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The following biography
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Wikipedia.org
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Free Encyclopedia.”
Amitabh Bachchan (born October 11, 1942, in
Allahabad, India) also known as Big B, is an Indian actor whose Bollywood career
has spanned over four decades.
****
Biography
Amitabh was born to Teji and Harivansh Rai 'Bachchan'.
Harivansh Rai was a well known Hindi poet. Amitabh attended Boys' High School in
Allahabad followed by Sherwood College in Nainital and went on to Delhi
University to earn a degree in science.
Bachchan began making films in 1969 with Saat
Hindustani. He became well known as a movie star in 1973, with the films
Abhimaan and Zanjeer. While his popularity waned in the 1990s, Bachchan made a
comeback in the early 2000s by hosting Kaun Banega Crorepati, the Indian version
of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire".
In 1982, Bachchan was injured while filming on the
set of Coolie. He recovered and resumed making films. Popular interest in his
injury had been so high that when Coolie was released, it featured a
freeze-frame and caption, isolating the exact instant during a fight scene when
Amitabh was hurt.
Bachchan married actress Jaya Bhaduri in 1973. He
has co-starred with Jaya in many films: Zanjeer, Abhimaan, Sholay, Silsila and,
Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham. They have two children: Shweta Bachchan Nanda and
Abhishek Bachchan. Abhishek Bachchan has already followed his father's
footsteps, having starred in a number of recent movies.
Career
Bachchan's first film was Saat Hindustani (1969).
He became well known as a movie star in 1973, with the films Abhimaan and
Zanjeer.
Amitabh's most loved films and characters date from
this period. Fans remember him from box office hits like Sholay, Amar Akbar
Anthony, Trishul, Don and Deewar . Amitabh often played an angry young man
fighting a corrupt establishment -- a theme that had immense appeal in India
during that time. The screen-writing duo of Salim-Javed have often been credited
with creating this persona. In a sense, the relationship was symbiotic. Later
movies have not tasted similar levels of success as the Salim-Javed and Amitabh
collaborations.
In an era where producers looked to cast a handsome
full-bodied hunk as the hero, Amitabh with his unconventional looks and tall,
lanky frame was written off. His baritone-- that was later counted by fans as
his biggest asset-- once failed to get him a job as news-reader with All India
Radio. The success of Zanjeer and Sholay turned that around. Audiences adored
his on-screen presence and a flair for comedy.
Many of his films in the 1970s followed a set
formula-- a poor childhood, parents murdered or separated after birth, survival
through street-smart instincts, entry of a villain (usually a social oppressor
or smuggler, also his parents' killer or long lost father!), some comedy scenes,
a drunk scene, songs, dances, action finale and probably a dying speech. It can
be argued that Salim-Javed stories written for Amitabh during the 1970's form an
informal sequel, with the same character being played out in various settings.
In restrospect, many of his films were run-of-the-mill masala movies with
creaking plots and sub-par production values.
While he was a star, none of this mattered.
He had been making films all through the 1980s and
1990s, but few had succeeded. Critics credited the few films that he was
successful in (Bade Miyan Chhote Miyan and Mohabbatein) to the performance of
other actors (Govinda and Shahrukh Khan). Industry gossip said that Amitabh was
finished as an actor.
But Bachchan still had charisma. In 1999, in a BBC
Online Poll, he was named the Superstar of the Millennium. In June 2000 he
became the first living Asian to have a wax statue erected in his honour at
Madame Tussaud's.
In 2000, he was chosen as the host for Kaun Banega
Crorepati, the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. The show became
an enormous hit. When the show was on, the street traffic dropped dramatically;
restaurants and movie theaters complained of diminishing clientele. Critics
admitted that Amitabh still had popularity. (The show has recently started
airing again, to similar levels of interest.)
Since his game show success, he has appeared in
several hit movies. He has also appeared in many ads for commercial products and
for various non-profit organizations. He has supported campaigns for eye
donations and against polio and AIDS.
An Amitabh film retrospective was held between
April 8 and April 19, 2005 at the Lincoln Center in New York. The retrospective
featured films starring Bachchan including Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Anand,
Abhimaan and Sanjay Bhansali's Black. Amitabh was there for the plaudits; he
also took the opportunity to appear on a number of television talk shows.
Public
life
In 1984, Bachchan briefly entered politics in
support of long-time family friend Rajiv Gandhi. He contested Allahabad's
parliament seat against H. N. Bahuguna, a well-known politician and won (winning
68.2% of the vote). However, his political career was short-lived; he resigned
after three years before finishing his term. At the time of his resignation, it
was rumored that he might have been involved in the Bofors scandal. Bachchan was
not implicated in the corruption and has since distanced himself from the Gandhi
family. Bachchan denies that the these events were connected, commenting that he
"should have never got into politics."
In 1995, Amitabh went into business, founding
Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Ltd., an entertainment company that specialized in
film production and event management. The company did not succeed. He did not
file for bankruptcy, but has used his acting income to pay his business debts,
which are rumored to have been completely cleared in 2005. Some observers
speculate that he will try to revive his company.
[added by PSP - Amitabh's son got engaged to
actress Aishwarya Rai in January 2007]
Awards
Bachchan is a recipient of the Padma Shri (1983)
and the Padma Bhushan (2005), civilian honours from the indian government. In
1990, he won the National Award for his portrayal of a mafia don in Agneepath.
In 1999, he was named BBC Superstar of the Millenium. He has also won 12
Filmfare Awards in various categories.
****
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Date Article Copied:
December 9, 2005
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