Happy Birthday Amitabh Bachchan
On this day, October 11, the world celebrates the birthday of a man who needs no introduction — #AmitabhBachchan. Born as Amitabh Shrivastav in 1942, he’s more than just a Bollywood legend; he’s a force that has shaped Indian cinema for over five decades.
Hailing from Allahabad (now Prayagraj), the son of the celebrated poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan and social activist Teji Bachchan, Amitabh’s journey was destined for greatness. After studying in Sherwood College, Nainital, and Kirori Mal College in Delhi, he began his career in 1969 with a voiceover in Bhuvan Shome. Little did anyone know that this voice would soon become one of the most iconic in Indian cinema.
By the 1970s, with films like Anand, Zanjeer, and Sholay, he became the face of the “angry young man” of India. From there, the list of legendary movies only grew — Amar Akbar Anthony, Don, Shakti — each performance cementing his title as the “Shahenshah of Bollywood.” His cinematic reign in the ’70s and ’80s was so commanding that French filmmaker François Truffaut once referred to him as a “one-man industry.”
But Amitabh’s story isn’t one of easy triumphs. After a brief break in the 1990s, he made a stellar comeback in the 2000s with roles in Mohabbatein, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, and Piku, for which he won his record fourth National Film Award for Best Actor. His international appeal also soared with appearances in films like The Great Gatsby (2013).
His list of accolades is as long as his filmography — four National Film Awards, sixteen Filmfare Awards, and the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award. The Indian government has honored him with the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan. Even France bestowed upon him its highest civilian award, the Knight of the Legion of Honour.
Not just an actor, Amitabh has dabbled in politics, produced films, sung playback, and hosted numerous seasons of Kaun Banega Crorepati, India’s beloved quiz show. His impact goes far beyond Indian shores, with fans across Africa, the Middle East, and the UK. In 1999, a BBC poll named him the “greatest star of stage or screen,” and TIME magazine dubbed him the “Star of the Millennium.”
As we wish the Shahenshah a very happy birthday today, let’s take a moment to reflect on his incredible journey. What are your favorite Amitabh Bachchan movies?
