Amitabh Bachchan

Infobox actor
name = Amitabh Bachchan

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imagesize =
caption =
birthname = Amitabh Srivastav
birthdate = birth date and age|1942|10|11
location = Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
occupation = Film actor, Producer, Playback singer, Television Presenter
yearsactive = 1969 – present
spouse = Jaya Bhaduri (1973 - present)
parents = Harivansh Rai Bachchan
Teji Bachchan
children = Abhishek Bachchan
Shweta Nanda
website =
filmfareawards= Best Actor
1978 "Amar Akbar Anthony"
1979 "Don"
1992 "Hum"
2006 "Black"
Best Actor (Critics)
2002 "Aks"
2006 "Black"
Best Supporting Actor
1972 "Anand"
1974 "Namak Haraam"
2001 "Mohabbatein"
Lifetime Achievement Award (1991)
Superstar of the Millennium (2000)
Filmfare Power Award (2004)
nationalfilmawards= Best Newcomer
1970 "Saat Hindustani"
Best Actor
1991 "Agneepath"
2006 "Black"

Amitabh Bachchan ( _hi. अमिताभ बच्चन Pronunciation: IPA|/əmitaːbʱ bətʃtʃən/ born Amitabh Harivansh Srivastav on October 11, 1942), is an Indian film actor. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s and has since become one of the most prominent figures in the history of Indian cinema.

Bachchan has won numerous major awards in his career, including three National Film Awards and twelve Filmfare Awards. He holds the record for most number of Best Actor nominations at the Filmfare Awards. In addition to acting, Bachchan has worked as a playback singer, film producer and television presenter, and was an elected member of the Indian Parliament from 1984 to 1987.

Bachchan is married to actress Jaya Bhaduri. They have two children, Shweta Nanda and Abhishek Bachchan, who is also an actor and is married to Aishwarya Rai.

Early life

Born in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, Amitabh Bachchan hails from a Hindu Kayastha family. His father, Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan was a well-known Hindi poet, while his mother, Teji Bachchan was a Sikh from Karachi (now in Pakistan). [cite web|url=http://www.sugandh.com/seema/amitabhji/stardust.html|title=www.sugandh.com/seema/amitabhji/stardust.html ] Bachchan was initially named Inquilab, inspired from the phrase Inquilab Zindabad, during the Indian independence struggle, but was re-christened Amitabh which means, "the light that would never go off." Though his surname was Srivastava, his father had adopted the pen-name Bachchan, under which he published all his works. It is with this last name that Amitabh debuted in films, and, for all public purposes, it has become the surname of all members of his current family.

Amitabh is the elder of Harivansh Rai Bachchan's two sons, the second being Ajitabh. His mother had a keen interest in theatre and had been offered a role in a film, but preferred her domestic duties. She had some degree of influence in Bachchan's choice of career because she always insisted that he should take the centre stage.cite web | title=Reviews on: To Be or Not To Be Amitabh Bachchan - Khalid Mohamed |url=http://www.mouthshut.com/review/To_Be_or_Not_To_Be_Amitabh_Bachchan_-_Khalid_Mohamed-72513-1.html |date=April 13, 2005 |accessdate=2007-03-11] Bachchan's father passed away in 2003, and his mother on December 21, 2007. [cite web|title=Teji Bachchan passes away|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=2078579f-853d-48ae-b826-eeee479169e2&ParentID=d5c75cbf-62a5-49eb-a016-0cf71383854b&&Headline=Big+B's+mother+Teji+Bachchan+is+no+more|publisher=Hindustan Times|author=Khan, Alifiya|accessdate=2007-12-22]

Bachchan has a double M.A. (Master of Arts) degree. He attended Allahabad's Jnana Prabodhini and Boys' High School (BHS), followed by Nainital's Sherwood College, where he majored in the art stream. He later went on to study at Kirori Mal College of the University of Delhi and completed a Bachelor of Science degree. In his twenties, Bachchan gave up a job as freight broker for the shipping firm, Bird and Co., based in Calcutta, to pursue a career in acting.

