath Dhar

Hindi

Te3n

2016

Ribhu Dasgupta

John Biswas

Hindi

Pink

2016

Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury

Deepak Sehgal

Hindi

Sarkar 3

2017

Ram Gopal Varma

Subhash Nagre (Sarkar)

Hindi

102 Not Out

2018

Umesh Shukla

Dattatraya Vakharia

Hindi

Badla

2019

Sujoy Ghosh

Badal Gupta

Hindi

Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy

2019

Surender Reddy

Gosayi Venkanna (Cameo)

Telugu

Gulabo Sitabo

2020

Shoojit Sircar

Mirza

Hindi

Chehre

2021

Rumi Jaffery

Advocate Veer Sahay

Hindi

Brahmāstra

2022

Ayan Mukerji

Guru

Hindi

Jhund

2022

Nagraj Manjule

Vijay Barse

Hindi

Runway 34

2022

Ajay Devgn

Narayan Vedant

Hindi

Goodbye

2022

Vikas Bahl

Harish Bhalla

Hindi

Uunchai

2022

Sooraj Barjatya

Amit Srivastava

Hindi

Ghoomer

2023

R. Balki

Himself (Special appearance)

Hindi

Ganapath

2023

Vikas Bahl

Maharishi Dalapathi (Cameo)

Hindi

Kalki 2898 AD

2024

Nag Ashwin

Ashwatthama

Telugu

Vettaiyan

2024

S. Shankar

Sathyadev Bramhadutt Pande

Tamil

Amitabh Bachchan's illustrious career has made him a cinematic icon and a beloved television personality, particularly through his role as the host of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC). Initially hesitant to transition from films to television, Bachchan's decision to host KBC in 2000 revitalised his career, transforming him into a household name once again.

The show became a cultural phenomenon, breaking TRP records and establishing new standards for Indian television.

Beyond his professional achievements, Bachchan shared a warm relationship with industrialist Ratan Tata, marked by mutual respect and admiration. Their bond reflected a shared commitment to philanthropy and societal betterment.

As Amitabh continues to take on diverse roles in film and television, his legacy as the "Shahenshah of Bollywood" remains firmly intact, inspiring generations of actors and audiences alike.

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Amitabh Bachchan Biography: Birth, Family, Education, Bollywood Career and More (2024)
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