Trivia

Was named Actor of the Millennium in a BBC News Poll ahead of such luminaries as Charles Chaplin, Sir Laurence Olivier, and Marlon Brando.

The first Asian actor having a wax model of his likeness displayed at Madame Tussaud's in London, UK

According to trade magazine Box Office India, the trend of early morning shows and advance bookings across cinemas in India, started due to craze for Amitabh Bachchan films from mid 1970s. The crowds would start queuing up as early as 5 AM in morning even though ticket counters normally opened at 11 AM. The queues for tickets of Amitabh Bachchan films would even extend upto 2-3 kilometers and cause traffic jams on roads. The craze among crowds was so massive that often police had to be called to manage the crowd. Such demand for a star's film has never been witnessed before or since.

At the age of 58, he jumped from a height of 30 feet, along with co-star Manoj Bajpai, for his 2001 movie Aks (2001).

He hates the word Bollywood, the word that describes the Hindi film industry.

On 31 October 2006, he shocked the unit of a forthcoming movie Shootout at Lokhandwala by recording 23 scenes in 5 hours. Achieving this feat was unheard of.

When he was just trying to get a break in movies he was told to soften his 'deep' voice. However it was soon realised that his deep rich voice was excellent for narration. He has provided narrations for several films.

While filming Coolie (1983) he received a near fatal injury. He was hospitalised and the Indian press issued daily bulletins on his health.

Amitabh Bachchan is the first Indian actor to be paid over Rs 1 crore in remuneration for films. Till 1990s, Amitabh Bachchan was the only star paid in crores.

His favourite screen name is Vijay, which he had as his character name in over 20 movies.

Has a double M.A. (Master of Arts) degree.

Following a near fatal accident while shooting Coolie (1983), during which he suffered internal bleeding and required 17 bottles of blood, he became a champion for the cause of encouraging more people to donate blood.

In the 2008 movie, Slumdog Millionaire (2008), Amitabh Bachchan is the answer to Jamal's first question in the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? (Kaun Banega Crorepati? (2000)) The question: Who was the star in the 1973 hit film Zanjeer (1973)? Through Jamal's flashbacks we get to see Amitabh Bachchan in action.

Works with the Indian government's media campaign to publicize the National Immunization Days and encourage people to take their children to be vaccinated against polio and other deadly diseases.

Amitabh Bachchan and Dilip Kumar are the only Bollywood stars to have topped Box Office India Top Actors rankings for 16 consecutive years (from 1976 to 1991 and 1948 to 1963 respectively).

He played double role in 10 films Adalat (1976), Don (1978), Kasme Vaade (1978), The Great Gambler (1979), Desh Premee (1982), Satte Pe Satta (1982), Aakhree Raasta (1986), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998), Lal Baadshah (1999) and Sooryavansham (1999). Mahaan (1983) had him in a triple role.

He and Jaya got married a month before Abhimaan released. During the filming of Zanjeer, the cast and crew had decided to go abroad if the movie was a hit. As it was the first trip together for Amitabh and Jaya, he sought his father poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan's permission. His father asked if Jaya was going too. When Amitabh replied in the affirmative, he was told to marry her before they left the country.

His father Harivansh Rai Bachchan was considering naming him 'Inquilab' (which means 'revolution') before settling down for Amitabh which means 'brilliance unlimited'.

Suffered from a rare muscular disorder known as myasthenia gravis.

When Puneet Issar punched him on the sets of Coolie, the actor first bowed to the entire crew for a perfect shot before crumpling in pain outside minutes later.

Was one of the judges for the 1995 Miss World beauty pageant.

Singer Sudesh Bhonsle dubs his voice for playback songs in many movies.

Biggest Star of 1970s and 1980s in Indian cinema.

Formed a popular screen couple with Rekha

In 1984, he was honored by the Indian government with the Padma Shri Award for his outstanding contribution to the Hindi film industry.

Won the National Award for Best Newcomer for Saat Hindustani (1969).

His daughter, Shweta, is married to Nikhil Nanda, who is the grandson of Raj Kapoor. (Raj Kapoor's daughter, Ritu, took on the last name of Nanda when she married Rajan).