He married actress Jaya Bhaduri on June 3, 1973, according to Bengali rites. The couple has two children: daughter Shweta and son Abhishek.

Career

Early work 1969-1972

Bachchan made his film debut in 1969 as one of the seven protagonists in " Saat Hindustani", a film directed by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas and featuring Utpal Dutt, Madhu and Jalal Agha. Though the film was not a financial success, Bachchan won his first National Film Award for "Best Newcomer".cite web |work="India Times" |title=Bachchan wins his first national award |url=http://movies.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1905623.cms |accessdaymonth=11 March |accessyear=2007] The critically acclaimed and commercially successful "Anand" (1971) followed, where he starred alongside Rajesh Khanna. Bachchan's role as a doctor with a cynical view of life garned him a Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award. Amitabh then played the role of an infatuated lover in "Parwaana" (1971) opposite Navin Nischol, Yogeeta Bali and Om Prakash and was a rare instance of him portraying the villain. This was followed by several films which were not particularly successful at the box office including "Reshma Aur Shera" (1971). During this time, he made a guest appearance in the film "Guddi" which starred his future wife Jaya Bhaduri opposite Dharmendra. Noted for his deep baritone voice early on in his career, he narrated part of the film "Bawarchi". In 1972, he made an appearance in the road action comedy "Bombay to Goa", directed by S. Ramanathan. He starred alongside actors such as Aruna Irani, Mehmood, Anwar Ali and Nasir Hussain.

Rise to Stardom 1973-1983

1973 saw significant development in Bachchan's career when director Prakash Mehra cast him in the leading role for the film "Zanjeer" (1973) as Inspector Vijay Khanna. The film was a sharp contrast to the romantically themed films that had generally preceded it and established Amitabh in a new persona & dash; the "angry young man" action hero of Bollywood, a reputation he was to acquire in pictures that followed it. It was his first film as the leading protagonist to achieve box office success and earned him a Filmfare Nomination for Best Actor. 1973 was also the year he married Jaya and around this time they appeared in several films together, not only in "Zanjeer" but in films such as "Abhimaan" which followed and was released only a month after their marriage. Later, Bachchan played the role of Vikram in the film "Namak Haraam", a social drama directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee and scripted by Biresh Chatterjee addressing themes of friendship. His supporting role opposite Rajesh Khanna and Rekha was praised and won him the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award.

