Showing posts with label Amitabh Bachchan birthday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amitabh Bachchan birthday. Show all posts
Amitabh Bachchan's personal photographer Paresh Mehta opens up like never before on his 84th birthday
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As Amitabh Bachchan turns 84 today, personal photographer Paresh Mehta shares the private caring gestures, Scrabble board notes, and home visits that define the man beyond the legend
Paresh Mehta (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 11, 2026)
One of my most treasured photographs of Shri Amitabh Bachchan began with a Scrabble board. His mother, whom I called Maaji, had written a birthday message on the board: “I love you Munna, happy birthday.”
When he saw it, I took the photograph. I have covered countless important occasions, but I can still see that moment whenever I close my eyes. The man millions knew as a superstar was just a son receiving a message from his mother.
As my boss turns 84 today, it is moments like this that come back to me. After more than three decades as his personal photographer, I have learnt to look beyond the obvious frame. And in life, as often in films, some of the most revealing bits are moments nobody could have planned.
My first frame
I still remember my first call to Pratiksha 30 years ago. Sitting at the reception, nervously checking my cameras and lenses, my heart was racing. When the receptionist finally said AB—as I affectionately call my boss—was asking for me, I gathered my gear and walked inside.
What I saw gave me goosebumps. Amitabh Bachchan ji, Jaya madam ji, Harivansh Rai Bachchan ji, and Teji Bachchan ji were sitting together, with Babuji composing poetry as I entered. My heartbeat soared, but I steadied my hands and began clicking. An hour later, AB said, “Okay, thank you,” and I left to print the photographs. I was going through a difficult personal phase, and those lively images gave me enormous happiness.
That evening, when I handed over the prints, my journey as his personal photographer officially began.
For a long time afterwards, every call from Pratiksha or Jalsa would make me anxious. Had my work met his expectations? His positive responses gradually gave me confidence, but even today, every assignment feels like an examination. He studies the pictures carefully before he chooses what to share. Yet behind that exacting eye lies a deep empathy.
When the boss noticed
Working with Mr Bachchan quickly grew beyond a professional assignment into a relationship built on deep trust and mutual respect. People know him as the Angry Young Man or the towering icon of Indian cinema, but behind the lens, I have witnessed a side that rarely reaches the public eye: caring, remarkably thoughtful, and fiercely disciplined.
During an outstation film shoot early in my career, I was lying ill in my room and missed going to the set. Noticeably absent, my boss came to my room personally during a break. He didn’t just send someone to check on me; he walked in, saw my condition, called a doctor, and waited by my bed until the doctor arrived. He then arranged a flight to Mumbai so I could recover comfortably at home. That is who he is—a megastar with an impossibly demanding schedule who takes time to look after every member of his team.
His attention to those around him can be wonderfully unexpected. After a shoot in Malad, he asked, “Paresh, you stay in Malad, right?” Then he said he wanted to visit my house. He met my family, prayed at our temple and blessed me.
On a trip to Kashmir, I bought him a shawl. He owned so many that I assumed mine might never be worn. Yet, on my birthday, January 3, I saw him wearing it. He had remembered something I had long since stopped expecting him to remember, and clearly, he knew how much that gesture would have meant to me.
Respect in the details
His everyday discipline is legendary. Whether he finishes shooting late into the night, he never skips his gym routine, his spiritual practices, or his commitments. But even this discipline comes with consideration for other people. Once, after a shoot that began at 7 am, we reached the Trident at about 5.35 pm for a 6 pm event. He had not even had lunch, but he waited in the car. I learnt that he did not want an early entrance to unsettle the organisers’ arrangements; so, he went in at exactly six.
On set, his respect for the craft extends to everyone behind the scenes. He ensures technicians have the space they need to do their work. During rehearsals, instead of retreating to his vanity van, he will stand opposite a co-actor for their close-ups—offering his own eyes for them to perform to, knowing how much it elevates their delivery. If he notices a crew member standing without a seat, he immediately asks for a chair to be brought over. These small, thoughtful gestures matter enormously to the people who receive them.
I see that same intense awareness outside Jalsa. Every Sunday, before his scheduled appearances, we prepare our cameras and coordinate with the security teams as massive crowds gather. When he finally steps out, his enthusiasm is infectious—it reminds me of a child running to meet loved ones.
Yet, even in a sea of thousands, his focus never loses the individual. During one chaotic gathering, he spotted a woman whose hand had become trapped in a barricade. He instantly called for security to intervene, personally attended to her, and ensured she received immediate medical care. Within that enormous, roaring crowd, he had noticed one person in distress and made sure she was looked after.
My work has taken me from film sets to family occasions, including Abhishek and Aishwarya’s wedding and Aaradhya’s birth. Those photographs carry a responsibility beyond technique. Some stories and photographs are not mine to share. The confidence placed in me matters as much as the archive. After all these years, I still want every frame to do justice to my boss; I also know that some of my best work must remain with his family.
Ahead of Amitabh Bachchan's 82nd birthday, Anand Pandit announces Trishul 2 with Big B
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On the eve of Bachchan’s 82nd birthday, Sarkar 3 producer Pandit reveals his plan of making Trishul 2 with the legend; says sequel will trace the protagonist’s later years
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; October 10, 2024)
Generations of fans have been inspired by Amitabh Bachchan, be it for his inimitable career or his grace. Among them is producer Anand Pandit. Last year, the real estate developer-producer had recounted to mid-day how he had arrived from Gujarat to Mumbai to make a mark for himself, inspired by Bachchan’s character Vijay in Trishul (Thinking big, thanks to Big B, Dec 29). Now, on the eve of the legend’s 82nd birthday, the producer has the perfect gift for him. Pandit plans to make a sequel to the 1978 offering with Bachchan.
“I have watched Trishul almost 60 times, and it impacted me deeply when it was released. The story of a man, who comes with nothing to a city and makes it big in the construction business, inspired me immensely,” shares Pandit. He says the sequel will be a manifestation of his dream. “It will be my tribute to the man, who began to influence my life even before he met me in person. Trishul was a cinematic masterpiece and it was Amitji’s performance that motivated me to move to Mumbai.”
Helmed by the late Yash Chopra and boasting an all-star cast of Sanjeev Kumar, Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Waheeda Rehman, Rakhee and Hema Malini, the movie told the story of an illegitimate child, who, fuelled by his anger towards his father, aims to destroy him. The sequel is in the nascent stages, with the producer yet to speak to Bachchan or the original’s makers about it. But Pandit has the story ready.
He says, “Trishul 2 will narrate how life unfolded for Vijay after being accepted in the Gupta family. It would be fascinating to find out if he lived happily ever after with Geeta [Rakhee’s character], if his own family grew, and whether he was able to heal his wounds.”
If things work out, this will mark his fifth collaboration with Bachchan after Sarkar 3 (2017), Chehre (2021), Fakt Mahilao Maate (2022) and Fakt Purusho Maate. Pandit also backed Abhishek Bachchan’s The Big Bull (2021). Trishul 2, however, is not just a professional aspiration for the producer.
