Hrithik - At a glance

Hrithik Roshan (born January 10, 1974), nicknamed Duggu, is aprominent Bollywood actor.

Hrithik's first movie role was as a child artist when he was six yearsold in the 1980 movie Aasha, when he appeared in a dance sequence asan extra. He went on to appear in Aap Ki Deewane (1980) and BhagwanDada (1986). He then became an assistant director for his father'sfilms Karan Arjun (1995) and Koyla (1997).

He made his debut as a leading man in the 2000 film Kaho Naa… PyaarHai opposite another debutante actress Amisha Patel. The film wasdirected by his father and proved to be very successful at the boxoffice: It was the highest grossing film of 2000 and winner of theFilmfare Best Movie Award. Hrithik's performance earned him theFilmfare Best Debut Award and the Filmfare Best Actor Award. That sameyear, Hrithik also starred in Fiza and Mission Kashmir which were onlymoderately successful at the box office.As Child artist in Bhagwan Dada (1986)In 2001, Hrithik starred inYaadein which was a failure at the box office and Kabhi Khushi KabhieGham which did extremely well at the box office, becoming thesecond-highest grossing film of 2001.

He had a bad year in 2002 when all three of his releases - MujhseDosti Karoge!, Na Tum Jaano Na Hum, Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage -failed to make an impact the box office and were declared flops.

In 2003, his career was back on track with Koi Mil Gaya, whichHrithik's father Rakesh directed. It was the highest grosser of theyear. It won many Filmfare Awards, including another Filmfare BestActor Award for Hrithik.

He only had only one release in 2004, Lakshya, directed by FarhanAkhtar. Lakshya did not do as well at the box office as expected butcritics called it his most impressive performance so far.
Hrithik took a two-year break from acting before resurfacing with thesuperhero film Krrish which released in June 2006. Krrish has been amajor box office success.

His most recent release is Dhoom 2, a sequel to the 2004 hit Dhoom, inwhich he played a negative role (a villain) for the first time. Thefilm released on November 24, 2006 and is the biggest raw grosser inBollywood history.
His forthcoming films are Jodha-Akbar ,Sashank, Kismat Talkies, Delhi6 which are scheduled release in 2007. Hrithik Roshan was born in Mumbai, India, to Pinky and actor/directorRakesh Roshan. He is the nephew of well-known music director RajeshRoshan. Roshan is married to Sussanne Khan (who is now Sussanne Roshan), hishigh-school sweetheart. Sussanne is the daughter of actor/directorSanjay Khan and sister of actor Zayed Khan. Film clans (see List ofBollywood film clans) tend to intermarry. Hrithik Roshan and Suzanne Khan/Roshan had their first child, a babyboy, on March 28, 2006, at 3:08pm at Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai,India. The child was named Hrehaan.

In 2001, a rumour alleging Roshan to have made bad remarks on Nepaland its people caused an outrage in the country. Several newspaperscarried the report, leading to student protests, in which four peopledied. The unrest the protests caused forced the government to cancel aflight from Kathmandu to India.Later the Indian embassy and theactor himself clarified that he had made no such disparaging remarksagainst Nepal.

In 2006, at the London press conference for his film Krrish, Roshansaid that he knew it was time to leave Shanghai and Hong Kong aftersix weeks of stunt training and go home when his eyes started "turninginto little slits like the Chinese". Trivia

Hrithik has a supernumerary thumb on his right hand.Hrithik's additional thumb is clearly visible in this picture, takenat the sets of KrrishHis film Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai entered the LimcaBook of Records in 2003 for the most number of Awards won by aBollywood Film - 102 awards.

Filmy Awards :-

2000: Filmfare Best Male Newcomer Award for Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai

2000: Filmfare Best Actor Award for Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai

2000: IIFA Best Actor Award for Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai

2000: Zee Cine Best Male Newcomer Award for Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai

2000: Zee Cine Best Actor Award for Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai

2000: Sansui Awards: Best Male Newcomer for Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai

2000: Star Screen Best Male Newcomer Award for Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai

2000: Star Screen Best Actor Award for Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai

2000: Aashirwaad Awards: Best Actor for Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai

2000: BFJA Awards: Best Actor Critics for Fiza

2000: Citizens Awards: Outstanding Contribution to Indian Cinema

2000: Filmgoers Awards: Best Actor for Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai

2000: Filmgoers Awards: Best Male Newcomer for Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai

