Amitabh Bachchan

Date of Birth: 11th October 1942

One of the legendary Bollywood actors, Amitabh Bachchan is a popular figure of Indian cinema and has a fan base that extends into Egypt, Syria and even Europe.

The recipient of a number of awards, Amitabh stormed Hindi cinema with his roles in the 1970s as the quintessential "Angry Young Man" in a reflection of the mood of the nation.

Unconventional in his appearance, but instantly recognisable by his baritone voice, Amitabh's reign as a superstar extended into the 1980s when he briefly, but bitterly, dabbled in Indian politics. He then set up Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited, which was a financial disaster.

Amitabh's career was resurrected when he appeared on TV as the host of the Indian "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" Brand endorsements followed and he began experimenting with roles and looks in what has now become an incredibly successful second innings of his career.

He is married to former actress Jaya Bachchan although rumour mills and industry gossip have linked him to the actress Rekha. Amitabh is the father of Abhishek Bachchan and Shweta Nanda. His son Abhishek is married to Aishwarya Rai.