“This will be my heartfelt tribute to a superstar, who has meant the world to me.” Asked if he has zeroed in on a director yet, he says, “I haven’t thought about it, but it will likely be a young, new director.”
Amitabh Bachchan’s 81st birthday: Child actors share their best memories
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On Amitabh Bachchan’s 81st birthday today, Rishabh Suri tracks down child stars who acted with the legend. They share their best memories with the Shehenshah of cinema
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 11, 2023)
SWINI KHARA (CHEENI KUM, 2007)
When I first met him on set, I wasn’t aware of his classics Sholay (1975) or Shahenshah (1988), but I loved Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001). I didn’t realise what a big deal it was while shooting with him as a kid, but I did when I grew up. Back then, I would play with him on set and he taught me how to deliver my dialogues between takes. I fell out of touch with him as, at 25, I don’t work in the industry. I wish him a happy birthday!
PARTH BHALERAO (BHOOTHNATH RETURNS, 2014)
Before I met Amit sir for the first time, I was scared if I would be able to even act or not. I had gone to meet him with director Nitesh (Tiwari) sir, and touched his feet. He told me, ‘Arre tum toh champion ho, mere bagal mein baitho’. He was like a friend to me throughout the shoot and matched my energy. Once, while waiting for a shot, I was drinking milk and had to leave it midway. Amit sir said, ‘Arre Nitesh, jaldi karo, inka doodh thanda ho raha hai’ (laughs). As a 23-year-old, I am still in touch with him. Since shooting for the film, I have met him twice. He told me to stay in touch and let him known whenever I was in Mumbai. He watched my film Killa (2014) and told me he loved it. Like always, I will wish him on his birthday.
SMIT SHETH (Aankhen, 2002; BAGHBAN, 2003)
Amitabh sir is a mega star but was a humble person to work with. After working with him in Aankhen and Baghban, I then met him at the premiere of Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey (2010), where I acted alongside his son, actor Abhishek Bachchan. He quickly recognised me. The one thing I remember is that he would sit on three chairs stacked on top of each other as he was very tall. He also had a nice collection of SUVs. I am not 29 and I stopped acted in 2010 took a career deviation. I wish Amitabh sir good health and more success.
Amitabh Bachchan's 80th birthday: Kaun Banega Crorepati team shoots special episode with Ustad Amjad Ali Khan
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To mark Bachchan’s 81st b’day tomorrow, KBC team shoots special episode that sees Ustad Amjad Ali Khan; Vidya, Chiranjeevi and Vicky wish the megastar
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; October 10, 2023)
There are numerous ways in which Amitabh Bachchan has touched the lives of his fans and friends—sometimes through his films, and at other times, through his benevolence. And there can’t be a better occasion than his birthday to thank the megastar for it. Ahead of his 81st birthday on October 11, the Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) team shot a special episode that has Vidya Balan, Chiranjeevi, Vicky Kaushal, Anupam Kher and Boman Irani conveying their warm wishes to him.
For the episode that will be aired tomorrow, the team brought in sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan to surprise the actor.
“Ustad Amjad Ali Khan presented a medley of songs. Then, to the megastar’s surprise, actors Vidya, Chiranjeevi, Vicky, Anupam and Boman wished him through video messages. While he has worked with Vidya on Paa [2009], Te3n [2016] and many more, he had a guest appearance in Chiranjeevi’s Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy [2019]. Big B recently collaborated with Anupam and Boman on Uunchai [2022]. All of them spoke warmly about how he had inspired their love for acting,” reveals a source.
The legend was teary-eyed by the outpouring of love. “Usually I am the one who gives people tissues, but now, it’s my turn,” he quipped, before adding that he holds the birthday celebrations on the KBC set closest to his heart. Last year, Jaya and Abhishek Bachchan had featured in the special birthday episode.
I would like to wish Amitabh Bachchan the best till his next 80 years-Zeenat Aman
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Onkar Kulkarni and Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; October 12, 2022)
Mr Amitabh Bachchan has led his life by example in his professional and personal life. He has always been extremely dedicated, punctual, disciplined and most importantly, someone who is very easy to work with. I knew Mr Bachchan even before I started acting in films.
I knew him personally because we were all a part of his younger brother Ajitabh Bachchan’s friends’ group. So, there was never a question of getting overwhelmed or nervous in his presence. I shared a good friendship with him and his family. Even when I acted in Roti Kapda Aur Makaan (1974), where I was not paired opposite him, it was easy working with him.
We shot for The Great Gambler (1979) in many different countries and for the song Raqqasa Mera Naam, we went to Cairo (Egypt), which is one of the most important tourist spots in the world.
But Mr Bachchan continuously kept cheering me on and saying, ‘Go India, you can do it!’ It was one of the most memorable incidents of working with him. Then again, we shot for Don in many countries and because of the beauty of Italy and Venice, the song Do Lafzon Ki was beautifully portrayed. People liked our pairing and chemistry because we gave our 100 per cent to each scene that we performed together.
Also, he has a great charisma on screen and is fabulous in each scene — whether he is doing action, romance or a tragic part. I enjoyed working with him in Laawaris and Dostana, too. There is so much to respect and admire about Amitabh Bachchan, he is a towering figure and I would like to wish him the best till his next 80 years.”
Amitabh Bachchan has done everything that other actors of our generation have not-Hema Malini
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Onkar Kulkarni and Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; October 12, 2022)
The first time we were working together, he was so quiet on the sets. Then slowly we started talking. It was the time he was meeting producers and directors for work (as a newcomer), and he told me that he saw me on the sets of Abhinetri (1970), where he observed me from a distance. From then to now, we have done so many films together like Kasauti (1974), Nastik (1983), Desh Premee (1982), Naseeb (1981), Satte Pe Satta (1982) and of course, Baghban (2003).
It was after a small gap that I started working in Baghban. I was wondering ki main kaise kar paungi. I was nervous and told him about it. He told me, ‘Don’t worry, I am also in the same boat as you, toh hum dono milke saath kar lenge’.That is how we began the shoot with our first shot on the mahurat day where we are holding each other’s hands and walking down the stairs.
Recently, we also shot for a special episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati. It felt like meeting the same person who I met on the sets of Naseeb or Satte Pe Satta. He is someone who’s always ready to explore. From making an entry into Bollywood, becoming the angry young man, taking a plunge into television, becoming a host, being the face of so many brands and becoming a pro at social media — he’s done everything, which other actors of our generation have not.
As we worked through the decades, he told me that one must keep their brains busy all the time. He said, ‘You have to keep working. Aap dimaag ko itna hamesha kaam dena ki you will forget about everything and just keep working. Otherwise, the brain will start slowing down and won’t be able to do anything. Don’t let that happen and just keep yourself busy always.’
He has got the gift of gab. He communicates and connects with people. People of our generation look up to him. They all want to be like him. Amit ji’s contribution in his long and eventful career as a film artiste and public figure has been phenomenal. It is wonderful to see him enter his 80th year with the same confidence and felicity that marked his entry into films over 50 years ago.
As an individual, he has garnered so much respect, affection and adoration, yet he’s still the same. I don’t find any change in him. His hair might have turned grey, but nothing’s changed. He is still very naughty, mischievous, and sometimes serious and grumpy. He changes the mood on the sets with his entry and persona. I really feel fortunate that I have worked with him in so many beautiful films and I will always cherish the great box office hits we have given together.
