Amitabh Bachchan, son of poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, redefined the Hindi film hero in the 1970s. After a quiet start with Saat Hindustani, Zanjeer unleashed the "angry young man" — a brooding, baritone-voiced everyman raging at injustice — and classics like Deewaar and Sholay made him the biggest star Indian cinema had seen. His near-fatal injury on the sets of Coolie in 1982 brought the nation to prayer vigils.

After business setbacks in the 1990s, he engineered one of entertainment's great second acts: hosting Kaun Banega Crorepati made him a living-room fixture, while films from Mohabbatein to Black, Paa and Piku showcased a fearless character actor. Honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the Padma Vibhushan and four Best Actor National Awards, he remains, past eighty, a working icon — appearing recently in Kalki 2898 AD.

Filmography Highlights

• Zanjeer (1973) — Birth of the 'angry young man' persona
• Deewaar (1975) — Landmark crime drama with legendary dialogue
• Sholay (1975) — The most iconic film in Hindi cinema history
• Amar Akbar Anthony (1977) — Masala classic; Filmfare Best Actor
• Don (1978) — Double-role thriller later famously remade
• Agneepath (1990) — Vijay Dinanath Chauhan won him a National Award
• Black (2005) — Acclaimed drama as teacher to a deafblind student
• Piku (2015) — Cantankerous father role; fourth National Award

Image: Wikimedia Commons. Part of the Top 50 Bollywood Celebrities series. Ranking inspired by popular industry listings; profiles are original editorial content.