Amitabh Bachchan
born Amitabh Harivansh Bachchan on 11 October 1942), is an Indian film actor. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the "angry young man" of Bollywood cinema, and has since become one of the most prominent figures in the history of Indian cinema.
Bachchan has won numerous major awards in his career, including three National Film Awards and thirteen Filmfare Awards. He holds the record for most number of Best Actor nominations at the Filmfare Awards. In addition to acting, Bachchan has worked as a playback singer, film producer and television presenter, and was an elected member of the Indian Parliament from 1984 to 1987.
Early life
Born in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, Amitabh Bachchan hails from a Hindu-Sikh family. His father, Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan was a well-known Hindi poet, while his mother, Teji Bachchan was a Sikh-Punjabi from Faisalabad (now in Pakistan). Bachchan was initially named Inquilaab, inspired from the famous phrase Inquilab Zindabad, during the Indian independence struggle, but was re-named Amitabh which means, "the light that would never go off." Though his surname was Shrivastava, his father had adopted the pen-name Bachchan, under which he published all his works. It is with this last name that Amitabh debuted in films, and, for all public purposes, it has become the surname of all members of his current family.
Amitabh is the eldest of Harivansh Rai Bachchan's two sons, the second being Ajitabh. His mother had a keen interest in theatre and had been offered a role in a film, but preferred her domestic duties. She had some degree of influence in Bachchan's choice of career because she always insisted that he should take the centre stage. He attended Allahabad's Jnana Prabodhini and Boys' High School (BHS), followed by Nainital's Sherwood College, where he majored in the art stream. He later went on to study at Kirori Mal College of the University of Delhi and completed a Bachelor of Science degree. In his twenties, Bachchan gave up a job as freight broker for the shipping firm, Bird and Co., based in Calcutta now known as Kolkata, to pursue a career in acting.
Family
See also: Jaya Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, and Aishwarya Rai
Bachchan is married to actress Jaya Bhaduri. They have two children, Shweta Nanda and Abhishek Bachchan. Abhishek is also an actor and is married to actress Aishwarya Rai.
Career
Early work: 1969–1972
Bachchan made his film debut in 1969 as one of the seven protagonists in Saat Hindustani, a film directed by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas and featuring Utpal Dutt, Madhu and Jalal Agha. Though the film was not a financial success, Bachchan won his first National Film Award for Best Newcomer.
The critically acclaimed and commercially successful Anand (1971) followed, where he starred alongside Rajesh Khanna. Bachchan's role as a doctor with a cynical view of life garned him a Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award. Amitabh then played the role of an infatuated lover in Parwaana (1971) opposite Navin Nischol, Yogeeta Bali and Om Prakash and was a rare instance of him portraying the villain. This was followed by several films which were not particularly successful at the box office including Reshma Aur Shera (1971). During this time, he made a guest appearance in the film Guddi which starred his future wife Jaya Bhaduri opposite Dharmendra. Noted for his deep baritone voice early on in his career, he narrated part of the film Bawarchi. In 1972, he made an appearance in the road action comedy Bombay to Goa, directed by S. Ramanathan. He starred alongside actors such as Aruna Irani, Mehmood, Anwar Ali and Nasir Hussain.
Rise to stardom: 1973–1983
1973 saw significant development in Bachchan's career when director Prakash Mehra cast him in the leading role for the film Zanjeer (1973) as Inspector Vijay Khanna. The film was a sharp contrast to the romantically themed films that had generally preceded it and established Amitabh in a new persona—the "angry young man" of Bollywood cinema, a reputation he was to acquire in pictures that followed it. It was his first film as the leading protagonist to achieve box office success and earned him a Filmfare Nomination for Best Actor. 1973 was also the year he married Jaya and around this time they appeared in several films together, not only in Zanjeer but in films such as Abhimaan which followed and was released only a month after their marriage. Later, Bachchan played the role of Vikram in the film Namak Haraam, a social drama directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee and scripted by Biresh Chatterjee addressing themes of friendship. His supporting role opposite Rajesh Khanna and Rekha was praised and won him the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award.