2000: Filmgoers Awards: Best Actor Critics for Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai

2000: Kalashree Awards: Best Actor for Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai

2001: Zee Gold Awards: Best Supporting Actor for Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham

2003: Anandlok Awards: Best Male Actor for Koi Mil Gaya

2003: Apsara Awards: Best Male Actor for Koi Mil Gaya

2003: Asian Guild Awards: Best Actor for Koi Mil Gaya

2003: Chhoton Ka Funda Awards: Kamaal Da Actor Award for Koi Mil Gaya

2003: FICCI Hall Of Fame Awards: Best Actor Award for Koi Mil Gaya

2003: Pogo Awards: Best Actor for Koi Mil Gaya

2003: Filmfare Best Actor Award for Koi Mil Gaya

2003: Filmfare Best Actor Critics Award for Koi Mil Gaya

2003: IIFA Best Actor Award for Koi Mil Gaya

2003: Zee Cine Best Actor Award for Koi Mil Gaya

2003: Sansui Awards: Best Actor for Koi Mil Gaya

2003: Star Screen Best Actor Award for Koi Mil Gaya

2004: Stardust Best Actor Award for Lakshya

2006: Global Indian Film Best Actor Award for Krrish

2006: Star Screen Best Actor Award for Krrish

2006: Anandlok Awards: Best Male Actor for Krrish

2006: Pogo Awards: Most Amazing Actor for Krrish

2006: Radio Sargam Bollywood Awards: Best Actor for Krrish

2006: Radio Sargam Bollywood Awards: Best Actor In A Negative Role for Dhoom 2

2006: Filmfare Awards: Best Actor Award for Dhoom 2 Other Awards

2001: Bollywood Fashion Awards; Celebrity Style Male

2003: Chhoton Ka Funda Awards: Chhoton Ka Funda Dhishum Dhishum DoleySholay Award; swashbuckling muscle and action display for Koi MilGaya

2003: Chhoton Ka Funda Awards: Chhoton Ka Funda Boogie Woogie Award;for dance performance in It's Magic for Koi Mil Gaya

2003: Pogo Awards; Amazing Dancer

2004: Bollywood Fashion Awards; Celebrity Style Male

2005: IIFA Awards; Samsung Style Icon

2006: Idea Zee F Awards: Youth Style Icon in Films.

2007: Filmy's Person of the Year 2006 Honors and Recognitions

In 2003, Hrithik Roshan was honoured with the "Rajiv Gandhi YoungAchiever Award".In 2003, he was honoured with the "Awadh Award" for his outstandingcontribution to Indian Cinema.In May of 2006, he was conferred with the prestigious "Sahara AwadhSamman" in a glittering ceremony during finale at the fortnight-longLucknow Mahotsav.In December of 2006, he was honoured during the International FilmFestival of India (IFFI) in Panaji for his contributions to mainstreamcinema.

Filmy Career :-

2008 Krrish 2 Krishna Mehra aka Krrish/Rohit Mehra Announced

2007 Delhi 6 Rohit Announced

2007 Dhoom 3 Aryan Announced

2007 Kismat Talkies Scripting2007 Sashank Sashank/Shashank Dubbed in English, Telugu and Tamil

2007 Jodhaa Akbar Akbar Filming

2006 I See You Pedestrian in Subah Subah song Special Appearance

2006 Dhoom 2 Aryan / Mr. A Winner, Filmfare Best Actor Award. Dubbedin Tamil and Telugu with the same title.

2006 Krrish Krishna Mehra aka Krrish/Rohit Mehra Nominated, FilmfareBest Actor Award. Dubbed in Tamil and Telugu with the same title.

2003 Koi… Mil Gaya Rohit Mehra Winner, Filmfare Best Actor Award &Winner, Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance

2004 Lakshya Karan Shergill Nominated, Filmfare Best Actor Award

2003 Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon Prem Kishen Mathur

2002 Mujhse Dosti Karoge! Raj

2002 Na Tum Jaano Na Hum Rahul Sharma

2002 Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage Rohit

2001 Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham Rohan Raichand Nominated, Filmfare BestSupporting Actor Award

2001 Yaadein Ronit Malhotra

2000 Mission Kashmir Altaf Khan

2000 Fiza Amaan Ikramullah Nominated, Filmfare Best Actor Award

2000 Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai Rohit/Raj Chopra Winner, Filmfare Best ActorAward & Winner, Filmfare Best Debut Award

