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Amitabh Bachchan Height, Age, Wife, Family, Caste, Biography & More

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Age: 81 Years
Caste: Kayastha
Height: 6’ 2”

Amitabh Bachchan

Bio/Wiki
Birth nameInquilaab Srivastava [1]International Business Times
Full NameAmitabh Harivansh Rai Shrivastava
Nickname(s)• Munna
• Big B
• Angry Young Man
• AB Sr.
• Amith
• Shahenshah of Bollywood
Profession(s)• Actor
• TV Host
• Former Politician
Physical Stats & More
[2]@SrBachchan Heightin centimeters- 188 cm
in meters- 1.88 m
in Feet Inches- 6’ 2”
Eye ColourDark Brown
Hair ColourSalt & Pepper
Personal Life
Date of Birth11 October 1942 (Sunday)
Age (as of 2023)81 Years
BirthplaceAllahabad, British India (now, Uttar Pradesh, India)
Zodiac signLibra
SignatureAmitabh Bachchan Signature
NationalityIndian
HometownAllahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
SchoolJnana Pramodhini, Boys High School, Allahabad
College/University• Sherwood College, Nainital
• Government College Sector- 11, Chandigarh (attended for only 25 days)
• Kirori Mal College, New Delhi
Educational QualificationBachelor of Science
DebutFilm (Actor; Hindi)- Saat Hindustani (1969)
Amitabh Bachchan in Saat Hindustani
Film (Actor; English)- The Great Gatsby (2013)
Amithabh Bachchan's Hollywood Debut Film- The Great Gatsby
Film (Producer)- Tere Mere Sapne (1996)
Amitabh Bachchan produced Tere Mere Sapne (1996)
TV (Host)- Kaun Banega Crorepati - KBC (2000)
Amitabh Bachchan Kaun Banega Crorepati
ReligionHinduism
CasteKayastha
Food HabitIn 2000, he quit eating non-vegetarian food. Although his health issues are considered one of the prime reasons behind this, the actor has often quoted that he gave up eating non-vegetarian food voluntarily. [3]Gulf News
Political InclinationIndian National Congress (INC)
AddressJalsa,
B/2, Kapol Housing Society,
VL Mehta Road, Juhu, Mumbai – 400049, Maharashtra, India
Amitabh Bachchan House Jalsa
HobbiesSinging, Blogging, Reading
Awards, Honours, Achievements Civilian Awards
1984: Padma Shri by the Government of India
2001: Padma Bhushan by the Government of India
2007: Knight of the Legion of Honour (France's highest civilian honour from the Government of France)
2015: Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India
Amitabh Bachchan receiving Padma Vibhushan

National Honours
1980: Awadh Samman by the Government of Uttar Pradesh
1994: Yash Bharti Award (Uttar Pradesh's highest honour)
2005: Deenanath Mangeshkar award
2013: President of India 'Medallion of Honour'

National Film Awards
1990: Best Actor for Agneepath
2005: Best Actor for Black
2009: Best Actor for Paa
2015: Best Actor for Piku
2019: Dadasaheb Phalke Award
Amitabh Bachchan receiving the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award

Polls
2002: Voted the "Hottest Male Vegetarian" by 'People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' (PETA)
2008: Voted "Asia's Sexiest Vegetarian Man"
2012: Voted the "Hottest Male Vegetarian" for the fourth time by 'People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' (PETA)

International
2021: On March 19, he became the first person from Indian cinema to be honoured with an award by the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF). Martin Scorcese and Christopher Nolan presented him the award during a virtual showcase.

Note: He has many more awards/honours/accolades to his name.
Controversies• His name appeared in the Bofors scandal in which he was later declared not guilty.

• He was indicted for submitting false documents to prove that he is a farmer.

• Stardust imposed a 15-years ban on him during his peak acting years. According to his blog, he brought the idea of National Emergency and ban on Media. So, media took that otherwise and banned Amitabh Bachchan: means no interviews, no mention or pictures, etc.

• In 1996, he had to face a legal battle for organizing Miss World competition inappropriately.