Amitabh Bachchan gave a screen test for a film on the set of the 1969 movie, Sajan. This was before Bachchan had signed for any film. The screen test was arranged by Nargis Dutt.

He has won the National Award for Best Actor four times for 'AGNEEPATH', 'BLACK', 'PAA' and 'PIKU'.

The highest paid Indian actor from late 1970s to 1992.

Until 1984 only 13 films were classified as "All time earners"(films that crossed 1 crore mark in every territory) by Trade, 9 films out of those were Amitabh Bachchan starrers - Sholay (1975) , Amar Akbar Anthony (1977) , Deewaar (1975) , Laawaris (1981) , Suhaag (1979) , Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978) , Andhaa Kaanoon (1983) , Coolie (1983) and Naseeb (1981) . The other films were Jai Santoshi Maa (1975) , Dharam Veer (1977) , Ek Duuje Ke Liye (1981) and Kranti (1981) . The 1 crore mark was considered the magical benchmark for films in 70s and 80s and Amitabh Bachchan is the only star whose films consistently crossed 1 crore mark in every major territory across length and breadth of India.

Became a grandfather in 1997 when his daughter Shweta gave birth to a daughter, Navya Naveli Nanda.

Son of celebrated Indian poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, who passed away in January 2003.

Favorite actor is Megastar Dilip Kumar.

Favorite actress is Megastar Waheeda Rehman.

Brother Ajitabh Bachchan has two children. A son named Bhim. A daughter named Naina.

Father of actor Abhishek Bachchan and father-in-law of actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

He also sung in many movies such as Laawaris, Toofan and Silsila.

His mom, Teji Bachchan, passed away in Lilavati Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India on December 22, 2007, after a prolonged illness, at the age of 93.

In the year 2000 Amitabh Bachchan was voted the 'Sherwoodian of the Century' in a poll of Old Sherwoodians. At a reunion of Old Sherwoodians held on November 10th, 2000, he received the 'Old Sherwoodians Millennium Award for Outstanding Achievement' at his alma mater Sherwood College boarding school in Nainital.

Was signed for the film Kartoos opposite Meenakshi in 1987. The film financier's backed out as they did not want Amitabh to play a negative character. The film was later started again with Sanjay Dutt.

In 1969, he was engaged with a air hostess for British Airways. Her name was Maya.

Was a former stage actor, radio announcer and freight company executive in Calcutta, India.

Amitabh Bachchan was the first choice of Rakesh Roshan's King Uncle (1993). But since the actor wasn't signing films then, Roshan opted for Jackie Shroff.

Vidhu Vinod Chopra wanted Amitabh Bachchan to play the lead role of Inspector Inayat Khan in Mission Kashmir (2000). The reason why Amitabh Bachchan declined the role was because of his commitment to Yash Chopra's Mohabbatein (2000).

Was first named Inquilaab. His mother, Teji Bachchan, was an active participant in the Satyagraha movement and, despite her pregnancy, she remained so committed to the cause that many friends of the Bachchans joked that the baby would be called Inquilab. And he was, till his father's friend, the poet and novelist Sumitra Nandan Pant, named him Amitabh which means unlimited.

Although Amitabh Bachchan's Immaan Dharam (1977) proved to be a disaster, the producer went ahead and announced Asmaan with Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha, with Mohan Kumar in the director's seat. Salim-Javed, who had penned the script of Immaan Dharam, were scripting Asmaan as well. However, the film was shelved subsequently.

Amitabh Bachchan and Dilip Kumar were seen on screen for the first time in Ramesh Sippy's Shakti (1982). But much before Shakti happened, Eagle Films had signed Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan and Amjad Khan for their new project, which was to be directed by Yash Chopra. However, the project did not materialize subsequently.

In 1976 Amitabh Bachchan was to star in Manoj Kumar's Naya Bharat, alongside Amitabh it was also supposed to star Manoj Kumar, Hema Malini, Rajesh Khanna, Shashi Kapoor, Shatrughan Sinha, Zeenat Aman and Rishi Kapoor. The film was shelved subsequently.

Amitabh Bachchan was supposed to play one of the lead roles in Shashi Kapoor's Utsav (1984) however; Amitabh opted out of the film. Shashi Kapoor replaced him.