1986 Bhagwan Dada Govinda (Child artist)

1980 Aap Ke Deewane Child Artist

1980 Aasha Child Artist

Saawariya - A Boring Epic

Sanjay Leela Bhansali is back with Saawariya after the critically acclaimed Black (Amitabh Bachchan, Rani Mukherjee). The promos of Saawariya have Bhansali’s signature style all over it.With Saawariya he launches two star kids, Rishi Kapoor’s son Ranbir Kapoor and Anil Kapoor’s daughter Sonam Kapoor. The movie also stars Rani Mukherjee and the dashing Salman Khan. Clashing this Friday with Shahrukh Khan’s Om Shanti Om, the film is a Romantic Musical based on Fyodor Dostoevsky’s short story White Nights.
The story is about two lonely youngsters who accidently meet each other.
Raj (Ranbir Kapoor), is a dreamer. He spends most part of his day at home, creating riddles, solving them and writing poetry. He loves arguing with his landlady Miss Disa (Zohra Sehgal), with whom he shares a love-hate relationship.But one night this lonely guy stumbles upon the charming, shy and mysterious Sakina (Sonam Kapoor), a girl with a secret past.Their unexpected encounter under a bridge progresses to friendship and an impromptu romance in a remote town near Shimla.They spend four nights together. With the passing of each night, Raj falls more and more in love with Sakina and tries to win her heart, but Sakina sees him as a friend and begins to trust him enough to share her secret.But when Sakina reveals why she cannot reciprocate his love, Raj is unable to accept her past and is driven into a world of madness and romance. Will the same bridge where the two lovers met become the bridge that separates them?
Music plays a key role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film and for Saawariya he has teamed up with newcomer Monty Sharma, nephew of music composer Pyarelal (of Laksmikanth - Pyarelal fame). Monty has done a great job in composing the love songs, mujras and qawwallis.
This is Hollywood production house "Sony Pictures" first Bollywood movie!
Overall Saawariya is a bore and fails to entertain. Having seen Bhansali’s earlier movies like Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas and Black my expectations from the master director was high, but with Saawariya he disappoints for the first time. A wafer thin story line is dragged with too many songs. Basically the story in itself is dull and with a sluggish pace it makes it even harder to sit through. Under Bhansali’s direction Saawariya would be the first movie which leaves you puzzled. You are left with so many questions lingering in your mind, with answers to none.
What did Sakina see in Imaan to fall in love with him? She knows nothing about him except for his name then on what basis does she wait for him? Also when did they even have the time to bond so much that she considers him the love of her life? Hardly any communication, how could it lead to romance? Imaan is a mystery. Why does he come and why does he leave? What is his profession? Nothing is known. If Gulabji loves Raj, why did she then get him thrown out of the house and get him beaten when he came to her? What was the reason for her sudden aggression? If Sakina thinks admitting Raj as her friend to her relative will lead to problems with her grandmom. Then how does she justify running around and playing with him on the streets and in her house on the day of id? Its not just the story that is flawed but almost everything in the movie. The visuals get tedious to watch as it is just dark from the beginning to the end and you crave for some bright light. It’s locales are too far fetched to suit the contemporary world. The only thing that came as relief is the performance of its lead stars. The title track, Masha Allah, Yoon Shabnami are few songs that stand out.

