Amitabh Bachchan Biography Actor Amitabh Bachchan, who was born on October 11, 1942, as Amitabh Srivastava, is best known for his roles in Hindi films. Throughout the course of his five-decade film career, he has portrayed major characters in more than 200 movies. He is regarded as one of the most accomplished and significant actors in Indian cinema history, and is often regarded as one of the finest actors of all time. Many refer to Bachchan as the Shahenshah of Bollywood, Big B, Star of the Millennium, Sadi Ke Mahanayak (Hindi for “Greatest actor of the century”), or simply the Shahenshah. The French director François Truffaut referred to the Indian cinema business throughout the 1970s and 1980s as a “one-man industry” due to his domination in it. He has received numerous honors, including.
Harivansh Rai Bachchan, a poet from Hindi, and his wife Teji Bachchan, a social activist, welcomed Bachchan into the world in 1942 in Allahabad (now Prayagraj). He received his education at the University of Delhi’s Kirori Mal College and Sherwood College in Nainital. In 1969, he made his screen debut as a narrator for the film Bhuvan Shome, directed by Mrinal Sen. He first rose to fame in the early 1970s with parts in Hindi movies like Anand, Zanjeer, and Roti Kapada Aur Makaan. Later on, he became even more well-known, earning the moniker “angry young man” for his multiple on-screen personas.
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Amitabh Bachchan Biography
The social reformer Teji Bachchan and her husband, the Hindi poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, were Bachchan’s parents when he was born in Allahabad in 1942. He completed his education at Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, and Sherwood College, Nainital. In 1969, he made his film debut as a voice actor in Bhuvan Shome, directed by Mrinal Sen. He first gained notoriety in the early 1970s for roles in films like Sholay, Deewaar, and Zanjeer. His on-screen persona in Hindi films earned him the moniker “angry young man” in India.
Referred to as the Shahenshah of Bollywood (referring to his 1988 film Shahenshah), Sadi ka Mahanayak (Hindi for “Greatest performer of the century”), Star of the Paradise, or Big B, he has appeared in over 200 Indian films over the course of more than five decades and has received numerous honors in his field, including four National Pictures Awards for Best Performer, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for lifetime achievement, and numerous awards from international film festivals and award ceremonies. With 42 nominations overall, he is the most nominated actor in any major acting genre at Film Fare and has won the 16th Film Fare Awards.
Allahabad, United Provinces, British India (present-day Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India)
Nationality
Indian
Education
BSc
Alma mater
Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi[2][3][4]
Occupations
Actor
film producer
television presenter
Years active
1969–present
Organization
AB Corp. Ltd.
Works
Full list
Height
1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Spouse
Jaya Bhaduri
(m. 1973)
Children
Shweta Bachchan Nanda (daughter)
Abhishek Bachchan (son)
Parents
Harivansh Rai Bachchan (father)
Teji Bachchan (mother)
Relatives
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (daughter-in-law)
Family
See Bachchan family
Awards
Honours
Padma Shri (1984)
Padma Bhushan (2001)
Legion of Honour (2007)
Padma Vibhushan (2015)
Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2018)
Early life and family
Born in Allahabad (now Prayagraj) on October 11, 1942, Bachchan was the son of social activist Teji Bachchan and Hindi poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan.Fluent in Awadhi, Hindi, and Urdu, Harivansh Rai Bachchan was an Awadhi Hindu Kayastha. The village of Babupatti, located in the Raniganj tehsil of the Pratapgarh district of the modern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, is where Harivansh’s forefathers originated. From Lyallpur, Punjab, British India (now known as Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan), Teji Bachchan was a Punjabi Sikh Khatri. Ajitabh, Bachchan’s younger brother, is five years his junior.
The poet Sumitranandan Pant suggested the name Amitabh to Bachchan’s father, but at first, his parents planned to name him Inquilaab (Hindustani for “Revolution”), inspired by the popular phrase Inquilab Zindabad (which translates into English as “Long live the revolution”) used during the Indian independence struggle. Amitabh’s father, who was against the caste system, published all of his writings under the pen name Bachchan, which means “child-like” in common Hindi, even though his surname was Shrivastava. Bachchan’s mother and father agreed that the family’s name should be Bachchan rather than Shrivastava while his father was trying to get him accepted to a school.
Acting career
In the 1969 National Award–winning picture Bhuvan Shome directed by Mrinal Sen, Bachchan made his screen debut as a narrator. His first acting part was in the Khwaja Ahmad Abbas film Saat Hindustani, which starred Utpal Dutt, Madhu, Jalal Agha, and Anwar Ali (the comic Mehmood’s brother). He was one of the seven protagonists in the film. Then came Anand (1971), in which Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna starred. Bachchan’s portrayal of a cynical doctor in the film earned him his first Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor. Then, in Parwana (1971), he portrayed an enamored lover who turned murderer in his first antagonist role. A number of movies, notably Reshma Aur Shera (1971), came out after Parwana. He appeared as a guest during this period in the movie Guddi, which starred his future.