In 1974, Bachchan made several guest appearances in films such as Kunwara Baap and Dost, before playing a supporting role in the highest grossing film of that year, Roti Kapda Aur Makaan. The film, directed and written by Manoj Kumar, addressed themes of honesty in the face of oppression and financial and emotional hardship was a critical and commercial success, placing Amitabh opposite Kumar himself, Shashi Kapoor and Zeenat Aman. Bachchan then played the leading role in film Majboor, released on 6 December 1974, which was a remake of the Hollywood film Zigzag starring George Kennedy. The film was only a moderate success at the box office[6] In 1975, he starred in a variety of film genres from the comedy Chupke Chupke, the crime drama Faraar to the romantic drama Mili. However 1975 was the year when he appeared in two films which are regarded as important in Hindi cinematic history. He starred in the Yash Chopra directed film Deewar, opposite Shashi Kapoor, Nirupa Roy, and Neetu Singh, which earned him a Filmfare Nomination for Best Actor. The film became a major hit at the box office in 1975, ranking in at number 4. Indiatimes Movies ranks Deewaar amongst the Top 25 Must See Bollywood Films.[8] Released on 15 August 1975 was Sholay (meaning flames), which became the highest grossing film of all time in India, earning INR 2,36,45,00,000 equivalent to US$ 60 million, after adjusting for inflation.[9] Bachchan played the role of Jaidev opposite a cast which included some of the top names in the industry including Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Sanjeev Kumar, Jaya Bhaduri and Amjad Khan. In 1999, BBC India declared it the "Film of the Millennium" and like Deewar, has been cited by Indiatimes movies as amongst the Top 25 Must See Bollywood Films.[8] In that same year, the judges of the 50th annual Filmfare awards awarded it with the special distinction award called Filmfare Best Film of 50 Years.
After the success of films such as Sholay at the box office, Bachchan had now consolidated his position in the industry and from 1976 through to 1984 would receive an unprecedented number of Filmfare Best Actor Award Awards and nominations. Although films such as Sholay cemented his status as Bollywood's pre-eminent action hero, Bachchan illustrated that he was flexible in other roles, successfully playing comic timing in comedies such as Chupke Chupke (1975) and Amar Akbar Anthony (1977) and romantic lead in films such as Kabhie Kabhie (1976). In 1976, he was once again cast by director Yash Chopra in his second film, Kabhi Kabhie, a romantic tale in which Bachchan starred as a young poet named Amit Malhotra who falls deeply in love with a beautiful young girl named Pooja played by actress Rakhee Gulzar. The emotional eclectic of the dialogue and softness of the subject matter proved a direct contrast to some of Amitabh's earlier grittier action pictures and those he would later go on to play. The film saw him again nominated for the Filmfare Best Actor Award and was a box office success. In 1977, he won the Filmfare Best Actor Award for his performance in Amar Akbar Anthony where he played the third lead opposite Vinod Khanna and Rishi Kapoor as Anthony Gonsalves. 1978 was possibly the most accoladed year of his career and he starred in all four of the highest grossing films of India in that year. He once again resumed double roles in films such as Kasme Vaade as Amit and Shankar and Don playing the characters of Don, a leader of an underworld gang and his look alike Vijay. His performance won him the Filmfare Best Actor Award and considerable critical acclaim as with his performances in Trishul and Muqaddar Ka Sikander which both earned him further Filmfare Best Actor nominations. On account of this unprecedented run and success he encountered at this stage in his career, he was billed a "one-man industry" by the French director François Truffaut.
In 1979, for the first time, Amitabh was required to use his singing voice for the film Mr. Natwarlal in which he starred alongside Rekha. His performance in the film saw him nominated for both the Filmfare Best Actor Award and the Filmfare Best Male Playback Awards. In 1979, he also received Best Actor nomination for Kaala Patthar (1979) and then went on to be nominated again in 1980 for the Raj Khosla directed film Dostana, in which he starred opposite Shatrughan Sinha and Zeenat Aman. Dostana proved to be the top grossing film of 1980. In 1981, he starred in Yash Chopra's melodrama film Silsila, where he starred alongside his wife Jaya and rumoured lover Rekha. Other films of this period include Ram Balram (1980), Shaan (1980), Lawaaris (1981), and Shakti (1982) which pitted him against legendary actor Dilip Kumar.