Om Shanti Om & Saawariya - Price of Hype

The two most hyped films of the year—Shah Rukh Khan starrer Om Shanti Om and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Saawariya—have begun cracking records a month before their blockbuster Diwali releases.
With both films set for a November 9 release, their respective marketing machineries are in full swing to bring in revenues and recover budgets, which are learnt to have crossed over Rs 35 crore each.
Red Chillies Entertainment (Shah Rukh’s home production) , which has sold distribution rights of the Farah Khan-directed Om Shanti Om to Eros International for a record Rs 75 crore, has inked a Rs 12-14 crore deal only for brand-related promotions. This, says its marketing agency Madison Mates, is the highest for any Indian movie.
For Saawariya, co-producer Sony Pictures has signed a Rs 25-crore `visibility package’ that includes in-film brand promotions, merchandising and contests. “It’s twice the size of any such package that has been ever done for a film in India,” Navin Shah, CEO of P9 Integrated–the agency handling the film’s marketing, told ET.
Retail chain Shoppers’ Stop has launched an Om Shanti Om collection merchandise on the period the film traversesto be available at all its stores.
Saawariya’s Rs 10-crore in-film merchandise deal with Kishore Biyani’s Future Group involves a ‘Saawariya’ range of menswear, home products and beauty products to be retailed at Big Bazaar stores.
Apart from the Rs 6-7 crore merchandising deal with Shoppers’ Stop, Red Chillies is in the process of signing about five more brands. According to sources, Nokia and cosmetics company Maybelline are among the brands that are in the process of being finalised. Said Madison Mates CEO Darshana Bhalla: “We are signing up with brands ranging from technology and FMCG to lifestyle and automobiles. These won’t be mere associations but integrated with the film, and mark the beginning of a new format of brand associations.”
According to Shoppers’ Stop customer care associate and VP marketing and communication Sheeta Choksi, “Om Shanti Om is the biggest project of the year, which explains our interest in associating with the film.” Added the movie’s director, Farah Khan: “I cannot take the marketing of the film for granted. So large-scale promotions like the one with Shoppers’ Stop and others have been worked out.”
Sony Pictures, meanwhile, has signed a Rs 5-crore contest-based promotion with Neo Sports for the ongoing India-Australia cricket series. It is set to close in-film deals with four more brands, though P9’s Shah declined to divulge specific names.

Om Shanti Om - Best Critical Review

A movie review by a major Bollywood website was extremely positive. Oh well, how could I trust a reviewer who gave fantastic movies like Chak De India, Black, Rang De Basanti (and so many more) such low ratings? I believed the reviewer is quite fond of masala flicks, flicks which have major box-office appeal. (Are movie reviewers actually paid for positive reviews? I wonder..) So before I entered the movieplex, I had huge expectations from Om Shanti Om. The biggest entertainer in the country in a masala potboiler, positive reviews, great hype, 31 of the biggest stars in one item number - what more could one ask for?

http://filmy-review.blogspot.com/2007/11/om-shanti-om-review-by-taran-adarsh.html

Technically Om Shanti Om is good, but as an entertainer, is a major dissappointment. The fact that it is such a terrible let down, is yet to sink in. What was Farah Khan (director) thinking? How could she make such a bad film, after directing a decent entertainer in Main Hoon Na? What was Shahrukh Khan thinking when he approved the script? How could almost everything go so wrong in a movie?
There is nothing new in the story. (Lifted from Karz (Bollywood)+Chances Are (Hollywood). SRK tries to act albeit different, but as always more than 'Om the character' he is The SRK here, his usual hamming continues, everything is over the top, from lighting to screenplay to dialog. In Shahrukh's movie you will never find a 'dark' moment, I mean his face always gets maximum amount of light from 360 degrees. There is no shades whatsoever, only lights. Thus giving him a stage to ham (my favorite is that scene, some Karan Johar movie, where Preity Zinta looks on, Saif cornered and Shahrukh keeps on reading some imaginary diary while clearly indicating that he is SACRIFYCING, all lights, no shades)

Six pack proposition is an instant hit thanks to media. Liposuction or not, Shahrukh looks good, but not without props. Either he is hiding under a full sleeve or wearing coal-mine cap for the desired effect. I think he did not look 'strong and cool' bare chested like Salman and John Abraham, so he had to take shelter under these additional stuff. Also, we would like to see, how Shah Rukh maintains his six pack from now onwards because Salman in one of the interviews said more than making, its difficult to maintain such abs for long.
The movie has major flaws. Both the first half and the second have a lot of similarities, a few scenes actually are repeated! So if you miss the first half or you decide to walk out during the interval, dont worry, you haven’t missed much. The biggest flaw is you never feel for any of the characters, you laugh when the characters cry and vice versa. The transformation of Om Kapoor to Om Prakash in the second half, isnt handled well and is far from convincing. The transformation part is so very important in reincarnation movies, something which was handled brilliantly in Karan Arjun. The death scene, rebirth, flashbacks - needs expert direction, Farah unfortunately fails.
The script, screenplay and the direction is flawed. The dialogues are irritating. The only saving grace of the much hyped movie is the music. Main Agar Kahoon and Dard-e-Disco stand out.
Now the performance of the King Khan. After a career-best knockout performance in Chak De India, Shahrukh Khan hams in the first half. In the second half, as the new-age superstar, he fails to convince. A soda without fizz kinda performance by SRK. Personally for me, this is undoubtedly his most disappointing performance this decade. Deepika Padukone is promising in her debut, great screen presence. She expresses quite well through her eyes. Definitely a actress to look forward to, in the future. Shreyas Talpade’s role doesnt demand any histrionics, he is decent as the side-kick. Arjun Rampal is good in a negative role. Kirron Kher is over the top throughout, the only scene she excels is when she is supposed to scare Mukesh Mehra, in the second half.
In the special appearances, Akshay Kumar stands out in the filmfare awards scene. Even his nomination video is hilarious. He gets the house down with his typical trademark antics. Hrithik Roshan is also a part of the movie and so is Abhishek Bachchan (both are part of the Filmfare scene). Amongst the 31 stars in the item number, Kajol got the loudest of cheers.