• In 2007, a Faizabad court ruled that Amitabh Bachchan was anything but a farmer— a secret most of India would have guessed but one that has landed the superstar in trouble over two messy land deals. According to the court, the actor had got himself certified a farmer by forgery; so that he could hold on to a 24-acre plot he had bought near Lonavla in Pune in the mid-1990s. Since Maharashtra laws allow only a farmer to buy agricultural land, the actor showed the Pune district authorities a certificate from the then Barabanki district magistrate, Ramashankar Sahu, saying Amitabh was a farmer because he owned farmland in the district. The court ruled that the 1993 Barabanki land transfer in Amitabh’s name was illegal. [4]Telegraph

• In September 2021, he appeared in an advertising campaign of a paan masala brand for which he received heavy criticism from netizens on social media. Various NGOs including the National Organization for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE) and anti-tobacco organizations also urged him to withdraw himself from such advertisements. Next month, he withdrew from this advertisement campaign; it was revealed by a blog post, addressed by "the office of Mr. Amitabh Bachchan," that read - "A few days after the commercial was aired, Mr Bachchan contacted the brand and stepped out of it last week. Upon checking why this sudden move - it was revealed that when Mr. Bachchan became associated with the brand, he wasn’t aware that it falls under surrogate advertising. Mr. Bachchan has terminated the contract with the brand, has written to them his termination and has returned the money received for the promotion." [5]The Hindu
Amitabh Bachchan promoting a paan masala brand, Kamla Pasand
Relationships & More
Marital StatusMarried
Affairs/GirlfriendsParveen Babi (Indian Actress)
Amitabh Bachchan with Parveen Babi
Rekha (Indian Actress)
Amitabh Bachchan with Rekha
Jaya Bhaduri (Indian Politician & Former Indian Actress)
Marriage Date3 June 1973
Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya at the time of their marriage
Family
Wife/SpouseJaya Bhaduri Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan with his wife
ChildrenSon- Abhishek Bachchan (Actor)
Daughter- Shweta Bachchan Nanda
Amitabh Bachchan with his family
Daughter-in-LawAishwarya Rai (Actress)
ParentsFather- Harivansh Rai Bachchan (Hindi Poet)
Mother- Teji Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan with his parents
Baby Amitabh Bachchan with his parents
Step-Mother- Shyamla (Step-mother)
SiblingsBrother- Ajitabh Bachchan (Younger, Businessman)
Amitabh Bachchan with his brother Ajitabh Bachchan
Sister- None
Favourites
FoodBhindi Sabzi, Jalebi, Kheer, Gulab Jamun
Sweet ShopJhama Sweets, Chembur, Mumbai
ActorDilip Kumar
ActressWaheeda Rehman
ComedianMehmood Ali
Film(s)Bollywood- Kagaz Ke Phool, Ganga Jamuna, Pyasa
Hollywood- Gone With The Wind, Godfather, Black, Scarface
Singer(s)Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar
Music InstrumentSarod
ColourWhite
SportsCricket, Lawn Tennis
Tennis PlayerNovak Djokovic
Football ClubChelsea
PerfumeLomani
Holiday Destination(s)London, Switzerland, Saint Petersburg
Style Quotient
Cars Collection• Bentley Arnage R
• Bentley Continental GT
• Lexus LX 470
• Mercedes-Benz SL 500 AMG
• Range Rover SUV
• Mini Cooper S
• Toyota Land Cruiser
• BMW 760Li
• BMW X5
• Mercedes-Benz V-Class
• Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography
• Toyota Camry Hybrid
• Mercedes Benz S320
• Mercedes Benz S600
• Mercedes Benz E240
• Mercedes-Benz GLS
• Mercedes-Maybach S-Class
• Ford Prefect (gifted by a friend)
• Porche Cayman S
Amitabh Bachchan while driving his Porsche Cayman S
• Rolls Royce Phantom
Amitabh Bachchan's Rolls Royce Phantom
Note: In April 2019, he sold his Rolls Royce Phantom worth ₹3.5 crore.
Money Factor
Salary/Income (approx.)Rs. 6 crores per film (as of October 2023) [6]GQ


In October 2023, Amitabh Bachchan was reported to have seven sources of income, excluding films. [7]BQ These sources include:

Endorsements: Amitabh Bachchan earns a substantial income from endorsing various national and international brands like Cadbury, Nestlé, Dabur, and Pepsi. He reportedly charges between Rs. 5 crores to Rs. 8 crores for each endorsement.

Film Production and Sports: His Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Ltd (ABCL), an event management, production, and distribution, adds to his income. He expanded his earnings by becoming a co-owner of the OUE Singapore Slammers, a team in the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL), in 2015.