Amitabh Bachchan visits Tirupati to ring in his 80th birthday on an auspicious note
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Bachchan visits Tirupati to ring in milestone birthday on an auspicious note; muted family celebration due to the demise of politician-friend Mulayam Singh Yadav
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; October 11, 2022)
What would be a fitting way to celebrate the 80th birthday of one of Indian cinema’s giants? While many would opt for a grand celebration, Amitabh Bachchan thinks otherwise. The megastar has chosen to mark his milestone birthday today with the two things he cherishes the most — devotion, and family. On Monday afternoon, he flew off to Tirupati to ring in his big day on an auspicious note. The veteran actor, along with his family, will offer a special puja at the Venkateswara Temple today.
Bachchan, who has been filming Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) 14, has taken a few days off from the shoot. A source reveals, “After spending Monday night at Tirupati, the family will have a special puja early in the morning, and are likely to fly back to Mumbai later in the day. They have decided against a celebration due to the demise of Samajwadi Party chief and family friend Mulayam Singh Yadav.”
Bachchan is known to have a birthday ritual — when in the city, he begins his day with a puja at Jalsa, after which he heads to Pratiksha and spends a few hours in his late parents’ room. His day is incomplete until he meets his legion of fans who throng his Juhu residence for a glimpse of him. For the evening, a quiet dinner has been lined up with wife Jaya, children Abhishek and Shweta Nanda, daughter-in-law Aishwarya, and grandchildren Navya Naveli, Agastya and Aaradhya.
To mark the occasion, the makers of KBC have shot a special episode that sees actor-wife Jaya, and Abhishek take the hot seat opposite Bachchan.
Fans cheer on for Big B
Among Bachchan’s biggest fan clubs, the AB EF Team Worldwide is celebrating its idol’s landmark birthday over two days across Mumbai and Chennai. The function will start with a prayer at the ISKCON Temple in Juhu.
Sanjay Jumani, administrator of the fan club, says, “We had a round of cake-cutting for 2,350 kids of the Gold Heart Foundation in Chennai. We also sponsored [essentials] at an old-age home in Mahakali Caves.”
A special van featuring Bachchan’s looks from his various films will do the rounds of Juhu today. On Monday, Abhishek Bachchan and Shweta Bachchan Nanda attended a special screening of Don at PVR Juhu, with the megastar’s fans.
Happy 80th Birthday Amitabh Bachchan: Theatre owners recall the Don of silver screens
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Bella Jaisinghani (THE TIMES OF INDIA; October 11, 2022)
A diminishing breed of single screen owners and managers today remember the Shahenshah’s reign as the high noon of cinema. TOI spoke to exhibitors in Mumbai, Kolkata and Belgaum who recalled the frenzy when an Amitabh movie came up for release.
Manoj Desai, executive director of G-7 Multiplex (Gaiety-Galaxy), Bandra, and Maratha Mandir, Mumbai Central, says, “The public went mad, especially for the films he made with Manmohan Desai, Yash Chopra and Prakash Mehra. They would buy tickets for multiple shows and watch back-to-back.”
Desai produced the star’s ‘Khuda Gawah’. Azam Patel, manager of Nishat Talkies near Nagpada, describes a line of 15-20 halls in south Mumbai named Roshan, Gulshan, Moti, Alankar, Shalimar, Super, Alfred, Royal, etc, in an era when watching films required entry into an auditorium. “At each of them, long lines unfolded, all shows were packed to capacity,” he said.
Amit Singh, manager of Hindmata Gold, Dadar, remembers teary-eyed audiences exiting shows of ‘Baghban’. “The next batch of spectators would notice this too. This is how word spread about Bachchan’s extraordinary performance,” said Singh, who as a student made multiple rounds of halls in his native Jaunpur before he bagged tickets to ‘Mohabbatein’.
Manager Errol Lobo of Liberty Cinema said, “When ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’ released, queues stretched right up to Marine Lines station. We would ration two tickets per person to make sure all who had waited for hours got to see the film. Police kept vigil to ensure there was no black marketing.”
The scene was replicated in other cities. Avinash Potdar, owner of Nartaki theatre in Belgaum, said, “It was a golden era for exhibitors. People would bring bedrolls and camp outside the hall day and night till they got tickets.”
His nephew Nitin said, “First-time viewers like me would be baffled when Amitabh would start to say in ‘Kaalia’, ‘Hum jahaan khade hote hain’ and the entire hall would chorus, ‘Line wahin se shuru hoti hai!’ We heard only part of the dialogues, the rest was drowned out in whistles, catcalls or choruses!”
Kolkata has a special fascination for its “Jamai Babu”, said veteran producer-distributor Krishna Kumar Mangla of Bijoli Cinema who is known as Lalaji in the trade. “Amitabh started his career in Kolkata and he is also married to a Bengali, Jaya. I remember that two theatres Paradise and Orient had released Shakti. They are located barely 200 metres from each other. In both places, mobs were beating down the ticket windows demanding seats, and ‘maara maari’ broke out,” said Lalaji.
Niloufer Dubash, who owns Paradise cinema in Mahim, was surprised when scarcely anybody left the hall to buy refreshments during the interval of ‘Paa’. “People were stunned by his performance and would not even step out for popcorn. We made a good sale of tickets although the food counter sales suffered,” she laughed.
Amitabh Bachchan was an untapped dynamo before we paired-Salim Khan
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Salim Khan with Bachchan and Dilip Kumar
In a conversation with Mohammed Wajihuddin, writer Salim Khan deconstructs the myth behind the legend
Mohammed Wajihuddin (THE TIMES OF INDIA; October 11, 2022)
Q: Why did Bachchan personify the angry young man of India?
A: Cinema mirrors society. The youth of 1970s were disillusioned with corruption, nepotism. Amitabh became the hero who took on the forces that polluted the system. Disenchanted with pervasive hopelessness, the masses identified with Amitabh’s characters--the common man who wanted to right the wrongs and didn’t mind if he broke a few rules in the process.
Q: Why did established actors of the day refuse Zanjeer?
A: Before Zanjeer (1973), Amitabh had several flops and just two hits — Bombay To Goa and Anand. It was an era when films were made around stories of love and betrayal punctuated with melodrama and songs. Rajesh Khanna ruled. When we wrote Zanjeer, initially no one would touch it because it was so devoid of romance that the hero doesn’t hold the heroine’s hand even once. Dharmendra, Dev Anand, Dilip Kumar, Raaj Kumar — they all refused, they found the plot dry and not much for themselves in it. Once Dilip saab told me that he regretted refusing three films—Pyaasa, Baiju Bawra and Zanjeer.
Q: Was Zanjeer a gamechanger for both Bachchan and Salim-Javed?
A: Amitabh was immensely talented and needed a breakthrough script. When we created the character of police inspector Vijay Khanna, it suited the lanky figure with a booming baritone. I remember telling producer-director Prakash Mehra during the first day first show that the film would create history.