1982 injury while filming Coolie
On 26 July 1982, while filming Coolie in the University Campus in Bangalore, Bachchan suffered a near fatal intestinal injury during the filming of a fight scene with co-actor Puneet Issar. Bachchan was performing his own stunts in the film and one scene required him to fall onto a table and then on the ground. However as he jumped towards the table, the corner of the table struck his abdomen, resulting in a splenic rupture from which he lost a significant amount of blood. He required an emergency splenectomy and remained critically ill in hospital for many months, at times close to death. The public response included prayers in temples and offers to sacrifice limbs to save him, while later, there were long queues of well-wishing fans outside the hospital where he was recuperating. Nevertheless, he spent many months recovering and resumed filming later that year after a long period of recuperation. The film was released in 1983, and partly due to the huge publicity of Bachchan's accident, the film was a box office success.
The director, Manmohan Desai, altered the ending of Coolie after Bachchan's accident. Bachchan's character was originally intended to have been killed off but after the change of script, the character lived in the end. It would have been inappropriate, said Desai, for the man who had just fended off death in real life to be killed on screen. Also, in the released film the footage of the fight scene is frozen at the critical moment, and a caption appears onscreen marking this as the instant of the actor's injury and the ensuing publicity of the accident.
Later, he was diagnosed with Myasthenia gravis. His illness made him feel weak both mentally and physically and he decided to quit films and venture into politics. At this time he became pessimistic, expressing concern with how a new film would be received. Before every release he would negatively state, "Yeh film to flop hogi!" ("This film will flop").
Politics: 1984–1987
In 1984, Bachchan took a break from acting and briefly entered politics in support of long-time family friend, Rajiv Gandhi. He contested Allahabad's seat of 8th Lok Sabha against H. N. Bahuguna, former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and won by the one of the highest victory margins in general election history (68.2% of the vote).[18] His political career, however, was short-lived: he resigned after three years, calling politics a cesspool. The resignation followed the implication of Bachchan and his brother in the "Bofors scandal" by a newspaper, which he vowed to take to court. Bachchan was eventually found not guilty of involvement in the ordeal.
His old friend, Amar Singh, helped him during a financial crisis due to the failure of his company ABCL. Therefore Bachchan started to support Amar Singh's political party, the Samajwadi party. Jaya Bachchan joined the Samajwadi Party and became a Rajya Sabha member. Bachchan has continued to do favors for the Samajwadi party, including advertisements and political campaigns. These activities have recently gotten him into trouble again in the Indian courts for false claims after a previous incident of submission of legal papers by him, stating that he is a farmer.
A 15 year press ban against Bachchan was imposed during his peak acting years by Stardust and some of the other film magazines. In his own defense, Bachchan claimed to have banned the press from entering his sets almost till the end of 1989.
Slump and retirement: 1988–1992
In 1988, Bachchan returned to films, playing the title role in Shahenshah, which was a box office success due to the hype of Bachchan's comeback. After the success of his comeback film however, his star power began to wane as all of his subsequent films failed at the box office. The 1991 hit film, Hum, looked like it might reverse this trend, but the momentum was short-lived as his string of box office failures continued. Notably, despite the lack of hits, it was during this period that Bachchan won his second National Film Award, for his performance as a Mafia don in the 1990 film Agneepath. These years would be the last he would be seen on screen for some time. After the release of Khuda Gawah in 1992, Bachchan went into semi-retirement for five years. In 1994, one of his delayed films Insaniyat was released but was also a box office failure.
Producer and acting comeback 1996–1999
Bachchan turned producer during his temporary retirement period, setting up Amitabh Bachchan Corporation, Ltd. (A.B.C.L.) in 1996, with the vision of becoming a 10 billion rupees (approx 250 million $US) premier entertainment company by the year 2000. ABCL's strategy was to introduce products and services covering the entire section of the India's entertainment industry. Its operations were mainstream commercial film production and distribution, audio cassettes and video discs, production and marketing of television software, celebrity and event management. Soon after the company was launched in 1996, the first film was produced by the company. Tere Mere Sapne failed to do well at the box office but launched the careers of actors such as Arshad Warsi and South films star Simran. ABCL produced a few other films, none of which did well.
In 1997, Bachchan attempted to make his acting comeback with the film Mrityudaata, produced by ABCL. Though Mrityudaata attempted to reprise Bachchan's earlier success as an action hero, the film was a failure both financially and critically. ABCL was the main sponsor of the The 1996 Miss World beauty pageant, Bangalore but lost millions. The fiasco and the consequent legal battles surrounding ABCL and various entities after the event, coupled with the fact that ABCL was reported to have overpaid most of its top level managers, eventually led to its financial and operational collapse in 1997. The company went into administration and was later declared a failed company by Indian Industries board. The Bombay high court, in April 1999, restrained Bachchan from selling off his Bombay bungalow 'Prateeksha' and two flats till the pending loan recovery cases of Canara Bank were disposed of. Bachchan had, however, pleaded that he had mortgaged his bungalow to Sahara India Finance for raising funds for his company.