Real Estate Investments: Amitabh Bachchan possesses numerous properties in Mumbai, India, and around the world. He has rented some of his properties in Mumbai including a duplex, located on floors 27 and 28 of the Atlantis Building on Lokhandwala Road in Andheri West, which he rented to actor Kriti Sanon for Rs. 10 lakh for per month. He leased one of his properties in the Juhu Vile Parle Development Scheme (JVPD) to the State Bank of India (SBI) in the same year; the property was leased for Rs. 18.90 lakh per month for 15 years.

Investment in Companies: Amitabh Bachchan is an investor in several companies including Just Dial, an Indian internet technology company, in which he acquired 10% stake in 2013. He has invested in other companies as well, such as a marketing firm named Stampede Capital (3.4%), and a Singapore-based company named Meridian Tech Pte Limited that provides workforce and consulting services.

TV Show: Amitabh Bachchan has been associated with the Indian game show 'Kaun Banega Crorepati' for over two decades. He reprotedly earned about Rs. 4 crore to Rs. 5 crore for each episode of Season 14.

NFTs: Bachchan has tried his hands at Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) as well. His 'Madhushala' NFT collection, which included vintage autographed posters, his father's famous poem 'Madhushala,' and other works, sold for Rs. 7.18 crore in 2021.

Film Projects: Amitabh usually charges around Rs. 6 crores for a film, but he received a pay cheque of Rs. 10 crores for his role in the film 'Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva' in 2023.
Assets/PropertiesMovable Assets- worth over Rs. 460 crore
Immovable Assets- worth over Rs. 540 crore
Jewellery- worth over Rs. 62 crore
Vehicles- worth over Rs. 13 crore
Watches- worth over Rs. 3.5 crore
Pen(s)- worth over Rs. 9 lakh
Residential Properties- a 3,175 sqm residential property in Brignogan Plage in France (in addition, properties in Noida, Bhopal, Pune, Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar)
Agricultural Land- a 3-acre plot worth Rs. 5.7 crore in Daulatpur area of Barabanki district
A Land in Ayodhya- an approximately 10,000 square feet plot worth Rs. 14.5 crore in The Sarayu, bought in January 2024 [8]Mint

House/Bungalow [9]Hindustan Times
Jalsa (home): This is where he lives. The actor purchased this 10,125 square foot two-storey bungalow, which is situated near Juhu's JW Marriott, from producer NC Sippy.
Amitabh Bachchan's house Jalsa
Another property near Jalsa: In 2013, he purchased a property near Jalsa worth Rs. 50 crore; the property spread over 8,000 square feet, behind Jalsa.
Janak (office): This property serves as an office for the actor, where he is often spotted along with his grandson, Agastya Nanda. Reportedly, the family bought this property worth Rs. 50 crore in 2004.
Amitabh Bachchan's house Janak
Pratiksha: Amitabh Bachchan shared this house with his parents Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Teji Bachchan. The family bought this Juhu-located house in 1976. This is the house where Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai tied the knot in 2007.
Amitabh Bachchan's Pratiksha house
Vatsa: This property is also located in Juhu thar the family has leased out to Citibank India.
Amitabh Bachchan's house Vatsa
Ancestral House in Allahabad: His ancestral is situated at 17, Clive Road in Allahabad; the property has been transformed into an educational trust.
Amitabh Bachchan's ancestral house in Allahabad
Sopaan: The actor sold this property for Rs. 23 crore in 2022. The property is situated in Delhi's Gulmohar Park, where his parents, Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Teji Bachchan, used to reside. [10]Hindustan Times
Amitabh Bachchan's house Sopaan in Delhi
Juhu Apartments: He owns two apartments in Juhu worth Rs. 40 crore and Rs. 1.75 crore respectively.
Home is Paris: He owns a property in the French capital of Paris; reportedly, it was gifted to him from his wife, Jaya Bachchan.
Net Worth (approx.)Rs. 3,190 crores (as of October 2023) [11]BQ

Amitabh Bachchan

Some Lesser Known Facts About Amitabh Bachchan

  • His forefathers belonged to the village- Babupatti of Pratapgarh District in Uttar Pradesh.
  • His mother, Teji Bachchan, was a Sikh and hailed from Lyallpur (now, in Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan).
  • His father, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, was a renowned Hindi Poet.
  • Initially, he was named- ‘Inquilab,’ but after the suggestion of Sumitranandan Pant (a fellow poet of Harivansh Rai Bachchan), it was changed to ‘Amitabh,’ which means- ‘The light that will never die.’