Om Shanti Om - Review by Taran Adarsh

Om Shanti Om is most awaited movie this diwali here is Good Review of Taran Adarsh(indiaFm). Read this review and tell you, what you think about that review,Below in Comments area
Cut the crap, cut the gyan-baazi, cut the will-it-won’t-it work naatak. SRK and Farah Khan’s OM SHANTI OM is a true-blue masala entertainer. If MAIN HOON NA was a chauka, this one hits a sixer!
Wait, a word of advice to all netizens/readers across the globe. Don’t, for God’s sake don’t, raise exclamations like kab?, kyun? kahan? as OM SHANTI OM begins to unravel. This is atypical Manmohan Desai film presented in a novel avtaar by Farah Khan. It’s definitely not for pseudos or advocates of arthouse cinema.
Now let’s clear some myths surrounding OM SHANTI OM. Is it the 2007 adaptation of Subhash Ghai’s immensely likable reincarnation film KARZ? Does it have traces of KUDRAT? Or MADHUMATI? Or MILAN? Or KARAN ARJUN? Hold on, there’s a dash of KARZ, a bit of KARAN ARJUN, a sprinkling of KUDRAT, but beyond that it’s a film that makes you nostalgic about 1970s Bollywood.
To sum up, OM SHANTI OM is paisa vasool entertainment. We haven’t seen SRK in a hardcore masala film since quite some time. He had drifted to other genres, which proved his range as an actor of repute and cemented his status further. With OM SHANTI OM, he gives back to the audience what he himself grew up on — a thorough entertainer that will have the audience thirsting for more.
This Diwali, have a blast!
OM SHANTI OM tells the story of Om [Shah Rukh Khan] and Shanti [Deepika Padukone]. Om is a junior artist in the 70s. Shanti is the reigning superstar. He is her biggest fan. He is in love with her. Om dreams of being a superstar, but an incident changes his life forever.
Om dies in a mishap, but is reborn into the present day. He attempts to discover the mystery of his demise…
The general feeling is, Farah Khan has remade Ghai’s KARZ from Frame A to Z. False! There’re similarities, but it’s not a rehashed version of Ghai’s film. For, OM SHANTI OM takes you by complete surprise at several points.
The first twist in the tale [Arjun - Deepika’s heated confrontation, with SRK listening to this important conversation] comes as a bolt from the blue. The second jhatka comes slightly before the intermission, when Arjun takes Deepika to the set of his film ‘Om Shanti Om’ and the entire episode that follows, right till the intermission, is spellbinding. That’s a brilliant stroke from the writing [screenplay: Mushtaq Shaikh and Farah Khan] as also the execution point of view. When the opulent set is set to flames, it leaves you wide-eyed and awe-struck. Such is the impact!
The post-interval portions only get better and better! If the initial portions are laced with humour [the premiere of ‘Dreamy Girl’, the Manoj Kumar episode, Ghai directing Rishi on ‘Om Shanti Om’ song, et al], the second half moves into a new zone completely.
It’s punar-janam now, but thankfully, there’re no lightening, no fireworks, no zooming of the camera on the idols of Gods. The drama builds up gradually. The voices that SRK keeps hearing, the ‘fire’ soon after the ‘Dard-E-Disco’ track, the mother [Kirron Kher], an old lady now, chasing Om’s car [reminds you of Raakhee of KARAN ARJUN], the flashes of SRK’s earlier birth while receiving the Filmfare Award — the incidents that make him realize that his life was cut short in his earlier janam have been well structured.
When Deepika re-emerges as well, the viewer is confused, but the mystery is resolved towards the end, which, again, takes you by complete surprise.
Given the fact that OM SHANTI OM is a Manmohan Desai kind of a film set in the present-day, it would be foolhardy to ask questions, raise eyebrows and look for logic. But the second half could’ve been crisper [length: 18 reels/2.46 hours], although Shirish Kunder’s editing is perfect.
Farah knows what her priorities are and most importantly, knows exactly what her target audience is. The execution of a number of sequences clearly shows Farah’s growth as a storyteller. Mushtaq and Farah’s writing works because the writers pull out several surprises in those 2.46 hours.
V. Manikanandan’s cinematography captures the gloss and grandeur to the minutest. The opulent sets [Sabu Cyril] deserve distinction marks. Dialogues [Mayur Puri] are witty and do raise a chuckle at several points. Background score [Sandeep Chowta] is effective.
Vishal-Shekhar’s music is first-rate. The score is in sync with the content of the film and what accentuate the goings-on are the choreography and execution. Although every song is visually enticing, the 21-star track as also ‘Dard-E-Disco’ will have the masses going into a frenzy.
Now to the performances! SRK proves his supremacy yet again. If you thought that playing to the gallery came easy to certain actors only, watch SRK spin magic in OM SHANTI OM. He’s magnificent, the star attraction, the soul of this film, the true baadshah.
Deepika has all it takes to be a top star — the personality, the looks and yes, she’s supremely talented too. Standing in the same frame as SRK and getting it right is no small achievement. She comes as a whiff of fresh air!
Arjun Rampal is a complete revelation. Cast in a negative role this time, he enacts his part with panache and style. Shreyas Talpade is another surprise. A complete natural, he stands on his feet all through, not getting swayed while sharing the screen space with the topmost star.
Kirron Kher is superb as the over the top mom. Javed Sheikh is alright. Bindu adds to the funny moments.
On the whole, OM SHANTI OM is Bollywood masala in its truest form and also, at its best. At the box-office, the film will set new records in days to come and has the power to emerge one of the biggest hits of SRK’s career. Blockbuster hit!