Bachchan attempted to revive his acting career and had average success with Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998), and received positive reviews for Sooryavansham (1999)[26] but other films such as Lal Baadshah (1999) and Hindustan Ki Kasam (1999) were box office failures.
Television career
In the year 2000, Bachchan stepped up to host India's adaptation of the British television game show, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? entitled, Kaun Banega Crorepati. As it did in most other countries where it was adopted, the program found immediate success. Canara Bank withdrew its law suit against Bachchan in November 2000. Bachchan hosted KBC till November 2005, and its success set the stage for his return to film popularity. In 2009 Oscar winning movie Slumdog Millionaire in the first question of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? contest "Amitabh Bachchan" was the correct answer to the question "Who was the star of Zanjeer? Feroz Abbas Khan performed as Amitabh Bachchan in a scene in the movie while Anil Kapoor performed as the host of the contest. Amitabh Bachchan is hosting Bigg Boss 3.[27]
Return to prominence: 2000–present
In 2000, Amitabh Bachchan appeared in Yash Chopra's box-office hit, Mohabbatein, directed by Aditya Chopra. He played a stern, older figure that rivalled the character of Shahrukh Khan. Other hits followed, with Bachchan appearing as an older family patriarch in Ek Rishtaa: The Bond of Love (2001), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) and Baghban (2003). As an actor, he continued to perform in a range of characters, receiving critical praise for his performances in Aks (2001), Aankhen (2002), Khakee (2004) and Dev (2004). One project that did particularly well for Bachchan was Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Black (2005). The film starred Bachchan as an aging teacher of a deaf-blind girl and followed their relationship. His performance was unanimously praised by critics and audiences and won him his fourth Filmfare Best Actor Award and second National Film Award for Best Actor. Taking advantage of this resurgence, Amitabh began endorsing a variety of products and services, appearing in many television and billboard advertisements. In 2005 and 2006, he starred with his son Abhishek in the hit films Bunty Aur Babli (2005), the Godfather tribute Sarkar (2005), and Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna (2006). All of them were successful at the box office.[28][29] His later releases in 2006 and early 2007 were Baabul (2006), Eklavya and Nishabd (2007), which failed to do well at the box office but his performances in each of them were praised by critics.
In May 2007, two of his films Cheeni Kum and the multi-starrer Shootout at Lokhandwala were released. Shootout at Lokhandwala did very well at the box office and was declared a hit in India, while Cheeni Kum picked up after a slow start and was declared an overall average hit.[32] A remake of his biggest hit, Sholay (1975), entitled Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag, released in August of that same year and proved to be a major commercial failure in addition to its poor critical reception.[32] The year also marked Bachchan's first appearance in an English-language film, Rituparno Ghosh's The Last Lear. The film premiered at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival on 9 September 2007. He received positive reviews from critics who hailed his performance as his best ever since Black. Bachchan was slated to play a supporting role in his first international film, Shantaram, directed by Mira Nair and starring Hollywood actor Johnny Depp in the lead. The film was due to begin filming in February 2008 but due to the writer's strike, was pushed to September 2008. The film is currently "shelved" indefinitely. Vivek Sharma's Bhoothnath, in which he plays the title role as a ghost, was released on 9 May 2008. Sarkar Raj, the sequel of the 2005 film Sarkar, released in June 2008 and received a positive response at the box-office. His latest movie was Paa, which released at the end of 2009. Paa was a highly anticipated project as it saw him playing his own son Abhishek's Progeria-affected 13-year-old son, and it opened to favourable reviews, particularly towards Bachchan's performance.
Health
2005 hospitalisation
In November 2005, Amitabh Bachchan was admitted to Lilavati Hospital's ICU once more, to undergo surgery for diverticulitis of the small intestine. This occurred after Bachchan complained of pains in his abdomen some days prior. During the period and that following his recovery, most of his projects were put on hold, including the television show he was in the process of hosting, Kaun Banega Crorepati. Amitabh returned to work in March 2006.
