Amitabh started his career with Saat Hindustani (1969). Even though it could not be a big success, it did establish Amitabh as a main stream Hindi film hero, in the making.
Two major hit films of Amitabh that established him as a mainstream hero were Abhimaan and Zanjeer. Amitabh received a life-threatening injury while he was shooting for Coolie. At that time it was realized that Amitabh was such an important man, not just for the entertainment industry but for the whole nation. Millions of his fans thronged the hospital he was admitted to, as well as his home. They prayed fervently for his recovery.After this incident, he started making fewer films. His films could not be as huge a success as it was before and many critics claimed that the days of the angry young man were over.
In 1984, he made a stint in politics in collaboration with the Gandhi family. He contested Allahabad's parliament seat, and won. However, he resigned even before finishing his five year term. But the man with a die hard spirit never gave up. In 1995, Amitabh started the Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited, or ABCL. ABCL was supposed to be a Hollywood-style entertainment company. But the company ran into losses and finally he called back the venture.
He continued to make films in the 1980s and 1990s,but these films could not give him much success. Mrityudatta (1997) was a flop. Lal Badshah and Major Saab did generate some revenue. Then came Bade Miyan Chhote Miyan and Mohabbatein which were successful but no one believed the contribution of Big B. Critics said that the films were hit because of Govinda and shahrukh Khan respectively.
In 1999, in a BBC Online Poll, he was named the Superstar of the Millennium ahead of the likes of Alec Guinness and Marlon Brando. In June, 2000 he was honoured as the first living Asian to have his wax replica at Madame Tussaud's.The year 2000 indeed heralded a new era for Mr. Bachchan. He again came into limelight for the game show Kaun Banega Crorepati, somewhat similar to Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Amitabh was a self assured, calm and dignified host and made an instant connection with players who sat on the “hot seat”. His effervescent smile was his biggest asset. He captured the drawing rooms of millions of people from nine in the night to ten. No other show on no other channel could compete with him. This was the peak in his career, Amitabh the phoenix had risen from ashes and proved his worth.
Amitabh has appeared in many hit movies after that, most noticeably in Baghbaan, Veer-Zaara, and Black. His performance in Black as a drunk yet self assured benevolent teacher of a deaf, dumb and bling girl has won him the highest of praises. As an actor, it was a very difficult task and Amitabh did it perfectly well, completely flawless.
Amitabh Bachchan is married to co star and actress Jaya Bhaduri on June 3, 1973. Some of the films he did with Jaya are Zanjeer, Abhimaan, Sholay, Silsila, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham. he couple have two children, Abhishek and Shweta. Abhishek is an actor and Shweta is married and a proud mother of a child.The icon named Amitabh Bachchan continues to evolve and his magic will never elude us.
