Amitabh Bachchan Age, Height, Weight, Wiki, Biography, Family, And More

Amitabh Bachchan Age

81 Years Old

Biography

Family

Physical Measurements

Education

Early Life

Amitabh Bachchan was born on 11 October 1942 in Allahabad, now known as Prayagraj. His parents were Harivansh Rai Bachchan, a Hindi poet, and Teji Bachchan, a social activist. Harivansh Rai Bachchan was well-versed in Awadhi, Hindi, and Urdu. The Bachchan family originally hailed from Babupatti village in Pratapgarh district, Uttar Pradesh. Harivansh’s ancestors came from this village. Teji Bachchan, on the other hand, was a Punjabi Sikh Khatri from Lyallpur, Punjab, British India (now Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan). Amitabh has a younger brother named Ajitabh, who is five years younger.

Initially, Amitabh Bachchan’s parents intended to name him Inquilaab, meaning “Revolution,” inspired by the phrase “Inquilab Zindabad” used during the Indian independence struggle. However, poet Sumitranandan Pant suggested the name Amitabh. Although the family’s original surname was Shrivastava, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, who opposed the caste system, adopted the pen name Bachchan for all his works. When enrolling him in school, the family decided to use Bachchan as the surname instead of Shrivastava. This became the family’s official surname for all practical purposes.

Amitabh’s father passed away in 2003, followed by his mother in 2007. For his education, Bachchan attended Boys’ High School & College in Allahabad and Sherwood College in Nainital. Later, he studied at Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1962. Despite approaching Prithviraj Kapoor, the founder of Prithvi Theatre, for a role after completing his studies, Bachchan received no encouragement.

Before entering the film industry, Amitabh Bachchan was friends with Rajiv Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi. He spent time with them during his residency in New Delhi. His family shared a close relationship with the Nehru-Gandhi family. Bachchan even received Sonia Gandhi at the Palam International Airport in 1968 before her marriage to Rajiv. Despite initially applying for a newsreader role at All India Radio, Delhi, and facing rejection, Bachchan worked as a business executive for Bird & Company in Kolkata. He also engaged in theatre before embarking on his film career, possibly influenced by his mother’s encouragement to “take center stage.”

Career

Amitabh Bachchan stepped into the world of films in 1969 with a voice narration in the National Award-winning film “Bhuvan Shome,” directed by Mrinal Sen. His first acting role came in “Saat Hindustani” in the same year, where he was one of the seven main characters.

Following this, Bachchan appeared in “Anand” (1971) alongside Rajesh Khanna, winning his first Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as a cynical doctor. He took on an antagonist role in “Parwana” (1971) and featured in films like “Reshma Aur Shera” (1971) and “Guddi,” where he made a guest appearance, working alongside his future wife Jaya Bhaduri.

In 1972, he made a guest appearance in “Bawarchi” and starred in the road action comedy “Bombay to Goa,” directed by S. Ramanathan. However, many of his early films during this period faced box office challenges.

A turning point came in 1973 when screenwriters Salim-Javed discovered Bachchan and cast him in the lead role of “Zanjeer.” This film marked the beginning of his iconic “angry young man” persona and brought him widespread recognition. Bachchan’s portrayal in films like “Zanjeer,” “Deewaar,” “Trishul,” “Kaala Patthar,” and “Shakti” resonated with the audience, capturing the simmering discontent and anti-establishment sentiment of the 1970s youth in India.

Bachchan’s success continued with films like “Abhimaan” (1973), “Namak Haraam” (1973), and “Roti Kapda Aur Makaan” (1974). In 1974, he played a supporting role in the top-earning film “Roti Kapda Aur Makaan” and took the lead in the successful film “Majboor.” The year 1973 also marked his marriage to Jaya, and they appeared together in several films, including “Abhimaan” and “Namak Haraam.”

Bachchan’s rise to stardom during this period was characterized by his roles as a wronged hero fighting against a corrupt system and societal challenges. The phrase “angry young man” became synonymous with Bachchan and reflected the frustrations, rebellious spirit, and anti-establishment sentiments of the youth in the 1970s.

The subsequent years saw Bachchan become one of the most successful leading men in the film industry, collaborating with directors like Prakash Mehra, Yash Chopra, and Manmohan Desai. His performances in films like “Deewaar” (1975) and “Sholay” (1975) further solidified his status as a legendary actor in Bollywood.

In 1975, Amitabh Bachchan showcased his versatility by starring in various film genres. From the comedy “Chupke Chupke” and crime drama “Faraar” to the romantic drama “Mili,” he demonstrated his acting range. This year marked two significant films in Hindi cinema history, both written by Salim-Javed, who insisted on casting Bachchan.

The first, “Deewaar,” directed by Yash Chopra, became a super blockbuster and earned Bachchan another Filmfare nomination for Best Actor. The film, alongside “Sholay,” released on 15 August 1975, went on to become the highest-grossing film in India at the time. These films played a pivotal role in solidifying Bachchan’s status as a Bollywood superstar.

