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BOLLYWOOD SPECIAL OCTOBER 21, 2022 | The Indian Eye 34

Big B @80:

A look back at an incredible film

journey which is still going on

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan expresses gratitude to his fans for sending

immense love and wishes on his birthday

OUR BUREAU film genres, from the comedy Chupke
Chupke and the crime drama Faraar
Mumbai
to the romantic drama Mili.
s Amitabh Bachchan, turned On 26 July 1982, while filming a
80 on October 11, his daugh- fight scene with co-actor Puneet Issar
Ater Shweta Bachchan Nan- for Coolie, Bachchan had near-fatal
da shared a glimpse of the intimate intestinal injury. There were long
birthday celebrations on social me- queues of well-wishing fans outside
dia. Shweta took to her Instagram the hospital where he was recuper-
handle and treated fans to a glimpse ating; the public response included
of the 80th birthday celebration of prayers in temples and offers to sacri-
the megastar. In the first picture, the fice limbs to save him. Nevertheless,
father-daughter duo wore bohemi- he resumed filming later that year af-
an-style ethnic outfits. They were all ter a long period of recuperation. The
smiles as they posed. In the next im- director, Manmohan Desai, altered
age, Shweta and Amitabh Bachchan the ending of Coolie: Bachchan’s
were joined by Abhishek in a yel- character was originally intended to
low-coloured kurta pyjama. Sharing have been killed off; but, after the
the picture, she wrote, “Twinning & change of script, the character lived
Winning - perfect end to an incredible in the end. The film was released
day,” with white heart emojis. in 1983, and partly due to the huge
On the occasion of Bachchan’s publicity of Bachchan’s accident, the
birthday, a massive crowd of fans film was a box office success and the
gathered right in front of his Juhu res- top-grossing film of that year.
idence to wish him. Like every year, In 1984, Bachchan took a break
this year too he greeted his fans by from acting and briefly entered pol-
folding his hands and waving at them. itics in support of a long-time family
After celebrating his birthday, friend, Rajiv Gandhi. He contest-
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan ex- ed Allahabad’s seat for the 8th Lok
pressed gratitude to his fans, for Sabha against H. N. Bahuguna, for-
sending immense love and wishes mer Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.
on his birthday. Taking to his Twitter With 68.2% of the votes in his favour,
handle, the Shahenshah of Bolly- he won by one of the highest victory
wood dropped a gratitude note. He Fans offer laddoos (sweets) to the portrait of the legendary actor on his 80th birthday celebra- margins ever in Indian elections.
tweeted, “Thanks to all those who The Government of India hon-
wished Happy Birthday! I am sorry I tions in Prayagraj (earlier called Allahabad), the city he was born at (ANI) oured him with the Padma Shri in
will not be able to answer everyone 1984, the Padma Bhushan in 2001
personally! But your love will always in Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s ‘Anand’ films. He has since appeared in over and the Padma Vibhushan in 2015
be with me!” (1971), for which he won the Filmfare 200 Indian films in a career spanning for his contributions to the arts.
Amitabh Bachchan was born in Award for Best Supporting Actor. more than five decades, He has won Bachchan also made an appearance
1942 in Allahabad to the Hindi poet Prakash Mehra’s action film ‘Zan- numerous accolades in his career, in- in a Hollywood film, Baz Luhrmann’s
Harivansh Rai Bachchan and his wife, jeer’ (1973) established Bachchan as cluding four National Film Awards The Great Gatsby (2013), in which
the social activist Teji Bachchan. He a star to look out for in the industry as Best Actor, Dadasaheb Phalke he played a non-Indian Jewish char-
was educated at Sherwood College, and since then, he has enthralled au- Award as lifetime achievement award acter, Meyer Wolfsheim.
Nainital, and Kirori Mal College, diences with versatile roles. and many awards at international Bachchan has also worked as a
University of Delhi. His film career He gained popularity in the ear- film festivals and award ceremonies. playback singer, film producer and
started in 1969 as a voice narrator in ly 1970s for films such as Zanjeer, He has won sixteen Filmfare Awards television presenter. He has hosted
Mrinal Sen’s film Bhuvan Shome. Deewaar and Sholay, and achieved and is the most nominated performer several seasons of the game show
He began his career with the film greater stardom in later years, he in any major acting category at Film- Kaun Banega Crorepati, India’s
‘Saat Hindustani’ in 1969. He later was dubbed India’s “angry young fare, with 42 nominations overall. version of the game show franchise,
appeared as Dr Bhaskar Banerjee man” for his on-screen roles in Hindi In 1975, he starred in a variety of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

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