We were watching the scene where Sher Khan (Pran) visits the inspector and tries to sit. Vijay fumes: “Jab tak baithne ko na kaha jaaye, sharafat se khade raho, yeh police station hai, tumhere baap ka ghar nahin.”
Watching that scene, I told Prakash Mehra the film would be a hit. The intensity with which Amitabh delivered this line told us he had a lot of fire that needed to be tapped. We did it in subsequent films (Deewar, Trishul, Sholay...).
Q: He carried the roles that Salim-Javed wrote for him...
A: Amitabh was an untapped dynamo before we paired. He was educated and hugely talented but had not got the scripts to use his potential. Our scripts gave him ample opportunities.
Q: Why do we have a dearth of good scripts these days?
A: Today writers don’t read. When I came from Indore (Akhtar came from Bhopal) to Bombay to become an actor, I soon realized that acting would not take me to the peak. I turned to scriptwriting. A public library in Mahim became my second home. I read books and watched films voraciously.
I wanted to pay tribute to Amitabh Bachchan's legacy-Anand Pandit
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Chehre producer pledges meals to 8,000 underprivileged kids and 800 hearing aids to senior citizens
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 11, 2022)
Producer Anand Pandit counts himself lucky to have worked with Amitabh Bachchan. Having collaborated with the megastar on Chehre last year, the producer says that the veteran actor’s passion for his craft remains unmatched. “At a time when most people would be content to wind down and enjoy the fruits of their labour, Mr Bachchan is at the peak of his powers as an actor,” he says.
As Bachchan turns a glorious 80 today, his long-time friend has decided to mark the milestone with a special gesture. Pandit has pledged to distribute 8,000 meals today in orphanages across Mumbai and Gujarat. He will also donate 800 hearing aids to senior citizens and kids in Mumbai. Helping others is a lesson he has learnt from the legend, says the producer.
“As a fan, I watched every Bachchan film, and then had the privilege of working with him. What I have learnt from observing him is that human beings have an immense power to not only achieve extraordinary success for themselves, but also to inspire others to dream big and achieve glory. The impact he has had on others through his life and work is immeasurable. I wanted to pay tribute to the man and his legacy with this gesture.”
Happy 80th Birthday Amitabh Bachchan: Filmmakers revisit their journey with the superstar
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Eight decades of Amitabh Bachchan! In retro mode, filmmakers talk to us, revisiting their journey with the superstar and what makes the association so special on his 80th birthday
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; October 11, 2022)
For as long as one can remember, Amitabh Bachchan has adorned the big and small screens around us. Whether he’s the angry young man, the revenge-seeking common man, the disciplinarian father, the army officer, the lovable father who is as vocal about his motions as his emotions, or the cool and affable TV show host — there’s no role that the actor hasn’t played with utmost ease and relatability. One might fall short of words to describe the phenomenon that is Amitabh Bachchan, but he never falls short of impressing his audience with one solid act after another.
On his 80th birthday, filmmakers from different time zones in his life talk about what truly makes him the BIG B!
Amitabh beats all descriptions and measures of success: Ramesh Sippy
My introduction to Amitabh Bachchan was his performance in N C Sippy and Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Anand. One immediately noticed him, despite the towering presence of the nation’s then heartthrob, Rajesh Khanna. There was something so honest about him that he drew your attention, effortlessly. You couldn’t miss that he was a natural at what he did. Then, I saw Mehmood’s Bombay To Goa where he was the complete opposite of his character in Anand. When Salim-Javed suggested his name for Jay in Sholay, my attention was immediately drawn to the memory of these two films and his roles in them.
He was almost the last one to be cast in Sholay. I didn’t want a big star; I had plenty already and handling so many people is a task, but when I heard Javed Akhtar talking about his work in Zanjeer, I decided to cast him. The industry had almost cast him out at that time; as he had a few failures behind him. But I think I was lucky to have nabbed him at the right time.
Sholay started our association. His role in Sholay was also not one that needed overplay. It was boisterous in parts. Of course, after his huge success, he became a one-man show who could do anything and everything so well. It became more and more difficult to capture him in something less. Zanjeer, Deewaar and Sholay just ensured there was no looking back for him. And his legendary run was not something anyone could have pre-empted; no one had thought, and no one could have
guessed he will rule this industry for 50 years. I am no exception to that.
Amitabh continued to grow. How tall can a man grow? Amitabh beats all descriptions and measures of success. The credit for that goes entirely to him. I was fortunate to have been on the National Awards jury twice, in 2010-11 and 2016. His performance in Paa was so incredible and totally different from what one expects of him. I had to give it to him. It was outstanding and rare. He won another one for Piku where his role as Bhashkor Bannerjee was so brilliant. Of course, the directors in both cases are fantastic, too. So, over years, you may keep feeling what’s left for him to do, and there is always going to be something more. There is no end to Amitabh Bachchan. He is forever!
I love the mystique and enigma that Amitabh Bachchan is, and I don’t want that shattered: R Balki
I thought of a film for Amit ji when I made Cheeni Kum. I cast the story for him. It was the other way around. It wasn’t an older man falling in love with a younger woman. It was a story that wouldn’t work without Amitabh Bachchan and Tabu. He’s not an old man; he’s Amitabh Bachchan.
He comes packaged with his trademark sarcasm, wit and poker-faced rudeness — that’s just a perfect blend. My equation with Mr Bachchan has been exactly the same from day one till now. Even today, if I have an idea, I message him and if he likes it, I write it out for him. I love the mystique and enigma that he is, and I don’t want that shattered. I don’t want to analyze it. Being nervous around him just breaks that enigma. So, I have never been nervous in front of him and he, too, has made me so comfortable. He is an aspiration for everyone, and my relationship with him is that of a huge fan and a person who is aware of what I like about him.
It’s surreal that I have worked with him. I remember when we were making Paa, we both were convinced about the film. Abhishek and Vidya needed convincing. Even when Mr Bachchan says the deepest of things, he has still eyes and a still face which is the power of a great actor. People don’t often understand that when you act, you don’t have to make it loud and evident. Mr Bachchan doesn’t, and that’s his superpower!
His values are will remain so. They are in his DNA: Nitesh Tiwari
Over the years, I’ve worked with Mr Bachchan at different levels. The first time I had a chance to watch him up close was when I gate-crashed his ad shoot (made by my then company). I wasn’t part of the process then, but I have been such a fan since childhood that I couldn’t resist being on that set and silently observing him. I came home so happy that day. Then came the Kaun Banega Crorepati campaign where I interacted with him one-on-one. I usually don’t get nervous, but I was meeting my childhood hero and working with him was something else.
Over the years, I worked with him very closely and got to know him more closely. In my movie Bhoothnath Returns, he was the central character. Today, I can say that our relationship is a bit more than professional. His values are intact, and they will remain so. They’re in his DNA. His punctuality, discipline, hard work and dedication are unmatched. As an artiste, you know how big he is and yet, he is willing to understand and give his best for your vision.
