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Amitabh Bachchan Biography

Amitabh Bachchan is an Indian actor and television host born in Allahabad, now Prayagraj, to poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Teji Bachchan. His education at Sherwood College in Nainital and Kirori Mal College in Delhi preceded work in Calcutta, where he also acted with the amateur theatre group CATS. He moved into cinema as a narrator in Bhuvan Shome and an actor in Saat Hindustani. Anand gave him an early breakthrough opposite Rajesh Khanna; Zanjeer, Deewaar and Sholay established the forceful screen persona associated with the angry young man. His range also included the musical comedy Amar Akbar Anthony, the double role in Don, the romantic ensemble Kabhi Kabhie, and the father–son conflict of Shakti. Agneepath, Hum and Khuda Gawah carried his leading work into the next decade. He briefly served as an elected member of Parliament before returning his attention to entertainment. Financial difficulties around his company ABCL and an uneven film comeback preceded a renewed career. In a Rediff interview, he described bankruptcy and the need to keep trying; Kaun Banega Crorepati brought him into viewers' homes, while Mohabbatein introduced a prominent authoritarian patriarch role. In a 2019 IANS interview, he explained that he followed writers and directors rather than an acting-school method; preparing for Black included learning sign language. His later work moved between the teacher in Black, the child Auro in Paa, the demanding father in Piku and the lawyer in Pink. Sarkar, Cheeni Kum, Badla, Gulabo Sitabo, Jhund and Uunchai further widened that character-led period. He played Meyer Wolfshiem in The Great Gatsby and appeared in the Tamil film Vettaiyan alongside Rajinikanth. Awards include national recognition for Agneepath, Black, Paa and Piku, the Padma honours and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. UNICEF appointed him a Goodwill Ambassador in 2005, building on earlier work for children. He maintains a personal blog and verified social accounts. His recent work includes hosting KBC and playing Ashwatthama in Kalki 2898 AD. Director Nag Ashwin's September 2026 update described further Kalki filming planned for October, with no confirmed release date.

Biography · sourced and maintained

About Amitabh Bachchan

Full name: Amitabh Bachchan

Updated Oct 3, 2026
Born11 October 1942Allahabad (now Prayagraj), Uttar Pradesh, India
Life statusLiving profileNo death date applies
Age—Calculated from birth date
FromAllahabad (now Prayagraj)Uttar Pradesh, India
Known forKalki 2898 AD, Vettaiyan, Ganapath, Jhund

Amitabh Bachchan is an Indian actor and television host born in Allahabad, now Prayagraj, to poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Teji Bachchan. His education at Sherwood College in Nainital and Kirori Mal College in Delhi preceded work in Calcutta, where he also acted with the amateur theatre group CATS. He moved into cinema as a narrator in Bhuvan Shome and an actor in Saat Hindustani. Anand gave him an early breakthrough opposite Rajesh Khanna; Zanjeer, Deewaar and Sholay established the forceful screen persona associated with the angry young man. His range also included the musical comedy Amar Akbar Anthony, the double role in Don, the romantic ensemble Kabhi Kabhie, and the father–son conflict of Shakti. Agneepath, Hum and Khuda Gawah carried his leading work into the next decade. He briefly served as an elected member of Parliament before returning his attention to entertainment. Financial difficulties around his company ABCL and an uneven film comeback preceded a renewed career. In a Rediff interview, he described bankruptcy and the need to keep trying; Kaun Banega Crorepati brought him into viewers' homes, while Mohabbatein introduced a prominent authoritarian patriarch role. In a 2019 IANS interview, he explained that he followed writers and directors rather than an acting-school method; preparing for Black included learning sign language. His later work moved between the teacher in Black, the child Auro in Paa, the demanding father in Piku and the lawyer in Pink. Sarkar, Cheeni Kum, Badla, Gulabo Sitabo, Jhund and Uunchai further widened that character-led period. He played Meyer Wolfshiem in The Great Gatsby and appeared in the Tamil film Vettaiyan alongside Rajinikanth. Awards include national recognition for Agneepath, Black, Paa and Piku, the Padma honours and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. UNICEF appointed him a Goodwill Ambassador in 2005, building on earlier work for children. He maintains a personal blog and verified social accounts. His recent work includes hosting KBC and playing Ashwatthama in Kalki 2898 AD. Director Nag Ashwin's September 2026 update described further Kalki filming planned for October, with no confirmed release date.