Voice
Bachchan is known for his deep, baritone voice. He has been a narrator, a playback singer and presenter for numerous programmes. Renowned film director Satyajit Ray was so impressed with Bachchan's voice, that he decided to use his voice as commentary in Shatranj Ke Khiladi since he could not find a suitable role for him.[38] Before entering the film industry, Bachchan applied for an announcer's job with All India Radio, although he was rejected.
Controversies and criticism
Barabanki land case
In the runup to the Uttar Pradesh state assembly elections, 2007, Bachchan made a film extolling the virtues of the Mulayam Singh government. His Samajwadi Party was routed, and Mayawati came to power.
On 2 June 2007 a Faizabad court ruled that he had legally acquired agricultural land designated specifically for landless Dalit farmers. It was speculated that he might be investigated on related charges of forgery, as he has allegedly claimed he was a farmer. On 19 July 2007, after the scandal broke out, Bachchan surrendered the land acquired in Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh and Pune. He wrote to the chief minister of Maharashtra, Vilasrao Deshmukh, to donate the lands that were allegedly acquired illegally in Pune. However, the Lucknow Court has put a stay on the land donation and said that the status quo on the land be maintained.
On 12 October 2007, Bachchan abandoned his claim in respect of the land at Daulatpur village in Barabanki district. On 11 December 2007, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court gave a clean chit to Bachchan in a case pertaining to alleged fraudulent allotment of government land to him in Barabanki district. A single Lucknow bench of Justice said there was no finding that the actor "himself committed any fraud or manipulated any surreptitious entry in the revenue records".
After receiving a positive verdict in Barabanki case, Amitabh Bachchan intimated to Maharashtra government that he did not wish to surrender his land in Maval tehsil of Pune district.
Raj Thackeray's criticism
Main article: 2008 attacks on North Indians in Maharashtra
Bachchan featured on an advert in shopping mall in IndiaIn January 2008 at political rallies, Raj Thackeray, the chief of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, targeted Amitabh Bachchan, asserting that the actor was "more inclined" towards his native state than Maharashtra. He expressed his disapproval of Amitabh's inaugurating a girls' school named after his daughter-in-law, actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, at Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh, rather than in Maharashtra. According to media reports, Raj's censure of Amitabh, whom he admires, stemmed out of his disappointment of not being invited to Amitabh's son Abhishek's marriage to Aishwarya, despite invitations to his estranged uncle Bal and cousin Uddhav.
Responding to Raj's accusations, the actor's wife, SP MP Jaya Bachchan, said that the Bachchans were willing to start a school in Mumbai, provided the MNS leader donated the land to build it. She told the media, "I heard that Raj Thackeray owns huge properties in Maharashtra, in Mumbai—Kohinoor Mills. If he is willing to donate land, we can start a school in the name of Aishwarya here." However, Amitabh abstained from commenting on the issue.
Bal Thackeray refuted the allegations, stating, "Amitabh Bachchan is an open-minded person, he has great love for Maharashtra, and this is evident on many occasions. The actor has often said that Maharashtra and specially Mumbai has given him great fame and affection. He has also said that what he is today is because of the love people have given him. The people of Mumbai have always acknowledged him as an artiste. It was utter foolishness to make these parochial allegations against him. Amitabh is a global superstar. People all over the world respect him. This cannot be forgotten by anyone. Amitabh should ignore these silly accusations and concentrate on his acting."
On 23 March 2008, more than a month and half after Raj's remarks, Amitabh finally spoke out in an interview to a local tabloid saying, "Random charges are random; they do not deserve the kind of attention you wish me to give." Later, on 28 March at a press conference for the International Indian Film Academy, when asked what his take was on the anti-migrant issue, Amitabh said that it is one's fundamental right to live anywhere in the country and the constitution entitles so. He also stated that he was not affected by Raj's comments.
Awards, honours and recognitions
National Film Awards
Winner
1970 – Best Newcomer for Saat Hindustani
1991 – National Film Award for Best Actor for Agneepath
2006 – National Film Award for Best Actor for Black.
Filmfare Awards
Winner
1971 – Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Anand
1973 – Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Namak Haraam
1977 – Filmfare Best Actor Award for Amar Akbar Anthony
1978 – Filmfare Best Actor Award for Don
1990 – Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (First Recipient)
1991 – Filmfare Best Actor Award for Hum
2000 – Superstar of the Millennium .