Anyone who has worked with Amitabh Bachchan will agree that he’s like an addiction: Rajkumar Santoshi
Describing Amit ji as an actor is like sooraj ko deepak dikhana. Words will always fall short. In my opinion and understanding of him, he’s a better human being than an actor. He’s par excellence in his field but he’s a far, far nicer human being. He respects everyone’s time. That’s the reason he’s never late. Waqt aur insaan dono ki kadar hai unko. He never wants anyone to bear losses. And with him in the team, people automatically fall in line. Koi kitna bhi experienced ya naya ho, he treats everyone like his teachers. He listens intently and tries every possible method to give the director what he’s looking for. He has no ego and no hassles.
Whenever he enters a set, he has that little naughty smile and he jokes around and has fun with everyone. We filmed Khakee and Family together. We had shot Power for seven days and then I regret not being able to complete it. But anyone who has worked with Amitabh Bachchan will agree that he’s like an addiction, he just spoils you for life. If you don’t work with him, you feel something is just missing. But working with him is also a responsibility; as you have to justify his presence in a movie. On his 80th birthday, I just wish he continues his run till beyond 100 years.
Amitabh Bachchan: The voice that launched a thousand dreams
8:11 AM
On His 80th Birthday, TOI Traces The Rise And Rise Of An Artiste Who Keeps Reinventing Himself
Mohua Da (THE TIMES OF INDIA; October 11, 2022)
Actor. TV show host. Occasional singer. Phenomenon. Amitabh Bachchan, who has towered over the world of entertainment as much as the cultural scene for nearly five decades, turns 80 today.
The ‘Big B’ isn’t limited to his roles—he’s been voted ‘greatest star of stage or screen’ in a BBC poll, became the first living Asian to have a wax statue at Madame Tussauds, was conferred France’s highest civilian honour, and carried the Olympic torch. Likewise, he underscores the famous ‘baritone’, which has its own separate identity.
In its latest outing, the voice—that has launched a thousand brands, drawn tourists to Gujarat, rendered Holi parties incomplete without ‘Rang Barse’—is a household companion who wishes you ‘happy birthday’ and delivers jokes, poetry, even weather updates, all at the tap of a mic and the wake word ‘Amitji’, which brings alive a smart home assistant.
Alternating between rumbling to nonchalant, a pivotal facet of the screen persona has been the sonorous voice that make the most mundane words rich with possibility. Curiously, Bachchan’s stint in cinema as a faceless narrator took off before his career as an actor. After an unsuccessful attempt to land a job at All India Radio, his voice made its debut when filmmaker Mrinal Sen used it for the sutradhar (narrator) in Bhuvan Shome (1969).
The voice box has spawned a cottage industry of soundalikes, prompting the actor to copyright it after a tobacco manufacturer allegedly copied it to promote their gutkha. However, there are impersonators Bachchan himself encourages. Remember ‘Jumma chumma’ or ‘Sona sona’, songs that people think the actor sang?
Sudesh Bhosle takes it as a compliment. “I recorded them in front of Bachchan saab, it’s he who personally recommends me for some of his songs and supervises the recording,” says Bhosle who draws on the actor’s body language. “I need to place my hands on the waist and droop my shoulders to get his iconic ‘hain’.”
Chetan Sashital who dubs commercials in Bachchan’s voice, says he achieves the soundscape by “breathing deeper from the diaphragm… it’s incorrect to define his voice as just a baritone. It’s how he modulates, breathes, pauses and his sharp diction that allows him to switch from a commanding tone one heard in Deewaar to a raspier Sarkar to a grouchy Mirza.”
Both fill in at Bachchan’s behest “when he’s unavailable or his throat isn’t in good shape or after written or oral permission from him.” “His voice is his intellectual property and we have to guard against any mischief or misuse,” says Sashital.
Bhosle adds, “I check with his office to ensure it’s not a brand that is trying to get me because they can’t afford Bachchan saab.”
The industry exists in regional languages too. Some of Kerala’s best mimics are known for their Bachchan impressions. Be it late Kalabhavan Abi who would dub for Malayalam versions of the actor’s ads or Ashraf Thalassery who was his duplicate in the Malayalam movie ‘Guppy’.
It is perhaps his ability to tease out emotions from every word in a “resonant deep vocal timbre,” says sound designer Bishwadeep Chatterjee. “No matter how much he modulates by raising or dropping the pitch, there is incredible consistency in his vocal persona. Never too thin, nor too soft,” says Chatterjee who has worked on several Big B films. “He is so passionate about his dialogues, voiceovers or singing that he’s built a state-of-the-art recording studio in his house.”
There’s science as well to this unique vocal imprint. In the last two years, studies have indicated that taller men are perceived as more formidable, partly because their voices are lower in pitch. Research at Pennsylvania State University confirmed that tall men had lower frequencies partly because longer vocal tracts and larger vocal folds generate lower, more resonant voices while another study by an anthropologist at Boston University found men with low, resonant voices are more likely to be perceived as “attractive, masculine, respectable, and dominant”.
All hold true for the 6.2ft tall actor whose ‘baritone’ was the overwhelming answer to a survey on whose voice people wanted to hear if they dialled a call centre.
Big B memory loot: An exhibit marks Amitabh Bachchan's 80th birthday with unseen memorabilia
8:41 AM
An archivist who began collecting Bachchan keepsakes since he was a boy of 10 in UP is ready to co-host an exhibit that showcases never-seen-before memorabilia to mark the actor’s 80th birthday
Yusra Husain (MID-DAY; October 9, 2022)
This story begins in Uttar Pradesh, somewhere between Lucknow and Kanpur, cities where SMM Ausaja spent his youth. His obsession with Amitabh Bachchan began when he was 10. The year was 1981, an era when film postcards were still sold by the roadside. Young boys and girls spent their meagre pocket money on buying a postcard; otherwise they would make do with cutting up pages from film magazines.
Ausaja says a postcard of film Kaalia which released on December 25, 1981, was one of the first to go into his collection, which has grown over the decades to make the Andheri resident one of India’s largest private collector of all things archival about Indian cinema and Bachchan in particular.
In the year that the superstar of Hindi cinema readies to celebrate his 80th birthday, Ausaja along with the Film Heritage Foundation (FHF) and PVR Cinemas has planned an exhibit titled ‘Bachchan: Back to the Beginning,’ as it attempts to bring alive the 1970s and ‘80s, both decades when Bachchan ruled Bollywood as hero. Scheduled to run from October 8 to 11 at the PVR Juhu lounge, the exhibit will display Bachchan memorabilia that Ausaja says is being shown to the public for the first time. Perhaps, the only time.
The showcase is part of a larger four-day film festival that surrounds the same theme, organized by FHF and PVR Cinemas, and expects to screen 11 of the actor’s super-hit movies including Don, Deewar, Chupke Chupke, Kaala Pathar, Amar Akbar Anthony, Satta Pe Satta and Namak Halal across 25 cinema halls in 18 cities.
“Growing up, I was the biggest Amitabh Bachchan fan. I used to break bounds when I was in school to watch his films and was often thrown out of class in college for sitting on the back benches and writing notes about his films. It has been a mammoth task putting together the best of his early films which launched him as a superstar and to showcase these films so that audiences across the country can enjoy the films the way they were originally screened–on the big screen,” says FHF founder director Shivendra Singh Dungarpur.