In 1974, Bachchan made several guest appearances in films such as "Kunwara Baap" and "Dost", before playing a supporting role in the highest grossing film of that year, "Roti Kapda Aur Makaan". The film, directed and written by Manoj Kumar, addressed themes of honesty in the face of oppression and financial and emotional hardship was a critical and commercial success, placing Amitabh opposite Kumar himself, Shashi Kapoor and Zeenat Aman. Bachchan then played the leading role in film "Majboor", released on December 6, 1974, which was a remake of the Hollywood film "Zigzag" starring George Kennedy. The film was only a moderate success at the box office [ [http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=180&catName=MTk3NA= Box Office India] .] In 1975, he starred in a variety of film genres from the comedy "Chupke Chupke", the crime drama "Faraar" to the romantic drama "Mili". However 1975 was the year when he appeared in two films which are regarded as important in Hindi cinematic history. He starred in the Yash Chopra directed film "Deewar", opposite Shashi Kapoor, Nirupa Roy, and Neetu Singh, which earned him a Filmfare Nomination for Best Actor. The film became a major hit at the box office in 1975, ranking in at number 4. [cite web |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=181&catName=MTk3NQ= |work=BoxOffice India.com] "Indiatimes Movies" ranks "Deewaar" amongst the "Top 25 Must See Bollywood Films". Released on August 15, 1975 was "Sholay" (meaning fire), which became the highest grossing film of all time in India, earning Rs. 2,36,45,00,000 equivalent to US$ 60 million, after adjusting for inflation.cite web |title=Sholay |url=http://www.ibosnetwork.com/asp/filmbodetails.asp?id=Sholay |publisher=International Business Overview Standard |accessdate=2007-12-06] Bachchan played the role of Jaidev opposite a cast which included some of the top names in the industry including Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Sanjeev Kumar, Jaya Bhaduri and Amjad Khan. In 1999, BBC India declared it the "Film of the Millennium" and like "Deewar", has been cited by "Indiatimes movies" as amongst the "Top 25 Must See Bollywood Films".cite web |author=Kanwar, Rachna |title=25 Must See Bollywood Movies |date=October 3, 2005 |url=http://movies.indiatimes.com/Special_Features/25_Must_See_Bollywood_Movies/articleshow/msid-1250837,curpg-10.cms |publisher=Indiatimes movies |accessdate=2007-12-06] In that same year, the judges of the 50th annual Filmfare awards awarded it with the special distinction award called Filmfare Best Film of 50 Years.After the success of films such as "Sholay" at the box office, Bachchan had now consilidated his position in the industry and from 1976 through to 1984 would receive an unprecedented number of Filmfare Best Actor Award Awards and nominations. Although films such as Sholay cemented his status as Bollywood's pre-eminent action hero, Bachchan illustrated that he was flexible in other roles, successfully playing the romantic lead, in films such as "Kabhie Kabhie" (1976) and comic timing in comedies such as "Amar Akbar Anthony" (1977) and earlier, in "Chupke Chupke" (1975). In 1976, he was once again cast by director Yash Chopra in his second film, "Kabhi Kabhie", a romantic tale in which Bachchan starred as a young poet named Amit Malhotra who falls deeply in love with a beautiful young girl named Pooja played by actress Rakhee Gulzar. The emotional eclectic of the dialogue and softness of the subject matter proved a direct contrast to some of Amitabh's earlier grittier action pictures and those he would later go on to play. The film saw him again nominated for the Filmfare Best Actor Award and was a box office success. In 1977, he won the Filmfare Best Actor Award for his performance in "Amar Akbar Anthony" where he played the third lead opposite Vinod Khanna and Rishi Kapoor as Anthony Gonsalves. 1978 was possibly the most accoladed year of his career and he starred in all four of the highest grossing films of India in that year. [cite web |work=ibosnetwork.com |title= Bachchan's historic 1978 year at the box office |url=http://www.ibosnetwork.com/asp/topgrossersbyyear.asp?year=1978 |accessdaymonth=1 February |accessyear=2008] He once again resumed double roles in films such as "Kasme Vaade" as Amit and Shankar and "Don" playing the characters of Don, a leader of an underworld gang and his look alike Vijay. His performance won him the Filmfare Best Actor Award and considerable critical acclaim as with his performances in "Trishul" and "Muqaddar Ka Sikander" which both earned him further Filmfare Best Actor nominations. On account of this unprecedented run and success he encountered at this stage in his career, he was billed a "one-man industry" by the French director Francois Truffaut. [cite web | work=China Daily |title= Truffaut labeled Bachchan a one-man industry |url=http://app1.chinadaily.com.cn/star/history/00-07-07/l03-film.html |accessdaymonth=1 February |accessyear=2008]

In 1979, for the first time, Amitabh was required to use his singing voice for the film "Mr. Natwarlal" in which he starred alongside Rekha. His performance in the film saw him nominated for both the Filmfare Best Actor Award and the Filmfare Best Male Playback Awards. In 1979, he also received Best Actor nomination for "Kaala Patthar" (1979) and then went on to be nominated again in 1980 for the Raj Khosla directed film "Dostana", in which he starred opposite Shatrughan Sinha and Zeenat Aman. "Dostana" proved to be the top grossing film of 1980. [ [http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=186&catName=MTk4MA= BoxOffice India.com] ] In 1981, he starred in Yash Chopra's melodrama film "Silsila", where he starred alongside his wife Jaya and rumoured lover Rekha. Other films of this period include "Ram Balram" (1980), "Shaan" (1980), "Lawaaris" (1981), and "Shakti" (1982) which pitted him against legendary actor Dilip Kumar.cite web |work=boxofficeindia.com |title= Bachchan's box office success |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/cpages.php?pageName=top_actors&PHPSESSID=cfa06e3b5a051913d58987e99cd292ae |accessdaymonth=10 April |accessyear=2007]

