Today’s infographic features Amitabh Bachchan, an Indian legend in the world of Bollywood. While I’ve never actually seen a Bollywood production, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit the entrancing, and multifaceted country of India.
According to today’s infographic, Bachchan is the greatest star in the history of Hindi cinema. His father was a renowned poet, and decided to give him a name that, rather fittingly, means “the light that will never die.”
Early in his career, he had trouble finding work as an on-screen actor — apparently he was too tall. But his deep baritone pipes eventually landed him a voice-acting gig in 1969 — he narrated the film Bhuvan Shome. After this he didn’t seem to have much trouble appearing on film — he averaged six movies a year during the 1970s, and had his first big break in 1971 with the movie Anand.
In 1975, he made the movie Sholay. It took a few years for the public to warm up to it, but in 1995 BBC India declared Sholay the “film of the millennium.”
This tee-totaling, vegetarian, who hates the word ‘Bollywood,’ went on to make many successful films and holds the record for “most number of best actor nominations for popular film awards.”
He’s also something of a humanitarian. Bachchan donated a generous amount to charities aimed at the health of girls in India.
And if you’re interested, he says the reason he hates the word “Bollywood” is because “it is very demeaning to [the] Hindi film industry.” He goes on to say, “I’ve always strongly opposed it because I think that it almost sounds like an abuse every time it is used.”
Born October 11, 1942 in Allahabad, United Provinces, British India [now Uttar Pradesh, India]
Birth Name Amitabh Harivansh Srivastav
Nicknames Big B
Munna
Angry Young Man
Bollywood's Shahenshah
Amith
AB Sr.
One Man Industry
Superstar of the Millenium
The Last Emperor
Mahanayak
Amit ji
Height 6' 1" (1.86 m)
Mini Bio (3)
Son of well known poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Teji Bachchan. He has a brother named Ajitabh. He completed his education from Uttar Pradesh and moved to Bombay to find work as a film star, in vain though, as film-makers preferred someone with a fairer skin, and he was not quite fair enough. But they did use one of his other assets, his deep baritone voice, which was used for narration and background commentary. He was successful in being cast in Saat Hindustani. He got his break in Bollywood after a letter of introduction from the then Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi, as he was a friend of her son, Rajiv Gandhi. This is how Amitabh made an entry in Bollywood, starting with Zanjeer, co-starred with his future wife Jaya Bhaduri, and since then there has been no looking back.
He married Jaya Bhaduri, an accomplished actress in her own right, and they had two children, Shweta and Abhishek. Shweta is married, lives a non-filmy life and has two children.
Being friends with Rajiv Gandhi, got him to decide to run for seat in the Congress from his hometown but had to leave midterm because of controversies, particularly after Rajiv and he were implicated in the now infamous "Bofors" case along with the U.K. based Hinduja Brothers.
After a four year break, he was back in the unsuccessful Mrityudaata (1997), a comeback which the actor wanted to forget. Critics written him off but his career was saved with Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998). But four flops in 1999 and incurring debt of over 90 Crores rupees of his sinking company ABCL saw him at an all-time low. To make matters worse, after the defeat of the Congress party, Amitabh lost considerable political support, the opposition made him a target, and his credit rating deteriorated to such an extent that a leading nationalized bank, Canara Bank, sued him for outstanding loans. He did bounce back, presenting the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire called Kaun Banega Crorepati? (2000). After a series of hits with Mohabbatein (2000), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001) and Baghban (2003) and Khakee (2004), this elderly Bachchan is showing no signs of slowing down and proving the critics wrong once again.
His son, Abhishek, is also an actor by his own rights.
Amitabh and Jaya were interested in getting Abhishek married to Karishma, the daughter of Babita and Randhir Kapoor, they went through a formal engagement, but later broke it off.
The former Miss World and Bollywood actress, Aishwarya Rai, and Abhishek, were formally engaged on Sunday January 14, 2007, at the Bachchan residence in Juhu, Bombay, with the marriage taking place at the Bachchan residence on April 20, 2007.
On November 16, 2011, he became a Dada (Paternal Grandfather) when Aishwarya gave birth to a daughter in Mumbai Hospital. He is already a Nana (maternal grandfather) to Navya Naveli and Agastye - Shweta's children.
He continues to be one of the busiest actors and singers in Bollywood as well as on TV, as can be seen from the commercials that he appears on, especially on Sahara One. Looks like there are no limits for this super-star and once the "Angry Young Man" of Bollywood.
Amitabh Bachchan Likes and Dislikes
Sun Sign: Libra
Pet Name: Amit
Plus Point: (modestly) I have none
Minus Point: Several. My face, My height
Strength: The love of my fans and affection of my parents
My biggest fear: Not living up to the expectations of people and my fans
Languages known: Hindi, English and a bit of Punjabi Hindi
Weakness: My family
Favourite Perfume: It keeps changing. I use whatever is find on the dressing table
Favourite Holiday Spot: Haven't had a holiday for a long time. I'd prefer where nobody will recognise me
Favourite Food: Indian vegetarian food
Favourite Websites: Don't surf too much. I just use yahoo for e-mails and liveindia.com
Philosophy of life: If things happen as you wish it's good, if they do not it's better
Something about yourself that you would like to change: I don't think I would like to change anything
Dream Role: Every actor wants to look for something new in their horizon. When it comes true it becomes a dream role
Favourite film: Ganga Jamuna and Pyaasa
Best compliment paid by a woman: It doesn't come very often
Turn on in a woman: It's too personal!
Turn off in a woman: That's also too personal!
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