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Amitabh Bachchan

Actor and television host

Born 1942

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.

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Connected people

ConnectionJaya BachchanSpouse and screen collaborator, including Zanjeer, Abhimaan and Sholay. Current acknowledgement checked in his recent KBC account.

ConnectionHarivansh Rai BachchanFather and poet; Amitabh publicly recited his Madhushala verses.

ConnectionRajesh KhannaAnand co-star in an early breakthrough.

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