Amitabh Bachchan: 40 Facts About the Shahenshah of Bollywood

Amitabh Bachchan is one of the most influential performers in Indian cinema. Known as the Shahenshah of Bollywood, the Angry Young Man and simply Big B, he has built a career across Hindi films, television, narration and public life. From his early struggle to find film roles to the enormous success of Zanjeer, Sholay and Deewaar, his journey spans generations of moviegoers.

This updated profile brings together 40 facts about Amitabh Bachchan, including his family background, education, landmark films, near-fatal accident, political career, awards and television comeback. Dates and career milestones have been checked against established biographical and film-industry sources.

Quick facts about Amitabh Bachchan

Full name: Amitabh Harivansh Bachchan
Date of birth: 11 October 1942
Birthplace: Allahabad, now Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh
Profession: Actor, television host, producer and narrator
Parents: Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Teji Bachchan
Wife: Jaya Bachchan
Children: Shweta Bachchan Nanda and Abhishek Bachchan
Film debut: Saat Hindustani (1969)
Breakthrough film: Zanjeer (1973)

40 interesting facts about Amitabh Bachchan

1. Amitabh Bachchan was born on 11 October 1942 in Allahabad, a city now known as Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh.
2. His father was the celebrated Hindi poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan.
3. His mother, Teji Bachchan, was known for her interest in theatre and social causes.
4. He has a younger brother named Ajitabh Bachchan.
5. His father’s literary pen name, Bachchan, became the family surname. The family’s original surname was Srivastava.
6. He was initially named Inquilaab, inspired by the phrase “Inquilab Zindabad”, before being given the name Amitabh.
7. The name Amitabh is commonly explained as meaning “the light that will never go out”.
8. He studied at Sherwood College in Nainital before attending Kirori Mal College at the University of Delhi.
9. He graduated from Kirori Mal College with a Bachelor of Science degree.
10. Before entering films, he worked in Kolkata, including a job with the shipping firm Bird & Company.
11. His first film appearance was in K. A. Abbas’s Saat Hindustani, released in 1969.
12. For his performance in Saat Hindustani, he received the National Film Award for Best Promising Actor.
13. He received wider recognition for playing Dr. Bhaskar Banerjee in Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Anand (1971), opposite Rajesh Khanna.
14. His performance in Anand won him the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor.
15. Zanjeer (1973) transformed his career and helped establish his screen image as the “Angry Young Man”.
16. Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar wrote several landmark roles that helped define his 1970s screen persona.
17. He married actress Jaya Bhaduri in June 1973, the year Zanjeer made him a major star.
18. Abhimaan (1973), featuring Amitabh and Jaya, remains one of the notable films from the early part of their marriage.
19. In 1975, he appeared in two influential films, Deewaar and Sholay.
20. In Sholay, he played Jai, one half of the memorable pair alongside Dharmendra’s Veeru.
21. He played the title role in the 1978 action thriller Don, portraying both the criminal Don and his lookalike Vijay.
22. Amar Akbar Anthony (1977) featured him as Anthony Gonsalves, in one of his best-known comic performances.
23. His filmography also includes popular dramas and comedies such as Chupke Chupke, Kabhi Kabhie, Trishul and Muqaddar Ka Sikandar.
24. In July 1982, he suffered a life-threatening abdominal injury while filming a fight sequence for Coolie.
25. The accident led to a nationwide outpouring of concern, with fans following news of his recovery closely.
26. He returned to complete Coolie, which was released in 1983. The film’s climax was changed after the accident.
27. He entered electoral politics in 1984 and won the Lok Sabha seat from Allahabad.
28. He resigned from Parliament in 1987 and subsequently stepped away from active politics.
29. In 1995, he established Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited (ABCL), a company that entered film production and entertainment-related businesses.
30. After a difficult period in his business and film career, he returned to major public prominence as the host of Kaun Banega Crorepati in 2000.
31. His role as Narayan Shankar in Mohabbatein (2000) marked an important phase in his successful return to films.
32. He received the National Film Award for Best Actor for Agneepath (1990), Black (2005), Paa (2009) and Piku (2015).
33. In Paa, he played Auro, a child living with a rare ageing condition, while his real-life son Abhishek played his on-screen father.
34. He appeared in the acclaimed film Black (2005), directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, as a teacher helping a deafblind student.
35. He received the Padma Shri in 1984, the Padma Bhushan in 2001 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2015.
36. He was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2018 for his contribution to Indian cinema.
37. The French government awarded him the Knight of the Legion of Honour in 2007.
38. He made an appearance in Baz Luhrmann’s Hollywood film The Great Gatsby (2013), starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
39. Beyond acting, his deep voice has made him a sought-after narrator for films, documentaries and special presentations.
40. His later film work includes titles such as Pink, Piku, Badla, Gulabo Sitabo, Jhund, Uunchai, Kalki 2898 AD and Vettaiyan.

Why Amitabh Bachchan remains a landmark figure in Indian cinema

Amitabh Bachchan’s career is notable not only for its longevity but also for the range of roles he has taken on. He became an emblem of the angry young hero in the 1970s, moved into comedy and family dramas, faced a major health crisis, entered politics, experienced business setbacks and later reinvented himself for a new generation through television and character-driven films.

His work in films such as Black, Paa, Piku and Pink showed audiences a performer willing to take on roles very different from the action heroes who first made him famous. His continued association with Kaun Banega Crorepati has also made him a familiar presence in Indian homes.

Frequently asked questions about Amitabh Bachchan

When was Amitabh Bachchan born?

Amitabh Bachchan was born on 11 October 1942 in Allahabad, now called Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.

What was Amitabh Bachchan’s first film?

His film debut was in Saat Hindustani (1969), directed by K. A. Abbas.

Which film made Amitabh Bachchan a star?

Zanjeer (1973) was the breakthrough that established his “Angry Young Man” image and made him a major Hindi-film star.

Who is Amitabh Bachchan’s wife?

He married actor Jaya Bhaduri, now known as Jaya Bachchan, in 1973.

How many children does Amitabh Bachchan have?

He has two children: daughter Shweta Bachchan Nanda and son Abhishek Bachchan.

Did Amitabh Bachchan work in politics?

Yes. He was elected to the Lok Sabha from Allahabad in 1984 and resigned from Parliament in 1987.

Which awards has Amitabh Bachchan received?

His honours include four National Film Awards for Best Actor, the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

Sources and further reading

• Directorate of Film Festivals: Amitabh Bachchan profile and honours
• The Economic Times: Amitabh Bachchan profile and career timeline
• NDTV: The One And Only Amitabh Bachchan at 80
• India Today: Life and times of Amitabh Bachchan

This article is an editorially updated overview of publicly documented career milestones. Film credits, awards and biographical details may be updated as new official information becomes available.