50 years on, 'Shahenshah' continues to rule B-town; son Abhishek, KJo pen heartfelt tributes
Bollywood celebrates as the legendary actor completes a five-decade-long tenure.
By ET Online |
BCCL
Amitabh Bachchan completes 50 years in Bollywood.
Bollywood’s ‘Shahenshah’, Amitabh Bachchan, completed 50 years in the Hindi film industry on November 7. On this day in 1969, the tall, lanky hero made his debut as a character actor in K A Abbas’s, ‘Saat Hindustani’.
On Thursday, his actor-son Abhishek Bachchan, and director Karan Johar, took to social media to pen heartfelt tributes for the megastar.
Junior Bachchan, like the quintessential son, expressed pride at his father’s achievements and couldn’t stop gushing about the incredible milestone that the thespian had achieved in his multifaceted career.
“Several generations of cinema lovers get to say we lived in the times of BACHCHAN!!!”, wrote the 43-year-old actor. “Congratulations Pa on completing 50 years in the Film industry. We now await the next 50!”, he added.
Not just as a son, but as an actor and a fan... We are all blessed to witness greatness! There is so much to admir… https://t.co/vrWNxJbOcR
Karan Johar, who has directed the Big B in multiple films, retweeted Abhishek’s tweet and called the ‘Sholay’-actor ‘the most inspiring story in the world of entertainment’. Johar, who is the head of Dharma Productions, also congratulated Bachchan Jr for his father’s genius act.
He will remain the most inspiring story in the world of entertainment! Words alone cannot describe his achievements… https://t.co/RD1GyxNhJH
In an illustrious career, spanning over five decades, the superstar has worked in over 190 Indian films. The veteran actor has also won the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award and over 5 National Film Awards for his roles in the films ‘Agneepath’, ‘Piku’, ‘Paa’ and ‘Black’.
The 77-year-old gained widespread popularity in the 1970s with his phenomenal performances in films like 'Zanjeer,' 'Deewaar,' and of course, the cult-classic, 'Sholay'.
Recently, Big B’s big Diwali bash had grabbed a lot of eyeballs. Noted personalities from tinsel town celebs to industrialists attended the party. Shahrukh Khan, Mukesh Ambani, Akshay Kumar, Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif were some of the many celebs who dazzled at the Bachchan house.
A name that needs no introduction, a voice that is recognised by millions, and a presence that makes even the most established actors nervous. Amitabh Bachchan is in every sense one of the biggest superstars the country has seen.
Having spent 50 years in the industry, and given fans masterpieces like 'Zanjeer', ‘Deewar’, ‘Sholay’, ‘Black’, and ‘Paa’ among several others, the Big B - as he commonly known - is a force to be reckoned with, even as he turns 77. Showing no signs of slowing down, the Padma Vibhushan-awardee’s upcoming films include Ayan Mukerji’s ‘Brahmastra’, Shoojit Sircar’s ‘Gulabo Sitabo’ and Rumi Jaffery’s ‘Chehre’.
While continuing to enthrall audiences every time he comes on screen, the superstar, who was 'selected unanimously' for Dadasaheb Phalke award this year, also dabbled in several other trades - sometimes succeeding, at other times not so much - through the course of his professional journey.
Here’s a look at Bachchan Sr. beyond films.
A name that needs no introduction, a voice that is recognised by millions, and a presence that makes even the most established actors nervous. Amitabh Bachchan is in every sense one of the biggest ..
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Bachchan took a break from acting in 1984 to try his hand at politics. The 'Shahenshah', whose proximity to the Gandhis at the time was well-known, contested the 8th Lok Sabha elections from his hometown of Allahabad, in support of his friend, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. While he won the polls by a huge margin, his political career was short-lived.
Three years later, Bachchan resigned, following the Bofors scandal, vowing never to rejoin politics.
His wife and former actress Jaya Bachchan is a Rajya Sabha MP from the Samajwadi Party.
Bachchan took a break from acting in 1984 to try his hand at politics. The 'Shahenshah', whose proximity to the Gandhis at the time was well-known, contested the 8th Lok Sabha elections from his home..
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Bachchan began his television stint as the host of quiz show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ (KBC) in 2000, after a period of professional struggle. Little did he know at the time of signing on the dotted line, that the Hindi adaptation of ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’ would go on to become one of the most-watched shows on Indian television.
The Big B hosted the show until 2006, when he fell ill, and Shah Rukh Khan replaced him for the third season. However, in 2010 he returned to the show - that he continues to host till date.
The 'Deewar' star also hosted the third season of ‘Bigg Boss’ in 2009.
Long before the era of Netflix and other digital video streaming platforms that saw several B-town stars turn to the small screen, the Big B was expanding his TV presence. In addition to ‘KBC’, he also did the voiceover for a historic soap, ‘Bharat Ka Veer Putra: Maharana Pratap’.
In 2014, he ventured into the fictional space on television, with ‘Yudh’, a show produced by his banner, Saraswati Creations along with Endemol.
In Pic: Bachchan during 'Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 6', in 2012.
Bachchan began his television stint as the host of quiz show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ (KBC) in 2000, after a period of professional struggle. Little did he know at the time of signing on the dotted li..
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Bachchan often turns into a real-life hero for poverty-stricken farmers across the country. The actor, who owns farmland in the Muzzaffarnagar village of Kakori and has been registered as a farmer by the Uttar Pradesh Seed Corporation, has helped prevent many cases of farmer suicide by paying off their loans.
In addition to helping thousands of farmers across the country, he is often a contributor to relief funds at times of natural calamities, and also donates towards families of martyrs.
In 2018, the philanthropist distributed mechanical equipment to manual scavengers. Bachchan Sr., who was valued at $33.5 million in 2015 by Forbes,is also associated with charities that work for cancer, differently-abled children, and girl-child education. He is also a United Nations ambassador for the 'Girl Child’, and works towards TB and Hepatitis awareness.
Bachchan often turns into a real-life hero for poverty-stricken farmers across the country. The actor, who owns farmland in the Muzzaffarnagar village of Kakori and has been registered as a farmer by..
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Bachchan the businessman was among the most-difficult periods of the superstar’s life. His dream venture Amitabh Bachchan Corporation, set up in 1995, not just failed, but also brought down the actor to bankruptcy.
The company seemed to falter in its every move, from producing 'Mrityudata' - featuring Amitabh Bachchan - that bombed at the box-office to organising the Miss World Show, that failed to bring in the money and added to ABCL's already growing financial woes.
In his late-50s, the Big B was embroiled in legal cases and left with losses of nearly Rs 90 crore and almost reaching a point of losing his iconic Juhu home, Pratiksha.
In 1999, ABCL approached the Board of Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR) to be rated as a sick company. The actor, however kept going, and bounced back with 'Mohabbatein' and 'Kaun Banega Crorepati', ultimately repaying his creditors.
In 2015, the stalwart and his son, Abhishek Bachchan jointly invested $2.5 lakh in Ziddu, a Singapore-based company.The award-winning actor also actively invests in stocks.
Meanwhile, son Abhishek owns the Pro-Kabbadi team, Jaipur Pink Panthers.
In Pic: Big B with family during his 70th birthday celebrations, held at Big studio in Mumbai on October 10, 2012.
Bachchan the businessman was among the most-difficult periods of the superstar’s life. His dream venture Amitabh Bachchan Corporation, set up in 1995, not just failed, but also brought down the actor..