Ausaja says he is what he is today—film historian, archivist and author, thanks to the actor. “He has allowed me into his life ever since I first met him in 1999,” Ausaja tells mid-day. “He doesn’t speak much but his gestures speak volumes. He is aware that I have been archiving material on him for most of my adult life, and I have written books too, but when we meet, he doesn’t shower me with praise. Without my knowledge, he does little things that make a difference.”
Ausaja remembers how when a collector’s edition title was launched on Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Bachchan sent him a signed copy. “This is huge for me. For anyone. It’s Amit ji taking out time to send you something, anything!”
Bachchan remembered to invite Ausaja to his 60th birthday celebration, and he is a regular at his Holi parties. For Bachchan’s 70th birthday, Ausaja was picked to organise an exhibition as part of the Big B 70 celebrations organised by the actor’s wife, actress and politician Jaya Bachchan, and Kokilaben Ambani. For the upcoming exhibit, Bachchan’s son, actor Abhishek Bachchan took to Twitter to share the poster of Bachchan: Back To The Beginning and wrote, “Even more epicness!!!! All the best @smmausaja all your many years of hard work and perseverance” (sic).
Ausaja says that when he met Bachchan first in 1999, he was working as the head of production firm run by reality television star and late politician Pramod Mahajan’s son, Rahul Mahajan. “We had held a Kargil victory concert on August 15, 1999 in Srinagar for which Amit ji agreed to perform. After all the decades of archiving his work, I was able to meet him personally during this project. I have kept in touch post. When I wrote my first book, Bollywood In Posters in 2009, I approached him to have a look at it. He took me by surprise when he recommended that I release it at that year’s IIFA. He not only made it happen, but personally launched it in Macau.”
The book has a collection of both hand-painted and digitized Bollywood posters starting from the 1930s. It went on to be nominated for the Vodafone-Crossword Book Awards under the Best Non-Fiction and Best Popular Book categories.
Years of collecting data on the man has allowed him a little more access than the common fan. He remembers the time he spotted a pair of baby pink shoes in his size in his vanity van. “I also don’t know which perfume he wears, but he smells like heaven.”
In filmi style, Ausaja has the last word when he says about Bachchan’s stardom, “When you have luck, you are Jeetendra. When you have talent, you are Naseeruddin Shah. But when you have both, luck and talent, you are Amitabh Bachchan.”
Check out at the exhibit
Shahenshah jacket
His iconic dialogue from the 1988 film Shahenshah, “Rishte mai toh hum tumhare baap hote hain...naam hai Shahenshah,” became as famous as the leather jacket ordained with original steel links on the right arm. The original jacket will be on display. “It was procured from Vistas Media Capital which owns the NFT platform Fantico. In November 2021, it was sold to a Dubai-based NRI for Rs. 12.5 lakh, but he is yet to acquire it from VMC, so this will perhaps also be the last time that the public will view it, before the buyer acquires possession,” says Ausaja, who is also vice-president of Fantico.
3D artwork
Three-dimensional artwork by award winning artist Shailesh Achrekar which appears at first glance like a painted portrait but when viewed from a variety of angles, flashes scenes from Bachchan’s films. A Giant Deewar cutout also festures. “There is also a seven-feet tall cut-out of Amit ji wearing the knotted-shirt from Deewar. Visitors can take selfies with the artwork designed by senior cinema poster designer Shrikant Dhongade,” says Ausaja.
On-the-set frame
A photograph of Bachchan and Jaya from the sets of Abhimaan which released a month after their 1973 wedding makes up a collection that Ausaja says is not readily available online.
Don to Namak Halaal: Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic films set to return to the big screen
9:56 PM
To celebrate Amitabh Bachchan’s 80th birthday, the film festival ‘Bachchan Back To The Beginning’, to be held from October 8 to 11, will include screenings of the star’s classic movies in 17 cities across the country
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; October 3, 2022)
To celebrate Amitabh Bachchan’s 80th birthday, the Film Heritage Foundation has curated a film festival for his fans titled – Bachchan Back To The Beginning – that will bring the superstar’s iconic films back to the big screen. The four-day film festival will be held from October 8-11 in 17 cities, with 172 showcases. Moviegoers across the country can catch Big B’s classics like Don, Kaala Patthar, Kaalia, Kabhie Kabhie and Amar Akbar Anthony in theatres.
Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, Director, Film Heritage Foundation, says, “Growing up, I was the biggest Amitabh Bachchan fan. I used to break rules to watch his films in my school days. In fact, in college, I was often thrown out of class for sitting on the back benches and writing notes about his films. I am so glad that the Film Heritage Foundation is paying tribute to him on his 80th birthday with this first-of-its-kind, countrywide, four-day festival.”
A special price of Rs. 80 has been decided for each film (as a nod to his 80th b’day celebration), and those who want to watch all the films can purchase a special movie pass for Rs. 400.
IMAGINE LISTENING TO PYAAR HUMEIN KIS MOD PE LE AAYA ON THE BIG SCREEN: SRIRAM RAGHAVAN
Filmmaker Sriram Raghavan, who is a huge Bachchan fan, says, “Shivender Singh Dungarpur’s organisation has been doing wonderful work. Just imagine, you can watch Don, Kala Patthar and Satte Pe Satta on the big screen again! Imagine watching and listening to Pyaar Humein Kis Mod Pe Le Aaya all over again. I have grown up on those movies and I’ve seen most of them multiple times in school and college, sometimes even buying tickets in black.”
Moviegoers from Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, to Ahmedabad, Surat, Baroda, Raipur, Kanpur, Kolhapur, Prayagraj and Indore, will be able to watch these films.
NEVER THOUGHT THERE’D BE A DAY WHEN ALL THESE FILMS FROM MY EARLY CAREER WOULD BE BACK ON THE BIG SCREEN: BIG B
Amitabh Bachchan says, “I didn’t think that I would see a day when all these films from my early career would be back on the big screen across the country. It is a remarkable initiative by the Film Heritage Foundation to showcase not just my work, but the work of my directors, fellow actors and technicians of the time, who made these films possible. It brings back an era that is gone, but not forgotten. This is why saving India’s film heritage is so important. I hope that this is just the beginning of many festivals that will celebrate the landmark films of Indian cinema (bringing them) back on the big screen.”
The FHF is also planning to curate many more such film festivals. Shivendra says, “I want producers to understand that there is a huge demand for these films and cinema lovers who never got an opportunity to watch these iconic films in theatres would love to do so. There is a need for restoration of our old films.”
Amitabh Bachchan scraps ad contract with pan masala brand
8:20 AM
THE TIMES OF INDIA (October 12, 2021)
Mumbai: On the occasion of his 79th birthday on Monday, actor Amitabh Bachchan announced on social media that he had terminated his contract with a pan masala brand just days after its commercial was aired.
It is learnt that a national anti-tobacco organisation, supported by doctors from the cancer hub Tata Memorial Hospital, had reached out to the actor to ask him to stop promoting pan masala as it is carcinogenic. “Mr Bachchan is the true hero for cancelling the endorsement,” said Tata Memorial Centre professor and oral cancer surgeon Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, who is part of the NGO Voice of Tobacco Victims.