1982 injury during filming Coolie

While filming "Coolie" in 1982, Bachchan suffered a nearly fatally intestinal injury during the filming of a fight scene with co-actor Puneet Issar.cite web |work=rediff.com |title=Bachchan injured whilst shooting scene |url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2001/oct/11amit.htm |accessdaymonth=11 March |accessyear=2007] Bachchan was performing his own stunts in the film and one scene required him to fall onto a table and then on the ground. However as he jumped towards the table, the corner of the table struck his abdomen, resulting in a splenic rupture from which he lost a significant amount of blood. He required an emergency splenectomy and remained critically ill in hospital for many months, at times close to death. The public response included prayers in temples and offers to sacrifice limbs to save him, while later, there were long queues of well-wishing fans outside the hospital where he was recuperating.cite web | work=IMDB |title=Footage of fight scene in Coolie released to the public |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085361/trivia| accessdaymonth=11 March | accessyear=2007] Nevertheless, he spent many months recovering and resumed filming later that year after a long period of recuperation. The film was released in 1983, and partly due to the huge publicity of Bachchan's accident, the film was a box office success.cite web |work=boxofficeindia.com |work=Coolie a success |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=125&catName=MTk4MC0xOTg5 |accessdaymonth=11 March |accessyear=2007] .

The director, Manmohan Desai, altered the ending of "Coolie" after Bachchan's accident. Bachchan's character was originally intended to have been killed off but after the change of script, the character lived in the end. It would have been inappropriate, said Desai, for the man who had just fended off death in real life to be killed on screen. Also, in the released film the footage of the fight scene is frozen at the critical moment, and a caption appears onscreen marking this as the instant of the actor's injury and the ensuing publicity of the accident.

Later, he was diagnosed with Myasthenia gravis. His illness made him feel weak both mentally and physically and he decided to quit films and venture into politics. At this time he became pessimistic, expressing concern with how a new film would be received. Before every release he would negatively state, "Yeh film to flop hogi!" ("This film will flop").cite web|work=mouthshut.com|title=Reviews on: To Be or Not To Be Amitabh Bachchan |author=Mohamed, Khalid|url=http://www.mouthshut.com/review/To_Be_or_Not_To_Be_Amitabh_Bachchan_-_Khalid_Mohamed-72513-1.html |accessdaymonth=11 March |accessyear=2007]

Politics: 1984-1987

In 1984, Amitabh took a break from acting and briefly entered politics in support of long-time family friend, Rajiv Gandhi. He contested Allahabad's Lok Sabha seat against H. N. Bahuguna, former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and won by the highest victory margin in general election history (68.2% of the vote).cite web |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/amitabh/politics.htm |title=Amitabh Bachchan: Stint in Politics |publisher=HindustanTimes.com |accessdate=2005-12-05] His political career, however, was short-lived: He resigned after three years. The resignation followed the implication of Bachchan and his brother in the "Bofors scandal" by a newspaper, which he vowed to take to court. [cite web |url=http://www.sathnam.com/Features/17/interview-with-amitabh-bachchan |title=Interview with Amitabh Bachchan |publisher=sathnam.com] Bachchan was eventually found not guilty of involvement in the ordeal.

