Amitabh Bachchan: The Superstar of the Millenium on BBC Opinion Poll in 2001..

Amitabh Bachchan (1942- ....) is an Indian and Bollywood versatile Actor whose film career has spanned over four decades. He is the only Superstar of his time whose popularity still rules in Bollywood. Indian film industry is called Bollywood. Amitabh was named the Superstar of the Millennium in 1999, in a BBC Online Poll, and is the first living Asian to have a wax statue erected in his honour at Madame Tussaud's.

Profile:
Full name : Amitabh Bachchan
Nick : Big B (for fans).
Date of Birth : October 11, 1942
Place of Birth : Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. India.
Nationality: Indian.

Amitabh Bachchan Biography:
Amitabh was born to Teji and Harivansh Rai 'Bachchan'. Harivansh Rai was a well known Hindi poet. Amitabh attended Boys' High School in Allahabad followed by Sherwood College in Nainital and went on to Kirorimal College(KMC) at Delhi University to earn a degree in Science.

Bachchan began making films in 1969 with Saat Hindustani. He became well known as a movie star in 1973, with the films Abhimaan and Zanjeer. While his popularity waned in the 1990s, Bachchan made a comeback in the early 2000s by hosting Kaun Banega Crorepati, the Indian version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire".

Career:
Bachchan's first film was Saat Hindustani (1969). He became well known as a movie star in 1973, with the films Abhimaan and Zanjeer.

Amitabh's most loved films and characters date from this period. Fans remember him from box office hits like Sholay, Amar Akbar Anthony, Trishul, Don and Deewar . Amitabh often played an angry young man fighting a corrupt establishment -- a theme that had immense appeal in India during that time. The screen-writing duo of Salim-Javed [1] have often been credited with creating this persona. In a sense, the relationship was symbiotic. Later movies have not tasted similar levels of success as the Salim-Javed and Amitabh collaborations.

In an era where producers looked to cast a handsome full-bodied hunk as the hero, Amitabh with his unconventional looks and tall, lanky frame was written off. His baritone-- that was later counted by fans as his biggest asset-- once failed to get him a job as news-reader with All India Radio. The success of Zanjeer and Sholay turned that around. Audiences adored his on-screen presence and a flair for comedy.

Many of his films in the 1970s followed a set formula-- a poor childhood, parents murdered or separated after birth, survival through street-smart instincts, entry of a villain (usually a social oppressor or smuggler, also his parents' killer or long lost father!), some comedy scenes, a drunk scene, songs, dances, action finale and probably a dying speech. It can be argued that Salim-Javed stories written for Amitabh during the 1970's form an informal sequel, with the same character being played out in various settings. In restrospect, many of his films were run-of-the-mill masala movies with creaking plots and sub-par production values.

Public life

In 1984, Bachchan briefly entered politics in support of long-time family friend Rajiv Gandhi. He contested Allahabad's parliament seat against H. N. Bahuguna, a well-known politician and won. However, his political career was short-lived; he resigned after three years before finishing his term. At the time of his resignation, Gandhi's Congress Party was being accused of corruption. Bachchan was never implicated in the corruption and has since distanced himself from the Gandhi family. Bachchan denies that the these events were connected, commenting that he found politics unpleasant and resigned for personal reasons.

Awards

Bachchan is a recipient of the Padma Shri (1983) and the Padma Bhushan (2005), civilian honours from the indian government. In 1999, he was named BBC Superstar of the Millenium. He has also won 12 Filmfare Awards in various categories.

Bachchan is not just an actor he is Bollywood.