On Monday, Bachchan’s blog carried a statement from his office that said, “...A few days after the commercial was aired, Mr Bachchan contacted the brand and stepped out of it last week.” It further said that when Bachchan became associated with the brand, he wasn’t aware that it fell under the category of surrogate advertising. The money received for the promotion too has been returned, it added.
Bachchan added his reaction, saying, “Some decisions were needed to be made and they have been made and done ... am no longer their ambassador.”
Earlier, during social media interactions, Bachchan had responded to a query by stating he agreed to the assignment because “I get paid,” as do people working in the industry. “We pointed out to him that gutka and pan masala have been banned in 11 states, including Maharashtra. So, in a way, one is promoting poison by associating with it,” said Dr Chaturvedi.
He further said the NGO had reached out to many actors who endorse pan masala or elachis that are used as surrogate advertisements for gutka. “Tobacco cannot be advertised, but there are many products -- such as clothes label, stationery, bottled water or soft drinks and even food items -- made by tobacco companies to promote their brand,” said the doctor. When gutka was banned, sale of pouches of pan masala and smokeless tobacco went up. People bought them separately and mixed them.”
On his birthday, we invited 100 ardent fans whom Amitabh Bachchan recognizes and knows by their names-Arun Sheshkumar
8:17 AM
With Bachchan having to skip his Sunday darshan due to the pandemic, KBC director organises special episode with admirers to mark the megastar’s 79th birthday
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; October 12, 2021)
What can you gift a megastar who has it all? The question haunted the creative team of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) over the past month, as their superstar-host Amitabh Bachchan’s birthday drew near. “We always keep in mind that we shouldn’t overdo it as he likes to keep things simple,” says Arun Sheshkumar, who has been directing the quiz show over the past nine years. After much deliberation, the answer came to him. “The best way to celebrate his birthday would be by roping in his fans.”
As Bachchan turned 79 yesterday, the reality show aired a special episode that saw his fans as part of the audience. The idea stemmed from the fact that the megastar was unable to meet his admirers over the past one-and-a-half years due to the pandemic. “Many fans on social media said that they missed his Sunday darshan. Sir too wrote about [sorely missing] the ritual, in his blogs. He considers his fans his extended family.”
The KBC team reached out to the prominent fan clubs across the country. “We invited 100 ardent fans whom he recognizes and knows by their names. They were [brought in] from different parts of India, including Faridabad, Agra, Kolkata and Gujarat.” The fans had a surprise for their cine idol — some of them sported Bachchan’s iconic looks from different films. “We also made a video featuring all the people whose lives have been touched by sir. He got emotional on seeing it.”
While the episode was taped early last week, the crew had another surprise for Bachchan on Saturday. Sheshkumar says, “We celebrated his birthday on the set because he usually doesn’t shoot on his big day. The crew was wearing T-shirts that had sir’s picture and the show’s tagline on it. Team AB was written on the tees. We stood outside his vanity van, and as he stepped out, we sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to him. He was overwhelmed.”
Jhund postponed to November; makers keen to release trailer or music on Amitabh Bachchan's birthday
8:12 AM
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; July 11, 2019)
Amitabh Bachchan’s Jhund may not be able to keep its September 20 date with the audience, but the film’s team is hard at work, inching towards a new deadline. Even as the makers of the Nagraj Manjule-directed venture are eyeing a November weekend for release, the immediate plan is to release the trailer or music of the sports drama on October 11, as a tribute to the megastar who turns 77.Savita Raj Hiremath, who is producing the film along with Bhushan Kumar, Manjule and Raj Hiremath, tells mid-day, “We are planning to release the teaser in the first week of October. We might also release the official trailer or launch the music on Bachchan sir’s birthday.”
The drama — based on the life of professor Vijay Barse, who founded the NGO Slum Soccer that works towards the upliftment of underprivileged kids through football — had gone on floors last December. Prod Hiremath on the two- month delay in release, and she attributes it to the overlapping schedules of Bachchan and Manjule. “My director got busy with the Marathi version of Kaun Banega Crorepati [Kon Honar Crorepati], which was not [accounted for] earlier. He got the offer out of the blue after the Nagpur schedule of Jhund got over. However, as soon as my director wraps up his KHC shoot, Bachchan sir will start shooting for the Hindi version. The film is almost complete, barring a one-day shoot with Bachchan sir. So, Bhushan, Nagraj and I are currently working out the dates and will soon announce the release date.”
Jhund marks the Bollywood debut of Manjule, who shot to fame with Sairat (2016).
Amitabh Bachchan turns 75: Abhishek-Aishwarya plan midnight bash for Big B in Maldives
11:07 AM
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; October 11, 2017)
As Bollywood's biggest superstar Amitabh Bachchan turns a year younger today, the one thing on his wish list is to enjoy a round or two of water sports in Maldives with his granddaughter Navya Naveli Nanda.Away from the flashbulbs and legion of die-hard fans, the megastar is celebrating his 75th birthday at the beach destination. The Bachchan clan left for Maldives on Tuesday morning. The celebratory mood had set in right at the airport, as Bachchan was spotted joking away with daughter Shweta, and Navya.
Aishwarya, Aaradhya and the superstar were seen onboard a passenger bus at the Male International Airport in Maldives, along with Jaya and Abhishek. However, Bachchan's 16-year-old grandson Agastya was missing in action. The teenager, who is studying at Sevenoaks School in London, had to give the family holiday a miss due to his ongoing semester. Says a source, "Abhishek and Shweta insisted on making a family holiday of the occasion."
They are staying at the luxury resort, One & Only Reethi Rah in Kaafu Atoll, a family favourite — they had stayed at the same address during Abhishek's birthday last year as well. The resort boasts of 12 beaches and each island houses one villa, offering complete privacy to its visitors.
mid-day has learnt that Abhishek, Aishwarya and Shweta arranged a special midnight bash to bring in the patriarch's birthday last night. The source adds, "The three had meticulously planned every detail. They rang in the birthday at their private beach with crackers and a huge cake." Bachchan's itinerary for the next four days is simple -- enjoy some family time. "They plan to indulge in a variety of water sports from jet skiing to sailing. A yacht party is also in the cards."
Happy Birthday Amitabh Bachchan: Decoding Big B's style bulletin
7:53 AM
Manish D Mishra (DNA; October 11, 2017)
Big B is like a Hublot timepiece. He’ll always be en vogue. From his suede moccasins to the on-trend sporty sneakers, there’s a strong sense of evolved personal style and a distinctive personality he lends to every ensemble. Perhaps that’s what makes his every appearance such a talking point in the glamour galaxy. Stating that Mr Bachchan’s red carpet style has been the synonym for sprezzatura would be saying the obvious. There’s a charming insouciance which comes out in the way he pieces together any ensemble under the Sun. Effortless style which is ageless, season-less and trend-neutral — these phrases strike the mind when one sits down to dissect Amitabh Bachchan’s brush with fashion, which has inspired and continues to inspire actors, stylists, artists and everyone across the social spectrum.