His old friend, Amar Singh, helped him during a financial crisis due to the failure of his company ABCL. Therefore Bachchan started to support Amar Singh's political party, the Samajwadi party. Jaya Bachchan joined the Samajwadi Party and became a Rajya Sabha member. [ [http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/18/stories/2007021804271000.htm "Bachchan has no plans for election."] hindu.com.] Bachchan has continued to do favors for the Samajwadi party, including advertisements and political campaigns. These activities have recently gotten him into trouble again in the Indian courts for false claims after a previous incident of submission of legal papers by him, stating that he is a farmer. [cite web|url=http://www.webcitation.org/5bPT62ngo |title=Bollywood's Bachchan in trouble over crime claim |publisher=AFP |date=October 4, 2007]

A 15 year press ban against Bachchan was imposed during his peak acting years by "Stardust" and some of the other film magazines. In his own defense, Bachchan claimed to have banned the press from entering his sets almost till the end of 1989. [ [http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/features/2007/01/27/2173/index.html "The 15-year ban on Bachchan!"] IndiaFM News Bureau. January 27, 2007.] It has been said that Bachchan had banned certain publications because he disliked what was being published about him and as such he vetoed them in an attempt to get them to conform this.

lump and retirement: 1988-1992

In 1988, Bachchan returned to films, playing the title role in "Shahenshah", which was a box office success due to the hype of Bachchan's comeback. [cite web |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/cpages.php?pageName=top_actors&PHPSESSID=cfa06e3b5a051913d58987e99cd292ae |work=www.boxofficeindia.com/topactors.htm |title=Top Actor] After the success of his comeback film however, his star power began to wane as all of his subsequent films failed at the box office. The 1991 hit film, "Hum", looked like it might reverse this trend, but the momentum was short-lived as his string of box office failures continued. Notably, despite the lack of hits, it was during this period that Bachchan won his second National Film Award, for his performance as a Mafia don in the 1990 film "Agneepath". These years would be the last he would be seen on screen for some time. After the release of "Khuda Gawah" in 1992, Bachchan went into semi-retirement for five years. In 1994, one of his delayed films "Insaniyat" was released but was also a box office failure.cite web |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=200&catName=MTk5NA= |work=Box Office India |title=Box Office 1994]

Producer and acting comeback 1996-1999

Bachchan turned producer during his temporary retirement period, setting up Amitabh Bachchan Corporation, Ltd. (A.B.C.L.) in 1996, with the vision of becoming a 10 billion rupees (approx 250 million $US) premier entertainment company by the year 2000. ABCL's strategy was to introduce products and services covering the entire section of the India's entertainment industry. Its operations were mainstream commercial film production and distribution, audio cassettes and video discs, production and marketing of television software, celebrity and event management. Soon after the company was launched in 1996, the first film was produced by the company. "Tere Mere Sapne" failed to do well at the box office but launched the careers of actors such as Arshad Warsi and South films star Simran. ABCL produced a few other films, none of which did well.

In 1997, Bachchan attempted to make his acting comeback with the film "Mrityudaata", produced by ABCL. Though "Mrityudaata" attempted to reprise Bachchan's earlier success as an action hero, the film was a failure both financially and critically. ABCL was the main sponsor of the "The 1996 Miss World beauty pageant", Bangalore but lost millions. The fiasco and the consequent legal battles surrounding ABCL and various entities after the event, coupled with the fact that ABCL was reported to have overpaid most of its top level managers, eventually led to its financial and operational collapse in 1997. The company went into administration and was later declared a failed company by Indian Industries board. The Bombay high court, in April 1999, restrained Bachchan from selling off his Bombay bungalow 'Prateeksha' and two flats till the pending loan recovery cases of Canara Bank were disposed of. Bachchan had, however, pleaded that he had mortgaged his bungalow to Sahara India Finance for raising funds for his company. [cite web |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010304/spectrum/main1.htm |title=Muqaddar Ka Sikandar |author=Patil, Vimla |date=March 4, 2001]

Bachchan attempted to revive his acting career and had average success with "Bade Miyan Chote Miyan" (1998), and received positive reviews for "Sooryavansham" (1999) [cite web |url=http://in.rediff.com/movies/1999/may/22soo.htm |author=Taliculam, Sharmila |title=He's back!] but other films such as "Lal Baadshah" (1999) and "Hindustan Ki Kasam" (1999) were box office failures.