Political career
In 1984, Bachchan took a leave of absence from the entertainment industry and temporarily ventured into politics to back Rajiv Gandhi, a family friend for many years. He ran against former Uttar Pradesh chief minister H. N. Bahuguna for the 8th Lok Sabha seat representing Allahabad (now Prayagraj Lok Sabha constituency). He had one of the largest victory margins in Indian election history, with 68.2% of the vote in his support. The “Bofors scandal” was made public the year prior, and conjecture regarding his involvement in it began in 1987 when Indian Express reported that his brother Ajitabh Bachchan had an apartment in Switzerland. In July 1987, Bachchan submitted his resignation from the position.Ajitabh Bachchan received damages in the United States after suing the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter in 1990 for connecting him to Bofors payments.
Humanitarian and social causes
Bachchan is active in a number of social causes. He gave ₹1.1 million, for instance, to help about 40 struggling farmers in Andhra Pradesh pay off their debts, and ₹3 million to help about 100 farmers in Vidarbha. He has donated ₹1.1 million to Resul Pookutty’s charity in 2010 for a medical center in Kochi, and he has given the family of Delhi policeman Subhash Chand Tomar ₹250,000 ($4,678), who passed away due to injuries sustained during a protest against gang rape following the 2012 Delhi gang rape case. In honor of his father, he established the Harivansh Rai Bachchan Memorial Trust in 2013. 3,000 houses in India will have electricity provided by solar energy thanks to the efforts of this trust and the Urja Foundation. June 2019 saw him pass.
Personal life
Since their marriage on June 3, 1973, Bachchan and renowned actress and politician Jaya Bhaduri have been parents to two children: Abhishek, an actor and producer, and Shweta, a writer, journalist, and former model. Daughter Aaradhya is the product of Abhishek’s marriage to actress Aishwarya Rai. As the granddaughter of actor Raj Kapoor, Shweta is wed to businessman Nikhil Nanda. There is a son named Agastya and a girl named Navya Naveli. In Mumbai, Maharashtra, Amitabh’s family resides. Ajitabh Bachchan, who is younger than him, works in commerce. Before going back to reside in India, he conducted business and spent a short time there. He decides not to be in the spotlight, as does his household. Designer of fashion Ramola is his spouse.
Legacy
Many people consider Bachchan to be among the best and most significant actors in Indian film history. He is regarded as one of the most well-liked public figures in India because of the praise he received from critics for his outstanding performances and captivating on-screen persona. He goes by the titles “Big B,” “Star of the Millennium,” and “Shahenshah of Bollywood.” Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi, Pawan Kalyan, Prabhas, Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Manoj Bajpayee, Ajay Devgn, Mohanlal, Ranveer Singh, Allu Arjun, and Yash are just a few of the many prominent Indian performers he influenced throughout the years. Director François Truffaut of France referred to him as a “one-man industry.
Awards and honours
In addition to winning numerous accolades for his work in the Indian cinema industry, Bachchan has been recognized with numerous awards for his performances over the years. The Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award was instituted in Raj Kapoor’s honor, and he was the first artist to receive it in 1991. At the 2000 Filmfare Awards, Bachchan was named Superstar of the Millennium. He received acknowledgment for his contributions to the film industry in 2001 when the Alexandria International Film Festival in Egypt presented him with the Actor of the Century award. Numerous other accolades for his accomplishments were given to him at various international film festivals, such as the 2010 Asian Film Awards’ Lifetime Achievement Award.
Bio/Wiki
Birth name
Inquilaab Srivastava
Full Name
Amitabh Harivansh Rai Shrivastava
Nickname(s)
• Munna
• Big B
• Angry Young Man
• AB Sr.
