Amitabh Bachchan at 83: Honoring the Legacy of Bollywood’s Greatest Icon

When it comes to naming the legendary icons of Indian cinema, Amitabh Bachchan makes a popular mention. Born on 11 October 1942, Ahmedabad, the megastar has turned 83. 

The actor has delivered several blockbuster hits throughout his illustrious career. His deep baritone voice and commanding screen presence continue to captivate fans even today. 

Unlike other actors of his genre, the actor never got typecast in particular roles and had been successful in bringing different shades to his characters onscreen. 

Today, on the occasion of his 83rd birthday, let’s delve into the life and illustrious career of this evergreen star.

Amitabh Bachchan: From Childhood to Stardom

Amitabh Bachchan was born in Allahabad on 11th October 1942 to renowned poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan and his wife Teji Bachchan. 

He also has a younger brother named Ajitabh. An unknown fact about his surname ‘Bachchan’ began with his father, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, who was against the caste system, and because of that, he dropped his initial surname, Shrivastava, and put a self-made surname, Bachchan, instead.  

Since then, Amitabh carried this surname when he entered the Indian cinema. Excellent in academics, his early schooling took place at Sherwood College in Nainital. 

He later joined Kirori Mal College at the University of Delhi and pursued a B.Sc. in Science. Even though he chose acting as a career, his articulate speech and literary inclinations remained part of his personality throughout.

The path to becoming an actor was not easy for him during his initial days. He had struggled a lot to establish himself. 

Earlier, he failed to make an impact on directors during auditions because of his lean and unconventional appearance. 

But he broke the stereotype image of a hero when Salim-Javed casted him in Zanjeer. 

The movie became a turning point for Amitabh, who established a new version of the mainstream hero - ‘Angry Young Man’. 

Among the top actresses of Indian cinema, actress Rekha made a hit pair with the actor. There are many films in which they were cast. 

Some of the examples are Silsila, Do Anjaane, Mr Natwarlal, and Muqaddar ka Sikandar. Recently, the actress turned 71 years old on October 10, 2025. 

Recipient of many prestigious awards, Amitabh also garnered a massive fan following on television, with his popular show Kaun Banega Crorepati. 

Cinematic Masterpieces

In his career span, Amitabh has starred in countless films, with several considered as timeless classics. These are:

• Sholay
• Deewar
• Zanjeer
• Don
• Shahenshah
• Muqaddar Ka Sikandar
• Kala Pathar
• Abhimaan
• Silsila
• Satte Pe Satta
• Kabhi Kabhi
• Khuda Gawah
• Agneepath
• Black
• Mohabattein
• Khakee
• Baghban
• Baabul
• Suryavansham
• Paa
• Pink
• 102 Not Out
• Kalki