Television career

In the year 2000, Bachchan stepped up to host India's adaptation of the British television game show, "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" entitled, "Kaun Banega Crorepati". As it did in most other countries where it was adopted, the program found immediate success. The Canara Bank withdrew its law suit against Bachchan in November 2000. Bachchan hosted KBC till November 2005, and its success set the stage for his return to film popularity.

Return to prominence: 2000-present

In 2000, Amitabh Bachchan appeared in Yash Chopra's box-office hit, "Mohabbatein", directed by Aditya Chopra. He played a stern, older figure that rivalled the character of Shahrukh Khan. Other hits followed, with Bachchan appearing as an older family patriarch in "" (2001), "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham" (2001) and "Baghban" (2003). As an actor, he continued to perform in a range of characters, receiving critical praise for his performances in "Aks" (2001), "Aankhen" (2002), "Khakee" (2004), "Dev" (2004) and "Black" (2005). Taking advantage of this resurgence, Amitabh began endorsing a variety of products and services, appearing in many television and billboard advertisements. In 2005 and 2006, he starred with his son Abhishek in the hit films "Bunty Aur Babli" (2005), the "Godfather" tribute "Sarkar" (2005), and "Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna" (2006). All of them were successful at the box office.cite web |work=Box Office India |title=Amitabh and Abhishek rule the box office |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=211&catName=MjAwNQ= | accessdaymonth=11 March | accessyear=2007] [cite web |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=212&catName=MjAwNg= |work=Box Office India | accessdaymonth=11 March | accessyear=2007] His later releases in 2006 and early 2007 were "Baabul" (2006), [cite web |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=212&catName=MjAwNg= |title=Films fail at the BO |work=Box Office India] "Eklavya" and "Nishabd" (2007), which failed to do well at the box office but his performances in each of them were praised by critics.cite web |work=Bollywood Hungma |author=Adarsh, Taran |url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/trade/top5/326.html |title=Top 5: 'Nishabd', 'N.P.D.' are disasters |accessdaymonth=26 March |accessyear=2007] He also made a guest-appearance as himself in the Kannada movie "Amruthadaare", directed by Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar.

In May 2007, two of his films "Cheeni Kum" and the multi-starrer "Shootout at Lokhandwala" were released. "Shootout at Lokhandwala" did very well at the box office and was declared a hit in India, while "Cheeni Kum" picked up after a slow start and was declared an overall average hit.cite web |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com|title=Box Office India]

In August 2007, a remake of his biggest hit, "Sholay" (1975), entitled "Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag", proved to be a disaster at the box office and was also poorly received by critics.

His first English language film, Rituparno Ghosh's "The Last Lear", premiered at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2007. He received positive reviews from critics who hailed his performance as his best ever since "Black". [cite web |url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/features/2007/09/11/3020/index.html |title=This is Amitabh's best performance after Black |work=Bollywood Hungama. |date=September 11, 2007.]

Bachchan was slated play a supporting role in his first international film, "Shantaram", directed by Mira Nair and starring Hollywood actor Johnny Depp in the lead. The film was due to begin filming in February 2008 but due to the writer's strike, was pushed to September 2008cite web |work=ourbollywood.com |title=Amitabh Bachchan to star with Johnny Depp |url=http://www.ourbollywood.com/2007/02/amitabh_bachchan_will_star_opp.html | accessdaymonth=11 March | accessyear=2007]

"Bhoothnath", in which he plays the title role as a ghost, was released on May 9, 2008. "Sarkar Raj", released in June 2008, was a sequel to his 2005 film "Sarkar". Sarkar Raj received a positive response at the box-office.

