Amitabh Bachchan is one name that really needs no introduction. He is a part of the very fabric of our lives and culture. This star was born on 11 October 1942 in Allahabad. His father was the late poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan of “Madhushala” fame and his mother was Teji Bachchan. He is undoubtedly the greatest and the most influential actors in the Indian Film Industry. He was at such a height in his career during the 1970s and 1980s that the French director Francois Truffaut, referred to him as a ‘one man industry’.

Initial days
Good old Big B was initially named ‘Inquilab’ which means ‘long lives revolution’ when he was born. It was inspired from the Indian independence struggle, but then a poet friend of his father ‘Sumitra Nandan Pant’ suggested the name ‘Amitabh’ which meant ‘the light that never goes off’. Amitabh did his schooling from the Sherwood College Boarding school in Nainital and then enrolled in Kirori Mal College in Delhi University and earned a double MA. His mother was a theater lover and was even offered a role in a film but she chose to stick to the role of a homemaker. It is said that it was her influence that decided Amithabh’s career choice.

Career Accomplishments
Amitabh’s entry into the film world began in 1969 when he lent his voice to Mrinal Sen’s National Award winning film ‘Bhuvan Shom’. He then got a role in Khwaja Ahmad Abbas’s movie ‘Saat Hindustani’. The film was no big hit but it brought Amitabh his first National Film Award for Best Newcomer. This was the beginning of a long and illustrious career. He soon got Best Supporting actor award in 1971 for his portrayal of a cynical doctor alongside the then superstar Rajesh Khanna in the much acclaimed movie ‘Anand’. Yet, his walk on the road to fame started only with ‘Zanjeer’ which was a super hit. This movie also brought him the tag of an ‘angry young man’. Though the fact remains that he has done all types of roles and been liked by the audiences, each time. In Kabhi Kabhi he was a sensitive poet; in Chupke Chupke he was a comedian; in Mukaddar ka Sikander he was a dying lover and a decent professor in Kasme Vade. He never stopped and the hits kept coming – Deewar, Shloay, Shehanshah, Sharabi, Don, Namak Haram, Amar Akbar Anthony…there is really no quick end to the list of memorable movies that Amitabh created.

Fun Facts
Amitabh has been known to be very close to late Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and her son Rajiv Gandhi. He himself won an election from his hometown Allahabad with a huge majority. It is another thing that his political career did not last long as he was implicated in the Bofors Gun Deal scandal; along with Rajiv Gandhi and Hinduja brothers. Before he became an actor; he was a radio announcer and freight company executive in Kolkata, India. He was badly injured during the filming of his super hit movie ‘Coolie’ and the entire nation prayed for him to get well.

Brand and Cause Affiliations
Amitabh has had very few controversies in his life and is the role model of many Indians. This makes him very desirable and popular for the big corporate companies. He recently took the role of the brand ambassador of the famous biscuit company Parle G. He has been actively involved in the cause of the ‘Girl child and ‘Save the Tiger’.  The whole family works for these and many other causes and donates for them as well. He has recently accepted Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s offer to be a brand ambassador for Gujarat state.

Friends, Family and Hobbies
Amitabh Bachchan comes across as a family man. His famous poet father had died in 20003 at the age of 95 and his mother Teji Bachchan followed soon after in 2007. He is the elder brother and has a younger brother called Ajitabh who lives in Switzerland. Amitabh married the heroine of his very first hit movie Zanjeer – Jaya Bhaduri and they have two children Shweta Nanda and actor Abhishek Bachchan who is married to the actress Aishwarya Rai. Amitabh is now a grand dad to Abhishek and Aishwarya’s little daughter ‘Aaradhya’.