2000 – Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Mohabbatein
2001 – Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance for Aks
2003 – Filmfare Power Award
2005 – Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance for Black
2005 – Filmfare Best Actor Award for Black
2010 – Filmfare Best Actor Award for Paa
Nominated
Bachchan has been nominated as Filmfare Best Actor twenty-nine times (a record) and as Filmfare Best Supporting Actor nine times (also a record). He has also been nominated for Best Playback singer once.
International Indian Film Academy Awards
Winner
2000 – IIFA Special Honorary Award
2001 – IIFA Best Supporting Actor Award for Mohabbatein
2002 – IIFA Personality of the Year
2006 – IIFA Wall of Fame'.
2006 – IIFA Best Actor Award for Black
2010 – IIFA Best Actor Award for Paa
Star Screen Awards
Winner
2003 – Star Screen Award Jodi No. 1 along with Hema Malini for Baghban
2003 – Distinction In Acting Award for Baghban
2004 – Most Outstanding Personality
2005 – Star Screen Award Best Actor for Black
2007 – Star Screen Award for Best Actor (Critics) for Cheeni Kum
2010 – Star Screen Award Best Actor for Paa
2010 – Star Screen Award Jodi No. 1 along with Abhishek Bachchan for Paa
Stardust Awards
Winner
2000 – Best Artist of the Millennium by Hero Honda and file Stardust (magazine)
2003 – Stardust Award for Lifetime Achievement
2004 – Special Award for the film Baghban
2005 – Special Award for the film Black
2006 – Stardust Star of the Year Award - Male for Black
2009 – Stardust Best Actor Award for The Last Lear
2010 – Stardust Star of the Year Award - Male for Paa
Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards
Winner
1971 – Best Actor in Supporting Role for Anand
1975 – Best Actor for Mili
2003 – Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award
2005 – Best Actor for Black
Zee Cine Awards
Winner
2003 – Zee Cine Award for Lifetime Achievement
2004 – Golden Grade Award
2006 – Zee Cine Award Best Actor- Male for Black
Bollywood Movie Awards
Winner
2001 – Bollywood Movie Award - Critics Award Male for Mohabbatein
2003 – Bollywood Movie Award - Most Sensational Actor for Kaante
2006 – Bollywood Movie Award - Best Actor for Black
Other Awards
Winner
1970 – "Saraswati Award" for Anand
1989 – Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rotary Club of Bombay (Mumbai).
1997 – "Distinguished Alumni " award at the inaugural function of the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Capital's largest Central University.
2000 – All-India Critics Association (AICA): Best Actor Award for Sooryavansham.
2000 – Sansui Viewers Choice Awards: Best Supporting Actor for Mohabbatein.
2000 – Bollywood People's Choice Awards: Best Supporting Actor for Mohabbatein.
2001 – Zee Gold Awards: Critics Award for Best Male for Mohabbatein.
2002 – “Icon of the Millennium” award at the 32nd Rupa AIFA Awards at Bandra.
2002 – Lifetime Achievement Award by the Sansui Viewers' Choice Movie Awards.
2003 – MTV Lycra Awards: Maha Style Icon of the Year (First Recipient)
2003 – "Bollywood's Lifetime Achievement Award" by the London-based Asian Guild.
2003 – Lifetime Achievement Award at the Sangeet Shiromani Award.
2004 – "Radio Voice of the Year" award.
2004 – Sansui Viewer's Choice Movie Awards: Personality of the Year
2004 – Sports World's "Jodi of the Year" along with Hema Malini for Baghban.
2006 – Bollyvista Film Awards: Best Actor for Black.
2006 – Bollywood People's Choice Awards: Best Actor for Black.
2006 – Apsara Awards: Best Actor for Black.
2006 – Rediff Movie Awards: Best Actor for Black.
2006 – Lifetime Achievement Award at AXN Action Awards.
2007 – Special Award for his contribution to Indian cinema at the 9th Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image International Film.
2009 – Lifetime Achievement Award at Gentleman Quarterly magazine's "Men of the Year" Award. [42]
2009 – Lifetime Achievement Award for completing 40 years in the entertainment industry at the 11th Mumbai Academy of Moving Images (MAMI).
2010 – Lifetime Achievement Award at the Apsara Awards.
2010 – Lines Gold Award: Best Actor for Paa.
2010 – 'FICCI Frames 2010' Excellence Awards: Best Actor for Paa.