Bachchan was scheduled to co-host the second "Live Earth" event, "Live Earth India 2008", with Jon Bon Jovi, in Mumbai India on December 8, 2008.

Health

2005 Hospitalisation

In November 2005, Amitabh Bachchan was admitted to Lilavati Hospital's ICU once more, to undergo surgery for diverticulitis of the small intestine. [cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2005/dec/01ab1.htm |title=Amitabh better today |publisher=Rediff |accessdate=2008-04-27 |date=December 1, 2005] This occurred after Bachchan complained of pains in his abdomen some days prior. During the period and that following his recovery, most of his projects were put on hold, including the television show he was in the process of hosting, "Kaun Banega Crorepati". Amitabh returned to work in March 2006. [cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2005/12/09/stories/2005120903020100.htm |title=Waiting for Mr. Bachchan |publisher=The Hindu |accessdate=2008-04-27 |date=December 9, 2005 |author=Us Salam, Ziya]

Voice

Bachchan is known for his deep, baritone voice. He has been a narrator, a playback singer and presenter for numerous programmes. Renowned film director Satyajit Ray was so impressed with Bachchan's voice, that he decided to use his voice as commentary in "Shatranj Ke Khiladi" since he could not find a suitable role for him. [ [http://www.hindustantimes.in/news/specials/amitabh/trivia.htm hindustantimes.in "Amitabh voice for Shatranj Ke Khiladi."] "Hindustan Times".] Before entering the film industry, Bachchan applied for an announcer's job with All India Radio, although he was rejected.

Controversies and Criticism

Barabanki Land Case

In the runup to the Uttar Pradesh state assembly elections, 2007, Bachchan made a film extolling the virtues of the Mulayam Singh government. His Samajwadi Party was routed, and Mayawati came to power.

On June 2, 2007] a Faizabad court ruled that he had illegally acquired agricultural land designated specifically for landless Dalit farmers.cite news
title = Land row: Setback for Bachchan
author = Sanket Upadhyay
publisher = NDTV
url = http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070014139
date = 2007-06-01 (Faizabad)
accessdate = 2007-06-03] It was speculated that he might investigated on related charges of forgery, as he has allegedly claimed he was a farmer. [cite news
title = Amitabh's land records look forged
publisher = Times of India
url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Pune/Amitabhs_land_records_look_forged/articleshow/2093299.cms
date = 2 Jun, 2007] On July 19, 2007, after the scandal broke out, Bachchan surrendered the land acquired in Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh and Pune. He wrote to the chief minister of Maharashtra, Vilasrao Deshmukh, to donate the lands that were allegedly acquired illegally in Pune. [cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/jun/01farm.htm |title=Amitabh Bachchan is not a farmer: UP court |publisher=Rediff.com |accessdate=2008-04-27 |date=June 1, 2007] However, the Lucknow Court has put a stay on the land donation and said that the status quo on the land be maintained.

On October 12, 2007, Bachchan abandoned his claim in respect of the land at Daulatpur village in Barabanki district. [cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Big_B_abandons_claim_on_farmland/articleshow/2453216.cms |work=Times of India |title=Big B abandons claim on farmland |October 12, 2007] On December 11, 2007, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court gave a clean chit to Bachchan in a case pertaining to alleged fraudulent allotment of government land to him in Barabanki district. A single Lucknow bench of Justice said there was no finding that the actor "himself committed any fraud or manipulated any surreptitious entry in the revenue records". [ [http://www.apunkachoice.com/happenings/20071212-0.html "HC gives clean chit to Amitabh Bachchan in land dispute case."] "Happenings News : ApunKaChoice.Com". December 12, 2007.] [ [http://www.allbollywood.com/v2/bd/stc/nws/2007/12/11/28051.shtml "Amitabh Bachchan gets clean chit in UP land scam."] AllBollywood.com. December 11, 2007.]