• Amith
• Shahenshah of Bollywood
Profession(s)
• Actor
• TV Host
• Former Politician
Physical Stats & More
Height
6′ 2″ (188 cm)
Eye Colour
Dark Brown
Hair Colour
Salt & Pepper
Personal Overview of Amitabh Bachchan
Date of Birth
11 October 1942 (Sunday)
Age (as of 2024)
82 Years
Birthplace
Allahabad, British India (now, Uttar Pradesh, India)
Zodiac sign
Libra
Signature
Nationality
Indian
Hometown
Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
School
Jnana Pramodhini, Boys High School, Allahabad
College/University
• Sherwood College, Nainital
• Government College Sector- 11, Chandigarh (attended for only 25 days)
• Kirori Mal College, New Delhi
Educational Qualification
Bachelor of Science
Debut
Film (Actor; Hindi)- Saat Hindustani (1969)
Film (Actor; English)- The Great Gatsby (2013)
Film (Producer)- Tere Mere Sapne (1996)
TV (Host)- Kaun Banega Crorepati – KBC (2000)
Religion
Hinduism
Caste
Kayastha
Food Habit
In 2000, he quit eating non-vegetarian food. Although his health issues are considered one of the prime reasons behind this, the actor has often quoted that he gave up eating non-vegetarian food voluntarily.
Civilian Awards
1984: Padma Shri by the Government of India
2001: Padma Bhushan by the Government of India
2007: Knight of the Legion of Honour (France’s highest civilian honour from the Government of France)
2015: Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India
National Honours
1980: Awadh Samman by the Government of Uttar Pradesh
1994: Yash Bharti Award (Uttar Pradesh’s highest honour)
2005: Deenanath Mangeshkar award
2013: President of India ‘Medallion of Honour’
2024: Lata Mangeshkar Award
National Film Awards
1990: Best Actor for Agneepath
2005: Best Actor for Black
2009: Best Actor for Paa
2015: Best Actor for Piku
2019: Dadasaheb Phalke Award
Polls
2002: Voted the “Hottest Male Vegetarian” by ‘People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ (PETA)
2008: Voted “Asia’s Sexiest Vegetarian Man”
2012: Voted the “Hottest Male Vegetarian” for the fourth time by ‘People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ (PETA)
International
2021: On March 19, he became the first person from Indian cinema to be honoured with an award by the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF). Martin Scorcese and Christopher Nolan presented him the award during a virtual showcase.
Note: He has many more awards/honours/accolades to his name.
Controversies
• His name appeared in the Bofors scandal in which he was later declared not guilty.
• He was indicted for submitting false documents to prove that he is a farmer.
• Stardust imposed a 15-years ban on him during his peak acting years. According to his blog, he brought the idea of National Emergency and ban on Media. So, media took that otherwise and banned Amitabh Bachchan: means no interviews, no mention or pictures, etc.
• In 1996, he had to face a legal battle for organizing Miss World competition inappropriately.
• In 2007, a Faizabad court ruled that Amitabh Bachchan was anything but a farmer— a secret most of India would have guessed but one that has landed the superstar in trouble over two messy land deals. According to the court, the actor had got himself certified a farmer by forgery; so that he could hold on to a 24-acre plot he had bought near Lonavla in Pune in the mid-1990s. Since Maharashtra laws allow only a farmer to buy agricultural land, the actor showed the Pune district authorities a certificate from the then Barabanki district magistrate, Ramashankar Sahu, saying Amitabh was a farmer because he owned farmland in the district. The court ruled that the 1993 Barabanki land transfer in Amitabh’s name was illegal.
• In September 2021, he appeared in an advertising campaign of a paan masala brand for which he received heavy criticism from netizens on social media. Various NGOs including the National Organization for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE) and anti-tobacco organizations also urged him to withdraw himself from such advertisements. Next month, he withdrew from this advertisement campaign; it was revealed by a blog post, addressed by “the office of Mr. Amitabh Bachchan,” that read – “A few days after the commercial was aired, Mr Bachchan contacted the brand and stepped out of it last week. Upon checking why this sudden move – it was revealed that when Mr. Bachchan became associated with the brand, he wasn’t aware that it falls under surrogate advertising. Mr. Bachchan has terminated the contract with the brand, has written to them his termination and has returned the money received for the promotion.”
Relationships
Marital Status
Married
Affairs/Girlfriends
• Parveen Babi (Indian Actress)
• Rekha (Indian Actress)
• Jaya Bhaduri (Indian Politician & Former Indian Actress)
Bollywood- Kagaz Ke Phool, Ganga Jamuna, Pyasa
Hollywood- Gone With The Wind, Godfather, Black, Scarface
Singer(s)
Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar
Music Instrument
Sarod
Colour
White
Sports
Cricket, Lawn Tennis
Tennis Player
Novak Djokovic
Football Club
Chelsea
Perfume
Lomani
Holiday Destination(s)
London, Switzerland, Saint Petersburg
Style Quotient
Cars Collection
• Bentley Arnage R
• Bentley Continental GT
• Lexus LX 470
• Mercedes-Benz SL 500 AMG
• Range Rover SUV
• Mini Cooper S
• Toyota Land Cruiser
• BMW 760Li
• BMW X5
• Mercedes-Benz V-Class
• Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography
• Toyota Camry Hybrid
• Mercedes Benz S320
• Mercedes Benz S600
• Mercedes Benz E240
• Mercedes-Benz GLS
• Mercedes-Maybach S-Class
• Ford Prefect (gifted by a friend)
• Porche Cayman S
• Rolls Royce Phantom
Note: In April 2019, he sold his Rolls Royce Phantom worth ₹3.5 crore.