Television Awards
Winner
2000 – Screen Videocon Awards: Best Anchor Award for Kaun Banega Crorepati.
2001 – Indian Telly Awards: "TV Personality of the Year" for Kaun Banega Crorepati.
2001 – Hero Honda-Indian Television Academy Awards: Best Anchor-game quiz for Kaun Banega Crorepati.
2001 – Hero Honda-Indian Television Academy Awards: Best Host for Kaun Banega Crorepati.
2002 – Indiantelevision: Best Television Anchor Award for Kaun Banega Crorepati.
2002 – Indian Telly Awards: TV Anchor of the Year for Kaun Banega Crorepati.
2005 – Indian Telly Awards: Best Anchor Award for Kaun Banega Crorepati2.
2007 – Indian Television Academy (ITA) Award for achieving the “Ultimate eminence in the world of entertainment”
National honours
1980 – Awadh Samman by the Government of Uttar Pradesh.
1984 – Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honour from the Government of India.
1995 – "Yash Bharati Samman", UP state's highest civilian honour from the Government of Uttar Pradesh.
2001 – Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian honour from the Government of India.
2002 – "Dayawati Modi" award. This award is among the highest awards in India in the field of Art, Culture and Education.
2002 – Kishore Kumar award by the Government of Madhya Pradesh for excellence in acting and his unparalleled contribution to the film industry.
2002 – Raj Kapoor award by the Government of Maharashtra for outstanding contribution to the Indian cinema.
2004 – Honorary Doctorate by the Jhansi University.
2004 – "Living Legend" Award by the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in recognition of his contribution to the Indian entertainment industry.
2005 – Deenanath Mangeshkar award for his contribution to films and music.
2006 – Honorary Doctorate Degree on by his Alma Mater Delhi University.
2009 – IIFA-FICCI Frames, "Most Powerful Entertainer of the Decade Award" for his contribution to Indian cinema.
International honours and recognitions
In July 1999, Amitabh Bachchan was named the Greatest Star of the Millennium by BBC online poll where he defeated many Hollywood legends such as Alec Guinness, Marlon Brando, Laurence Olivier and Charlie Chaplin.
In June 2000, he became the first living Asian to have been immortalised in wax at London's prestigious Madame Tussauds wax museum.
He was conferred with a special commendation by the Government of South Africa for his continued support for and his special affinity for the people of South Africa.
In March 2001, he was ranked as the "Most powerful actor in Bollywood" by the American publishing and media company Forbes.
On September 10, 2001 he was awarded the Star of the Century award at the Alexandria International Film Festival. Egyptian Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni presented Bachchan with the award in recognition of his contribution to international cinema.
On March 14, 2003, he was conferred with the honorary citizenship of the French town of Deauville at the fifth edition of the Asian film festival. An honour earlier bestowed on only two people, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and the Soviet space hero, Yuri Gagarin. Bachchan also launched a retrospective of his films.
In 2003, he has been named goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
In 2003, he was honoured at the Hong Kong International Film Festival.
In October 2003, he was honoured at the Marrakech International Film Festival.
In October 2003, TIME magazine dubbed Bachchan as "the undisputed Godfather of Bollywood". He was also featured in its list of Bollywood's Brightest Stars.
In December 2004, he became the first Asian and only the fifth ambassador for the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
In April 2005, The Walter Reade Theater of Lincoln Centre in New York honoured Amitabh Bachchan with a special tribute, retrospective—titled "Amitabh Bachchan: The Biggest Film Star in the World". The tribute also included "An Evening with Amitabh Bachchan", a live appearance by Bachchan hosted at the Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall.
In September 2005, The Tropentheatre in Amsterdam honoured Bachchan with a special tribute. The tribute also included a live appearance and an interview with Amitabh Bachchan.
In 2005, he has lent his voice to the Oscar-winning French documentary March of the Penguins, directed by Luc Jacquet.
British newspaper The Sunday Times has described Bachchan as "Tom Cruise, Sean Connery and Clint Eastwood rolled into one. Certainly there is no British actor alive who shares his fame" the British newspaper said on December 4, 2006.
He is the only Asian to feature on the BBC's chat-show, Wogan.
He was given an honorary degree of Doctor of Arts by De Montfort University in Leicester, UK on July 19, 2006 in recognition of his distinguished career in films. He is the first Indian star to be feted by a foreign university.
He was honoured along with actors and directors from Hollywood at an International Film Festival in Rabat, Morocco.