A tribute to the Legend - Amitabh Bachan

Some men are like wine. The older they become, the headier they are. It is never truer than in the case of Amitabh Bachchan. The son of poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Teji Bachchan rode the Indian film industry like a colossus for close to three decades. And, at 59, Amitabh has more producers and directors queuing up in front of his door than many young actors of Bollywood.
Amitabh Bachchan is undoubtedly the most famous Bollywood actor of our time and our previous genre. I cannot think of any figure in Bollywood who can rival his acting skills and popularity. He is undoubtedly the living legend in Bollywood. What amazes me is that he has remained a respectable figure in India for the last 4 decades or even more. He was equally successful in action movies, comedy movies and romantic movies.
Amitabh has produced many hit films and he has received many awards both in home and abroad. He is a highly educated person and a man of good taste and culture. He was involved in politics and he saw huge success in the TV industry. His versatility attracts me most. He is going to be 65 later this year (October 11). I do not know of any actor in Bollywood who could be so popular at the age of 65. Only Amitabh Bachchan could achieve it. He is still one of top 5 actors in Bollywood and he remains one of the top paid Bollywood actors at this age.
Born on October 11, 1942 in Allahabad, Amitabh — the older of the two children graduated from Delhi University with an arts degree. Before that, he completed a stint in Sherwood College, a boarding school in Nainital. The film industry was a most unlikely place to begin a career for this son of an academician. He gave up his job as a freight broker for a shipping firm in Calcutta to move to Bombay in 1968. Months of struggle followed. Ironically known for his rich voice, he was rejected by All India Radio and even played a mute in one of his early films Reshma Aur Shera (1971). His first movie was Saat Hindustani in 1969.In his early films like the Hrishikesh Mukherjee Directed Anand (1970) and Namak Haram (1973) or in Saudagar he was presented as a brooding melancholic anti-hero drawn from Bengali Literary stereotypes traceable to novelist Sarat Chandra Chatterjee and brought into Hindi Cinema by Nitin Bose, Bimal Roy and Asit Sen. But Zanjeer (1973) changed all that, the film saw a new kind of hero, a hero who took the law in his own hands and fought the villain.
Amitabh had his first big break through Namak-Haram in 1973. Then comes the most memorable movie of his lifetime which changed his image completely into a Angry young man which has unprecedented box office collection ,that year heralded the arrival of the legend called Amitabh Bachchan.
From then to now there was no looking back. The year 1975 saw two all-time super hits, Deewar and Sholay. In Deewaar (1975) he played the role of a mafia don opposite his policeman brother, played by Shashi Kapoor. It was a brilliant performance with Amitabh more than able to humanize the gangster and have people sympathizes with him rather than with his law-abiding brother, Sholay became a benchmark film in Indian cinema. Hrishikesh Mukherjee Chupke Chupke released around the same time, proved Amitabh ability to handle comedy roles as well. The film, starring Amitabh, Jaya Bhaduri, Sharmila Tagore, Dharmendra and veteran actor Om Prakash, became a big hit.
The later half of the 1970s saw films like Amar Akbar Antony, Kabhie Kabhie, Don, Trishul, Mili, Abhimaan, Shaan, Laawaris, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Mr. Natwarlal, Nastik, Kala Patthar, and Namak Halal etc. Some of his other top hits include Barsaat Ki Ek Raat, Chashme Baddoor, Dostana, Faraar, Kaalia, Kasme Vaade, Khoon Pasina, Majboor, Naseeb, Parvarish, Shakti, Sharaabi, Silsilay and The Great Gambler. Amitabh Bachchan was seriously wounded during the shooting of the 1983 film, Coolie. The nation came to a grinding halt as film-lovers from across the length and breadth of India and abroad prayed for the well being of the actor.