In 1976, Yash Chopra cast Bachchan in the romantic family drama “Kabhie Kabhie,” portraying him as a romantic hero, a departure from his earlier “angry young man” roles. The film received a positive response from both critics and audiences. Additionally, he played a double role in the hit “Adalat” that year.

Bachchan’s success continued in 1977, winning his first Filmfare Best Actor Award for “Amar Akbar Anthony.” The film, also featuring Vinod Khanna and Rishi Kapoor, emerged as the highest-grossing film of the year. Other major hits in 1977 included “Parvarish” and “Khoon Pasina.”

In 1978, he took on double roles in “Kasme Vaade” and “Don,” earning his second Filmfare Best Actor Award for the latter. The same year saw towering performances in “Trishul” and “Muqaddar Ka Sikandar,” both earning him further Filmfare Best Actor nominations. 1978 marked one of his most successful years at the box office, with all six releases achieving success.

The success streak continued in 1979 with “Suhaag,” the highest-earning film of the year. Critical acclaim and commercial success followed with films like “Mr. Natwarlal” and “Kaala Patthar.” Notably, Bachchan used his singing voice for the first time in a song from “Mr. Natwarlal,” earning nominations for both Best Actor and Best Male Playback Singer at Filmfare.

In the early 1980s, Bachchan starred in a string of successful films, including “Silsila” (1981), “Ram Balram” (1980), “Shaan” (1980), “Naseeb” (1981), and “Shakti” (1982). Double roles in films like “Satte Pe Satta” and “Desh Premee” (1982) continued his box office dominance.

Despite a brief stint in politics from 1984 to 1987, Bachchan’s films like “Sharaabi” (1984) and “Mard” (1985) emerged as blockbusters, while “Geraftaar” (1985) and “Aakhree Raasta” (1986) proved to be hits. In 1987, Bachchan’s involvement in the film “Kaun Jeeta Kaun Haara” showcased his continued presence, and he even sang a playback song with Kishore Kumar for the movie.

During a break from acting, Bachchan ventured into production, establishing Amitabh Bachchan Corporation, Ltd. (ABCL) in 1996. ABCL aimed to cover various aspects of India’s entertainment industry, including film production, distribution, music, television software, and celebrity management. The first film produced by ABCL, “Tere Mere Sapne” in 1996, turned out to be a box office hit, launching the careers of actors like Arshad Warsi and Simran.

However, Bachchan faced challenges with his comeback film, “Mrityudata” (1997), which was a financial and critical failure. ABCL, the main sponsor of the 1996 Miss World pageant, incurred significant losses, leading to legal battles and the company’s collapse in 1997. Bachchan encountered financial difficulties, with legal restrictions on selling his property.

Despite these setbacks, Bachchan revived his acting career with successful films like “Bade Miyan Chote Miyan” and “Major Saab” in 1998. The following year, “Sooryavansham” (1999) received positive reviews, but other releases like “Lal Baadshah” and “Kohram” were box office failures.

From 2000 onwards, Bachchan experienced a resurgence in his career. Notable films include “Mohabbatein” (2000), “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham…” (2001), and “Baghban” (2003), showcasing his versatility as an actor. He continued to receive critical acclaim for roles in films like “Black” (2005), earning him National Film Awards and Filmfare Awards.

Bachchan’s success extended to collaborations with his son Abhishek, featuring in hits like “Bunty Aur Babli” (2005), “Sarkar” (2005), and “Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna” (2006). Despite some box office failures like “Baabul” (2006) and “Nishabd” (2007), his performances received praise.

In 2008, “Bhoothnath” marked Bachchan’s role as a friendly ghost, followed by successful films like “Sarkar Raj” and “Paa.” “Paa” (2009) portrayed him as his son Abhishek’s 13-year-old son, earning critical acclaim and box office success.

Bachchan continued his diverse roles in films like “Pink” (2016), a courtroom drama praised by critics. His performance garnered accolades in films like “Piku” (2015), earning him National Film Awards and Filmfare Critics Awards.

In recent years, Bachchan appeared in films like “102 Not Out” (2018) and “Badla” (2019). His Telugu debut in “Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy” (2019) and subsequent films like “Gulabo Sitabo” (2020) and “Chehre” (2021) showcased his enduring presence in the industry.

Bachchan’s upcoming projects include films like “Jhund,” “Runway 34,” “Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva,” “Goodbye,” “Uunchai,” and Nag Ashwin’s “Kalki 2898 AD.” His remarkable journey in the entertainment industry continues, marked by his resilience and versatile performances.

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People Also Ask

Q1. How old is Amitabh Bachchan ?

Ans. Amitabh Bachchan was born on 11 October 1942 in Allahabad, India. As of 2024, she is 81 years old.

Q2. What is Amitabh Bachchan height ?

Ans. Amitabh Bachchan stands tall at 6 feet 2 Inches

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