After receiving a positive verdict in Barabanki case, Amitabh Bachchan intimated to Maharashtra government that he did not wish to surrender his land in Maval tehsil of Pune district. [cite web |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200803251965.htm |title=No question of proceeding further on Amitabh's land: Rane |work=hindu.com]

Raj Thackeray's criticism

In January 2008 at political rallies, Raj Thackeray, the chief of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, targeted Amitabh Bachchan, asserting that the actor was "more inclined" towards his native state than Maharashtra. He expressed his disapproval of Amitabh’s inaugurating a girls' school named after his daughter-in-law, actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, at Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh, rather than in Maharashtra.cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Big_B_draws_Raj_Thackerays_ire_over_his_UP_interests/articleshow/2750611.cms |title=Big B draws Raj Thakeray's ire over 'UP interests' |publisher="The Times of India"|accessdate=2008-05-30] According to media reports, Raj's censure of Amitabh, whom he admires, stemmed out of his disappointment of not being invited to Amitabh's son Abhishek's marriage to Aishwarya, despite invitations to his estranged uncle Bal and cousin Uddhav.cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1149212 |accessdate=2008-04-04 |title=Rift between Raj and Big B over a wedding invite |publisher="Daily News & Analysis"] cite news |url=http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1226808 |accessdate=2008-04-04 |title=Rift between Raj and Big B over a wedding invite |date=2008-02-05| publisher=MSN]

Responding to Raj's accusations, the actor's wife, SP MP Jaya Bachchan, said that the Bachchans were willing to start a school in Mumbai, provided the MNS leader donated the land build it. She told the media, "I heard that Raj Thackeray owns huge properties in Maharashtra, in Mumbai—Kohinoor Mills. If he is willing to donate land, we can start a school in the name of Aishwarya here."cite news |url=http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/I-dont-know-who-Raj-Thackeray-is-Jaya-Bachchan/268548/ |title=I don't know who Raj Thackeray is: Jaya Bachchan |publisher="The Indian Express" |accessdate=2008-05-30] However, Amitabh abstained from commenting on the issue.

Bal Thackeray refuted the allegations, stating, "Amitabh Bachchan is an open-minded person, he has great love for Maharashtra, and this is evident on many occasions. The actor has often said that Maharashtra and specially Mumbai has given him great fame and affection. He has also said that what he is today is because of the love people have given him. The people of Mumbai have always acknowledged him as an artiste. It was utter foolishness to make these parochial allegations against him. Amitabh is a global superstar. People all over the world respect him. This cannot be forgotten by anyone. Amitabh should ignore these silly accusations and concentrate on his acting." [cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/07/stories/2008020759011200.htm |accessdate=2008-04-04 |title=Bal Thackeray: Amitabh loves Maharashtra |date=2008-02-07 |publisher="The Hindu"]

On March 23, 2008, more than a month and half after Raj's remarks, Amitabh finally spoke out in an interview to a local tabloid saying, "Random charges are random; they do not deserve the kind of attention you wish me to give."cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1157267 |accessdate=2008-04-04 |publisher="Daily News & Analysis" |title=Amitabh breaks silence, dismisses Raj's charges against him] Later, on March 28, at a press conference for the International Indian Film Academy, when asked what his take was on the anti-migrant issue, Amitabh said that it is one's fundamental right to live anywhere in the country and the constitution entitles so. [cite news |url=http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/indian-constitution-allows-me-to-live-anywhere-in-the-country-amitabh-bachchan_10032279.html |publisher="The Indian" |title=The Indian Constitution allows me to live anywhere: Amitabh Bachchan |accessdate=2008-04-04] He also stated that he was not affected by Raj's comments. [cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200803281441.htm|accessdate=2008-04-04|date=2008-03-28 |publisher="The Hindu" |title=Everyone has the right to freedom of expression: Bachchan]

Awards, honours and recognitions

Latest Filmography

References

External links

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Persondata
NAME=Bachchan, Amitabh
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Big B
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Film actor
DATE OF BIRTH=October 11, 1942
PLACE OF BIRTH=Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=