In 1984, when at his peak as a star, he tried his hand at politics. Due to his enormous popularity, not to mention the close association he enjoyed with Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and members of the Nehru family, he was elected to parliament with a huge majority from his home city of Allahabad. But his stint in politics did not last long and he was implicated in some scandals. He gave up his seat in parliament, vowing never to be involved in politics again.
The first dud at the box-office came with the 1988 film, Ganga Jamuna Saraswati. Till then, Amitabh had not had a flop. His films were either hits or super hits. But his re-entry in the 1990s came with films like Khuda Gawah, Agneepath, Hum and Shahenshah, Amitabh then dabbled in business, setting up his Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited and pumping all his energies and time towards it. The lack of business acumen showed soon with ABCL sinking in no time. Amitabh made a serious comeback attempt to movies. Though the talent had never faded, the box-office magic had.
In the last 90’s, Amitabh Bachchan has acted in films like Mrityudaata, Major Saab, Lal Baadshah, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, Sooryavansham, and Ek Rishtaa. The Bond of Love, Mohabbatein and Aks — The Reflection. Some of the films bombed and the rest did just about okay business. Like a phoenix Amitabh Bachchan resurrected himself again in the year 2000, this time on the small screen. Kaun Banega Crorepati, the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? became a phenomenon on Indian television and suddenly Amitabh Bachchan was back to where he belonged — success and limelight. Amitabh Bachchan was also chosen as the BBC’s Superstar of the Millennium over such greats as Charlie Chaplin and Laurence Olivier and being selected as the first film personality from India to be immortalized at Madam Tussaud`s Wax Museum, London! On January 26, 2001 he was awarded the Padma Bhushan for his contribution to Indian Cinema.
Karan Johar’s Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham is in the news for a lot of reasons. In a story spanning three generations, KKKG has Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan playing husband and wife with Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan as their sons.
In the year 2003 Amitabh Bachchan also acted in the film Baghban. In this film Hema Malini played the role of his wife. Directed by Ravi Chopra and produced by B R Chopra, Baghban is a predictable tale reminiscent of the Rajesh Khanna-Shabana Azmi film Avtaar. Yet, despite the cliches, it’s an identifiable and realistic story, boosted greatly by Amitabh’s outstanding performance and the ever-so-gorgeous Hema Malini’s dignified portrayal.
In a midst of the successful career, he had seen bitter times of his life. After a four year break, he was back in the unsuccessful Mrityudaata in 1997. Critics had written him off. However, his career was saved with Bade Miyan Chote Miyan in 1998. Four flops in 1999 and incurring debt of over 90 crores rupees of his sinking company ABCL saw him at an all-time low. The actor presented the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire called "Kaun Banega Crorepati?" in 2000. After a series of hits with Mohabbatein (2000), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001) and Baghban (2003) and his most recent Khakee (2004), a 60 plus Bachchan is showing no signs of slowing down and proving the critics wrong once again. In 2007, he is the most busiest actor in Bollywood with 10 films to be released this year.