Amitabh Bachchan, 84, has a blunt take on success and why he doesn’t believe in others’ perceptions: ‘I don’t believe in that...’

“Rishte mein toh hum tumhare baap lagte hain, naam hai Shahenshah”. The Shahenshah of Bollywood, the tall and handsome man with baritone voice, who has been a crowd puller for decades, turns 84. As the OG Don turns a year older, fans have thronged outside his residence in Mumbair, extending their hearty wishes and singing his famous songs. Viral videos show a fan dressed in the Sholay actor’s style and singing “Main Hoon Don” along with others. It is not just his scripts, but his commanding on-screen presence and personality that has made him successful. But for the superstar, what does success mean?

The actor has spent decades belting out one iconic dialogues after another, entertaining audience with his versatility and earning titles that reflect his towering stature in the Indian cinema. But, when it comes to success, he has a completely different perspective on it that challenges the labels and acclaims associated with his name.

Amitabh Bachchan says success is ‘very transient, very momentary’

In an interview with Ei Samay, Amitabh Bachchan was asked what success meant to him. Speaking to Satarupa Basu, the actor described it as something fleeting rather than a permanent achievement. “Very transient, very momentary. You can't sit on it for long,” he said, explaining that circumstances keep changing and no two days are exactly alike.


Bachchan also pointed out that his understanding of success has evolved over the years. The person he was in the 1970s, 1980s or 1990s is no longer the same person he is today. For him, success cannot be measured against a single, universal standard because its meaning varies from one individual to another. “You may look at success in a way. I may look at it differently,” he told Ei Samay, adding that people may have entirely different parameters and may not necessarily agree with one another.

Why Amitabh Bachchan does not believe in the ‘Emperor’ tag

Despite his extraordinary longevity and influence in Indian cinema, Bachchan does not necessarily identify with the grand titles people use to describe him. When the conversation turned to epithets such as ‘Emperor’, the actor made it clear that he did not subscribe to that perception. “I don't believe in that. I think that's incorrect and not desirable at all,” he said.

Bachchan acknowledged that people are entitled to their own opinions about him. However, he does not feel the need to change their minds or accept their definitions of his achievements simply because they are widely held. “That is your perception and that is your mind and I don't want to change your mind,” he explained. Instead, the actor prefers to follow his own standards, rather than allowing public opinion to determine how he measures his life or career.

“I have my own parameters. And I like to live by that,” he said, summing up his personal approach to success.

Amitabh Bachchan continues to work through demanding schedules at 84

While Bachchan may regard success as temporary, his commitment to work remains evident. Even at 84, the veteran actor continues to juggle professional commitments, with his schedule sometimes leaving little room for rest. On his Tumblr blog, where he regularly connects with fans, Bachchan once apologised for missing blog updates because of the intensity of his work.

“The work hours and the intensity of work just did not give me time to get to connect,” he wrote, apologising to readers for the delay. Describing the demanding routine, he revealed that his workdays could stretch from 7 am to almost the same time the following morning, amounting to nearly 24 hours on the job. “Commitments are commitments and must have preference over any other,” Bachchan wrote, referring to the priority he gives professional obligations, even when it means putting aside sleep and meals.