Core identity record

People also ask

Questions about Amitabh Bachchan

Birth date and place?

Allahabad, now Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh; October 11, 1942.

Sources: Biography.com

Where did he study?

He attended Sherwood College in Nainital and Kirori Mal College in Delhi.

Sources: Tuli Research Centre

How did he begin his screen career?

His early screen work includes narration in Bhuvan Shome and acting in Saat Hindustani, both from 1969.

Sources: Tuli Research Centre · IMDb · IMDb

Which films established his early leading career?

Anand preceded the Zanjeer breakthrough; Deewaar and Sholay helped define his angry-young-man image.

Sources: IMDb · IMDb

What other kinds of roles has he played?

His work ranges from the comedy of Amar Akbar Anthony and the dual roles in Don to the teacher in Black, the child Auro in Paa and the lawyer in Pink.

Sources: IMDb · IMDb · IMDb · IMDb · IMDb

What is his connection to Kaun Banega Crorepati?

He hosts the Indian television quiz show; its original series began in 2000, and his recent KBC appearances remain part of his broadcasting work.

Sources: IMDb · The Times of India

Did he serve in Parliament?

Elected in 1984; left in 1987.

Sources: Biography.com

Which performances earned National Film Awards?

Agneepath, Black, Paa and Piku received Best Actor recognition. Award entries distinguish film cycles from announcement or ceremony years.

Sources: National Film Awards / Directorate of Film Festivals · Press Information Bureau · Press Information Bureau · Press Information Bureau

What civilian honours has he received?

The official records identify Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan honours; the Dadasaheb Phalke Award was presented in December 2019.

Sources: Ministry of Home Affairs · Press Information Bureau · Press Information Bureau

What is his UNICEF role?

UNICEF identifies him as a Goodwill Ambassador since 2005, following an earlier association with campaigns for children.

Sources: UNICEF

Is Amitabh Bachchan married?

He is married to Jaya Bachchan. His recent KBC account explicitly refers to her as his wife.

Sources: The Times of India

When did Amitabh and Jaya marry?

His anniversary post identifies June 3, 1973, as their wedding date.

Sources: NDTV

Did he recommend Madhushala?

The retained evidence establishes public recitations of his father’s poetry. It does not establish a private recommendation or the edition he used; the shelf identifies an exact publisher edition.

Sources: Penguin Random House India

Which music did he name as a favourite?

He named Asha Bhosle songs including Dum Maro Dum and Do Lafzon Ki in Subhash K Jha’s interview.

Sources: Deccan Chronicle

What food preference has he described?

He named vada pav as a favourite Mumbai snack on KBC. In another answer, he said he liked jalebi but could not eat it.

Sources: NDTV Food · Live Hindustan

Does the profile establish his current diet?

The retained KBC statement is historical: he said he had stopped non-vegetarian food, sweets and rice. It does not establish a current daily meal plan.

Sources: The Indian Express

What training information is retained?

Trainer Shivohaam Bhatt described bench presses, back exercises and adapted intensity; the report quotes an earlier podcast rather than documenting every current session.

Sources: NDTV

What skincare answer did he give?

Reporting on a Sony KBC promo quotes his use of kadu tel, or mustard oil. No exact branded product or skincare benefit is inferred.

Sources: Aaj Tak

Is an exact favourite perfume known?

His Rediff interview mentions buying French perfumes but declines brand names. A separate Lomani endorsement does not establish an exact personal favourite.

Sources: Rediff · The Times of India

Does he have a publicly identified pet?

The sources document his dog Shanouk and the family’s mourning of his death. This historical record does not establish present pet ownership.

Sources: NDTV / Press Trust of India · Mid-day

What is known about the next Kalki film?

Nag Ashwin’s September 2026 update describes regular filming planned for October after earlier work with Bachchan and Kamal Haasan. No confirmed release date was retained.

Sources: The Times of India

Which personal channels were verified?

His verified Instagram and X accounts were checked directly; the X profile links his official Tumblr blog.

Sources: Instagram · X · Amitabh Bachchan

How did he describe preparing for Black?

In his 2019 IANS interview, he recalled learning sign language and following the writer and director. That account concerns the film’s preparation.

Sources: IANS / NDTV