Amitabh Bachchan Biography: Bollywood’s Eternal Superstar
Amitabh Bachchan is an Indian actor widely regarded as one of the greatest figures in the history of Hindi cinema. Born on October 11, 1942, in Allahabad (now Prayagraj), he has acted in more than 200 films across a career spanning over five decades, earning four National Film Awards, sixteen Filmfare Awards, and India’s highest civilian honours — the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan. He turned 84 on October 11, 2026, and remains active as the host of Kaun Banega Crorepati.
Quick facts
- Full name: Amitabh Harivansh Bachchan
- Born: October 11, 1942, Allahabad, United Provinces, British India (now Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India)
- Nationality: Indian
- Occupation: Actor, producer, television host, playback singer
- Known for: “Angry Young Man” era of Hindi cinema; Sholay, Deewaar, Black, Paa; host of Kaun Banega Crorepati
- Spouse: Jaya Bhaduri (married 1973)
- Children: Abhishek Bachchan, Shweta Bachchan Nanda (publicly known)
Early life & background
Amitabh Bachchan was born to celebrated Hindi poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan and social activist Teji Bachchan on October 11, 1942, in Allahabad (Wikipedia, Britannica). His parents first intended to name him Inquilaab (Hindustani for “revolution”), inspired by the independence-era slogan Inquilab Zindabad; the name Amitabh was suggested by poet Sumitranandan Pant. The family surname was Srivastava, but his father — who opposed the caste system — wrote under the pen name “Bachchan” and gave it to the family as their surname.
He was educated at Sherwood College in Nainital and earned a B.Sc. from Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi. Before entering films, he worked in Kolkata for a shipping company. He has a younger brother, Ajitabh.
Career
The debut and breakthrough. Bachchan made his acting debut in Saat Hindustani (1969) after early work narrating films, including the award-winning Bhuvan Shome. His breakthrough arrived with Zanjeer (1973), in which he played the police inspector Vijay — a role several established stars had turned down. It made him the screen’s “Angry Young Man,” channeling the frustrations of 1970s India into a brooding, righteous hero (Takemeback.to, Jagran Josh).
Superstardom. The mid-1970s delivered the films that define his legend: Deewaar and Sholay (both 1975), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Trishul and Don (1978), Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978). At his peak he was sometimes described as a one-man industry, carrying dozens of releases and setting box-office benchmarks that lasted decades.
The Coolie accident. In 1982, Bachchan suffered a near-fatal intestinal injury while filming a fight scene for Coolie. The nation held its breath as he battled through recovery; the incident became a defining public moment of his life and career.
Politics. A close friend of the Gandhi family, he won the Allahabad Lok Sabha seat on a Congress ticket in 1984, defeating the incumbent by a then-record margin. He resigned mid-term in 1987 after his name surfaced in the Bofors controversy; he was later cleared.
The fall and the comeback. In 1995–96 he founded Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Ltd. (ABCL), which produced films, staged the Miss World pageant in Bangalore, and then collapsed under debt reported at over ₹90 crore, with dozens of legal cases. A series of film flops followed. Written off by critics, he engineered one of Indian cinema’s great comebacks by moving to television: Kaun Banega Crorepati, which he began hosting in 2000, brought him into living rooms across the nation and rebuilt both his finances and his image. A new wave of acclaimed performances followed — Black (2005), Sarkar, Paa (2009), Piku (2015), Pink (2016).
Hollywood and now. He made his Hollywood debut as Meyer Wolfsheim in The Great Gatsby (2013). As of October 2026, he continues to host Kaun Banega Crorepati (season 18) and is set to reprise Ashwatthama in the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD (Filmfare).
Major achievements
- Four National Film Awards, including the Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2019)
- Sixteen Filmfare Awards
- Padma Shri (1984), Padma Bhushan (2001), Padma Vibhushan (2015)
- France’s Knight of the Legion of Honour (2007)
- More than 200 films across 57+ years in cinema
Personal life
Bachchan married actress Jaya Bhaduri in 1973. They have two children: Shweta Bachchan Nanda and actor Abhishek Bachchan, who is married to actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan; their daughter is Aaradhya. The family lives at Jalsa in Juhu, Mumbai, where Bachchan maintains his famous Sunday tradition of greeting fans outside the residence — a ritual he has kept for over 40 years (LatestLY/ANI).
Net worth snapshot
Amitabh Bachchan’s wealth is among the most documented in Indian entertainment. The M3M Hurun India Rich List 2026 placed him and his family at ₹4,000 crore (roughly US$450 million), built through film earnings, television, brand endorsements, family-office investments, and real estate — with the prior year’s edition valuing the family at ₹1,630 crore. Read the full breakdown of Amitabh Bachchan’s net worth, including how the money breaks down and how the estimates are calculated.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Amitabh Bachchan?
He was born on October 11, 1942, so he turned 84 on October 11, 2026. His 84th birthday was marked by greetings from across Bollywood and his traditional Sunday darshan outside Jalsa (Filmfare).
Why is Amitabh Bachchan called Big B?
“Big B” is an affectionate nickname that emerged during his years of dominance in the 1970s and 80s, when he was widely seen as the biggest star in Hindi cinema. He is also known as Bollywood’s “Shahenshah” (emperor) and “Angry Young Man.”
What was Amitabh Bachchan’s first movie?
His acting debut was Saat Hindustani (1969), though his breakthrough — the role that made him a star — was Zanjeer (1973).
Is Amitabh Bachchan still acting?
Yes. He continues to host Kaun Banega Crorepati (currently in its 18th season) and has upcoming film commitments, including the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD alongside Prabhas and Kamal Haasan (tob.news/NDTV).
What is Amitabh Bachchan’s most famous movie?
Sholay (1975) is arguably his most iconic film and one of the most beloved Indian films ever made, though Deewaar, Zanjeer, Don, Black, and Paa are also landmark performances.