He has become the first Indian celebrity and the sixth in the world to be presented with a special certificate for his support to the International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFI) in London.
On January 27, 2007 he has been awarded France's highest civilian honour, the Knight of the Legion of Honour for his "exceptional career in the world of cinema and beyond". Describing Bachchan as a "towering Indian personality" and the "number-one actor of Indian cinema", Ambassador Girard said the award "brings Bachchan into the international legion of world's greatest artistes".
An unauthorised biography of Bachchan was released in the British capital by the English author who described the Bollywood mega superstar as the "Uber-God" of Indian cinema. He is India's "Most legendary Film Star" – a cross between Clint Eastwood, Al Pacino, Elvis Presley and with more than a hint of John Travolta," Jessica wrote in the book, her maiden venture.
On June 9, 2007 he was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate in Art by Chancellor of the University Brandan Foster by the Leeds Metropolitan University in Yorkshire
In the weekend of June 16 and 17 June 2007, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) hosts a Bachchan spectacular retrospective to honour Bachchan's stellar career. The Chairman of BAFTA ended the event by announcing Bachchan as an honorary Life-Time member of BAFTA.
On November 22, 2007 he was honoured by the London Mayor Ken Livingstone with "The Visit London Special Award for Outstanding Achievement" for his contribution to Indian cinema in the last 30 years.
On 15 January 2009, Le Salon du Cinema (Cinema Fair) in Paris paid tribute to Indian Cinema for their new edition, with Bachchan being the guest of honour. He also launched a retrospective of his films
On 31 January 2009, he was honoured with the World Economic Forum's Crystal Award at Davos for his contribution to the world of art.
In 2009, the Tehran Film Festival has invited Bachchan to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.
In May 2009, a life-like wax figure of Bachchan has been unveiled at the newly launched 'Bollywood Zone' in Madame Tussauds at Times Square in New York.
In May 2009, Queensland University of Technology in Australia had offered an Honorary Doctorate to Bachchan for his contribution to the world of entertainment, but he turns down the honour as mark of protest to racial attacks on Indian students.
In August 2009, Bachchan's wax image will take his place at the "World Famous Home of the Famous" Madame Tussauds, Hong Kong.
In December 2009, he was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Dubai International Film Festival for his outstanding contribution to cinema.
In December 2009, he was honoured with the 8th Asian Film Cultural Award for his contribution to cinema for 40 years.
In March 2010, he has been named the list of CNN's "top 25 Asian actors of all time".
On 25 March, he was honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award during the 4th Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong.
In March 2010, he will be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Muscat International Film Festival for his outstanding contribution to cinema.
Other recognitions
2003 – FPFAC 'Achiever' Awards: "Achiever of the Year" award.
2005 – Ranked as the "Most popular Star in India" by the Hansa Research's new syndicated study, Celebrity Track.
2005 – “Diamond of India” award by The International Gemological Institute (IGI).
2007 – "Forever Indian" award by the Diamond Trading Company. He is the first Indian to receive this award.
2008 – FILM CRITIC and columnist, Anil Dharkar’s latest book on top 20 Indian icons features Bachchan amongst India’s top 20 iconic people.
2009 – Ranked as the "Most Influential Personality in India" by the Percept Talent Management (PTM) and Hansa Research, Celebrity Track.
2009 – He was among the "Top 5 Most Influential Indians of the Decade".
2010 – He was presented "Icon of 21 years of Entertainment Award" at NDTV awards
2010 – He has been presented "Taj Enlighten Tareef Award" for his contribution to world cinema by Brooke Bond Taj Mahal, India’s leading tea blend.
Polls
2002 – Voted the "Hottest Male Vegetarian" by 'People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' (PETA).
2003 – Voted the "Greatest Actor" in the film personalities category in the Best of India poll conducted by Zee News.
2003 – Voted the "Hottest Vegetarian Alive" by 'People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' (PETA) for second year in a row.
2004 – Voted the "Hottest Male Vegetarian" by 'People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' (PETA) for three years running.
2005 – Voted NDTV’s Urban "Indian of the Year" through a nationwide poll.
2006 – Voted "Indian of the Year" in a leading newspaper.
2006 – Voted "Entertainer of the Year"
2006 – Voted "Real Star of Stars" by reader's choice.
2008 – Voted "Asia's Sexiest Vegetarian man"
