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 numerous blockbuster hits in his entertainment career. His baritone voice and commanding presence still make him popular among fans. 

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

It was because directors would look for actors who would be best suited for romantic roles because of their good looks and charming appearances. 

This was not the case with Amitabh Bachchan, who was in contrast to that expectation. However, the repeated failures did not shake the actor’s determination to become an actor. 

Destiny had stored something else for him. And it later happened when he was noticed by the famous duo of story writers, Salim-Javed, who found his personality suitable and cast him for the role of Inspector Vijay in Zanjeer. 

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

With the rise in his stardom, he never looked back and achieved more success in his career. 

He excelled in challenging roles that came his way and proved his prowess. The actor became the recipient of many prestigious awards, including the Padma Vibhushan award in 2015. 

Apart from the big screen, Amitabh also garnered a massive fan following on television, with his popular show Kaun Banega Crorepati. 

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. 

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