Who can forget Mr Bachchan’s statement-making hoodie sweatshirt with a skeleton print he sported a while ago? This subversive look brought out the fun side of the veteran actor. He completed his look with a pair of black tailored trousers and matching loafers flashing a hint of his ankles.
He likes teaming his white pathan suits with the au courant bandis and completes his look with chic eyewear. He always owns the Indian kurta, pyjama look given his tall and towering frame. On the eve of his 75th birthday, After Hrs speaks to a few menswear specialist designers and stylists on his charming and inimitable style, which always manages to command attention and awe — whether he’s at a Hollywood soiree in a natty tux or channeling athelisure at the airport. He’s often gravitated towards designer duo Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla’s classic pieces, which bring out the best in him. He’s been seen cutting a fine figure in AJSK label on occasions like Diwali and also at fashion weeks. In fact, he had also chosen one of their designs on his 73rd birthday. One can always picture him draping an elegant pashmina across his kurta, looking every bit the Bollywood royalty that he is.
‘Mr Bachchan is the Style Evolution’ — Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla, Designers
Designer Abu Jani of the label Abu Jani — Sandeep Khosla says, “Mr Bachchan is the Style Evolution. He is a constant work in progress. And that progress isn’t dictated by anything or anyone on the outside, but is instead an expression of what and who he is.
Many moods, multiple avatars, all of which reside together in perfect harmony. From the classic to the avant-garde. Western, Indian, there are no boundaries or limits. It’s just one magnificent man having a lot of fun and looking fabulous while he’s at it. He is a designer’s dream come true. He possesses immense respect and regard for another person’s artistic talent and is always open to experimentation and doing things in an entirely new way. He’s a natural when it comes to carrying off the most elaborate ensembles and no matter what he wears, it is always the man who maketh the man. He owns it and the room. That’s what style is.
‘Mr Bachchan has always been an effortless style icon’ – Nachiket Barve, Designer
Designer Nachiket Barve, who’s worked with Big B on several occasions says, “His iconic looks in films like Deewar, Trishul or Don sparked off trends that trickled down to the streets over the decades. Off screen, he remains an enduring style figure who can sport a bespoke Tux, a bandhgala or even a kurta worn with the most elegant shawls with panache. His love for accessories, be it statement shoes or watches completes his style. Style becomes iconic when there is a personalisation of elements and when the person sporting it towers over the outfit. Mr Bachchan certainly epitomises this and continues to stand tall, literally and figuratively in the style stakes. I have had the privilege of dressing Mr Bachchan for some of his ad campaigns and his personal wardrobe. He has a sharp eye for detail, is extremely meticulous and most generous when it comes to trusting a professional to do their job well. I distinctly remember being nervous on set for the first ad campaign I styled for him, and him being so wonderfully supportive that it calmed my nerves down. Here’s an example of his process; I requested he carry an option for footwear from his wardrobe, and he brought along a couple of dozen shoes for me to choose from… for a shot that didn’t even have his feet in the frame. I always learn something new from him and his enthusiasm and professionalism is awe inspiring and such a brilliant inspiration!”
‘Amitabh Bachchan is a true style icon’ —Shiraz Siddique, Stylist
From the 70s to now, he’s always made a mark as the most stylish man. Stylist Shiraz Siddique says, “Amitabh Bachchan is truly a style icon. I feel style and fashion is not about what you wear only. It’s about your mindset and how you carry it. The way he looks at things — his spirit and enthusiasm is unmatched and so is his discipline and work ethics. He is inherently charged to make things so perfect. The way he carries himself, the way he dresses is inspiring. What strikes me about him is that he’s so young in his outlook to life in general which translates into his sense of fashion. I have worked with him in commercials and also as a costume assistant for Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham and Kabhie Alvida Na Kehna and he was amazing to work with. In 2015, I styled him for a Stardust cover, which was a memorable and enjoyable experience when he wore a white shirt teamed with a black bow-tie. I didn’t even get to do a trial with him but he was outstanding. We did six changes and finished the shoot in 45 minutes. He was polite and accommodating and never put his point across and pressured me. He is open to new ideas and always respectful. As far as his style evolution goes, he’s been very progressive and never looked dated in his sense of style. In KBC he looks like a 25 year old, looking natty with lapel pins and pocket square.”
‘A love of suits’ — Troy Costa, Designer
Troy Costa recalls shooting for HELLO! magazine with him. He says, “I did the HELLO! cover with him. The measurements came from his tailor and we created two looks and the fittings happened at his residence. It was perfect. His left shoulder is down by two inches and we knew that already and there were no alterations required and the shoot was like a breeze and he was fabulous. After he wore the second outfit, he took a selfie with me. This was two years ago and back then I didn’t even know how take selfies. He’s complimented me on how well the clothes fitted, he is a complete clothes horse and is in best shape. In the 70s, he was super lean and exuded swagger and now he dresses his age, very elegantly. It’s been a great evolution from 80s and 90s. He’s always been a lover of suits.”
‘Epitome of ageless fashion’ —Isha Bhansali
Stylist Isha Bhansali recalls Big B in a trucker jacket which he sported a while ago. “I loved it. He’s still got the perfect physique for a super stylish man. He’s the epitome of ageless fashion. Firstly, his swag with ounces of elegance is his biggest fashion statement, which l many of the younger studs don’t have. But I must say, he’s moved on with times. From bell bottoms in the 70s to the lush leather jackets in the 90s to the sharp tailored blazers (Agneepath) in the 90s, he’s definitely a fashion icon every man should idolise as well.”
No grand B-Town bash this year, Amitabh Bachchan to celebrate 75th birthday in Maldives with family?
7:54 AM
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; October 3, 2017)
Amitabh Bachchan’s 70th birthday bash in 2012 was a grand celebration befitting the shahenshah of Bollywood. As we inch closer to the megastar’s 75th birthday on October 11, reports suggested that he would be hosting a sit-down dinner for the who’s who of Bollywood at Film City. However, mid-day has now learnt that contrary to reports, Bachchan Sr will be taking off on a family holiday to Maldives.
Says a friend of the superstar, “The entire Bachchan clan, including Shweta Bachchan Nanda and her children Navya Naveli and Agastya, will be heading out to Maldives on October 10. Abhishek and Aishwarya have planned a week-long celebration and supervised all the arrangements. Aaradhya has designed a special hand-painted card for her grandfather. They will ring in his birthday with fireworks, cake and wine.”
We hear Big B was certain that he wanted his birthday celebration to be a private affair this year. Considering it would be difficult to stay away from prying eyes in the city, the family decided to make a holiday of the occasion. When it came to zeroing in on the destination, the family members unanimously decided on Maldives. Turns out, their Maldivian trip to celebrate Abhishek’s 40th birthday in 2016 turned into a love affair with the exotic island country. “They had enjoyed the Maldives trip so much that they decided to revisit it. They will be putting up at the same hotel that they stayed in, during Abhishek’s birthday. In fact, Abhishek has planned a yacht party for the whole family again,” adds the friend.
They have taken time off from their respective work commitments to be part of the celebrations. “Aishwarya will shoot for Fanney Khan for a week before heading out on the break. Big B has also intimated the team of Kaun Banega Crorepati about his impending holiday.”
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