Money Factor of Amitabh Bachchan
Salary/Income (approx.)
Rs. 6 crores per film (as of October 2023)
In October 2023, Amitabh Bachchan was reported to have seven sources of income, excluding films. These sources include:
• Endorsements: Amitabh Bachchan earns a substantial income from endorsing various national and international brands like Cadbury, Nestlé, Dabur, and Pepsi. He reportedly charges between Rs. 5 crores to Rs. 8 crores for each endorsement.
• Film Production and Sports: His Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Ltd (ABCL), an event management, production, and distribution, adds to his income. He expanded his earnings by becoming a co-owner of the OUE Singapore Slammers, a team in the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL), in 2015.
• Real Estate Investments: Amitabh Bachchan possesses numerous properties in Mumbai, India, and around the world. He has rented some of his properties in Mumbai including a duplex, located on floors 27 and 28 of the Atlantis Building on Lokhandwala Road in Andheri West, which he rented to actor Kriti Sanon for Rs. 10 lakh for per month. He leased one of his properties in the Juhu Vile Parle Development Scheme (JVPD) to the State Bank of India (SBI) in the same year; the property was leased for Rs. 18.90 lakh per month for 15 years.
• Investment in Companies: Amitabh Bachchan is an investor in several companies including Just Dial, an Indian internet technology company, in which he acquired 10% stake in 2013. He has invested in other companies as well, such as a marketing firm named Stampede Capital (3.4%), and a Singapore-based company named Meridian Tech Pte Limited that provides workforce and consulting services.
• TV Show: Amitabh Bachchan has been associated with the Indian game show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ for over two decades. He reprotedly earned about Rs. 4 crore to Rs. 5 crore for each episode of Season 14.
• NFTs: Bachchan has tried his hands at Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) as well. His ‘Madhushala’ NFT collection, which included vintage autographed posters, his father’s famous poem ‘Madhushala,’ and other works, sold for Rs. 7.18 crore in 2021.
• Film Projects: Amitabh usually charges around Rs. 6 crores for a film, but he received a pay cheque of Rs. 10 crores for his role in the film ‘Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva’ in 2023.
Assets/Properties
Movable Assets- worth over Rs. 460 crore
Immovable Assets- worth over Rs. 540 crore
Jewellery- worth over Rs. 62 crore
Vehicles- worth over Rs. 13 crore
Watches- worth over Rs. 3.5 crore
Pen(s)- worth over Rs. 9 lakh
Residential Properties- a 3,175 sqm residential property in Brignogan Plage in France (in addition, properties in Noida, Bhopal, Pune, Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar)
Agricultural Land- a 3-acre plot worth Rs. 5.7 crore in Daulatpur area of Barabanki district
A Land in Ayodhya- an approximately 10,000 square feet plot worth Rs. 14.5 crore in The Sarayu, bought in January 2024
House/Bungalow
• Jalsa (home): This is where he lives. The actor purchased this 10,125 square foot two-storey bungalow, which is situated near Juhu’s JW Marriott, from producer NC Sippy.
• Another property near Jalsa: In 2013, he purchased a property near Jalsa worth Rs. 50 crore; the property spread over 8,000 square feet, behind Jalsa.
• Janak (office): This property serves as an office for the actor, where he is often spotted along with his grandson, Agastya Nanda. Reportedly, the family bought this property worth Rs. 50 crore in 2004.
• Pratiksha: Amitabh Bachchan shared this house with his parents Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Teji Bachchan. The family bought this Juhu-located house in 1976. This is the house where Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai tied the knot in 2007.
• Vatsa: This property is also located in Juhu thar the family has leased out to Citibank India.
• Ancestral House in Allahabad: His ancestral is situated at 17, Clive Road in Allahabad; the property has been transformed into an educational trust.
• Sopaan: The actor sold this property for Rs. 23 crore in 2022. The property is situated in Delhi’s Gulmohar Park, where his parents, Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Teji Bachchan, used to reside.
• Juhu Apartments: He owns two apartments in Juhu worth Rs. 40 crore and Rs. 1.75 crore respectively.
• Home is Paris: He owns a property in the French capital of Paris; reportedly, it was gifted to him from his wife, Jaya Bachchan.