    Amitabh Bachchan in his childhood

    Amitabh Bachchan in his childhood

  • Although his real surname isSrivastava,’ his father replaced it with ‘Bachchan, because his father Harivansh Rai abandoned the surname ‘Shrivastava’ to protest against the caste system in India.
  • His mother had interest in theatres and was even offered a feature film role, which she denied later and preferred her domestic duties.
  • During his college days, he used to act in plays.

    A picture of a play starring Amitabh Bachchan during his college days

    A picture of a play starring Amitabh Bachchan during his college days

  • When he was young, he wanted to become an engineer and was eager to join the Indian Air Force.
  • During his college days, he was a good athlete and won the 100, 200 and 400-metre races. At the Sherwood in Nainital, he also won a Boxing Championship.
  • In 1983, his left hand was burnt during Diwali.
  • Amitabh, known for his Baritone voice, was once rejected by All India Radio.
  • Before making his acting debut in “Saat Hindustani,” he made his film debut as a voice narrator in the National Award winning film- “Bhuvan Shome” (1969) by Mrinal Sen.

    Amitabh Bachchan gave his voice in Bhuvan Shome

    Amitabh Bachchan gave his voice in Bhuvan Shome

  • For his role as a doctor in the 1971 film- Anand, he got his first Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor.
  • He shared the screen with his future wife Jaya Bhaduri for the first time in the film- Guddi (1971); in which he made a guest appearance.

    Amitabh Bachchan with Jaya Bachchan in Guddi

    Amitabh Bachchan with Jaya Bachchan in Guddi

  • He rose to stardom after the 1973 film- Zanjeer by Prakash Mehra; in which he played the role of Inspector Vijay Khanna. This film gave him the nickname- Angry Young Man, his performance in the film is also considered one of the most iconic performances in the history of Bollywood.

    Amitabh Bachchan in Zanjeer

    Amitabh Bachchan in Zanjeer

  • Before the success of ‘Zanjeer,’ he was a part of 12 consecutive flop films.
  • Amitabh shared a close bond with late actor Mehmood Ali who used to call him Danger Diabolic. While remembering Mehmood Ali on his eighth death anniversary in July 2012, Amitabh said,

    Mehmood Bhai was among the early contributors to my career graph, he having faith from day one in me, much against the wishes and comments of naysayers. For some peculiar reason he would address me as Danger Diabolic, and was the first producer to give me a lead role ? Bombay to Goa, a remake of a Tamil hit ‘Madras to Pondicherry.”

    Amitabh Bachchan With Mehmood Ali

    Amitabh Bachchan With Mehmood Ali

  • Reportedly, he was paid Rs. 1 lakh for his role of Jai in the iconic Indian film- Sholay (1975)
    Amitabh Bachchan in Sholay

    Amitabh Bachchan in Sholay

    Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Amjad Khan during the filming of Sholay

    Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Amjad Khan during the filming of Sholay

  • On 26 July 1982, he suffered a near-fatal injury while filming Coolie at the University Campus in Bangalore. He was also declared clinically dead for 11 minutes by the doctors till they plunged adrenaline injections into his chest saving his life.
  • After the Coolie incident, he was diagnosed with Myasthenia gravis (a long-term neuromuscular disease that leads to varying degrees of muscle weakness).
  • In 2017, during one of the episodes of “Kaun Banega Crorepati” (KBC), he spoke about his tryst with Hepatitis B. He said that he had lost 75% of his liver due to late diagnosis of the disease, which he contracted through a blood transfusion after the Coolie accident. He also said that he was infected with Tuberculosis (TB) on the set of KBC in 2000. However, after proper treatment, he is now free from Tuberculosis (TB). Amitabh was also appointed the UNICEF ambassador of the hepatitis B awareness campaign.
  • In 1984, he took a break from acting and entered politics to support his friend Rajiv Gandhi. He also contested for the Allahabad seat in the 8th Lok Sabha elections against H.N. Bahuguna and won with the highest victory margin in the history of the general elections (68.2% of the vote).

    Amitabh Bachchan Campaigning During The 8th Lok Sabha Elections

    Amitabh Bachchan Campaigning During The 8th Lok Sabha Elections

  • After 3 years in politics, he resigned, calling politics a cesspool.
  • Reportedly, when his company- ABCL (Amitabh Bachchan Corporation) failed, his friend, Amar Singh, had helped him financially, following which, Amitabh started to support Amar Singh and his party- Samajwadi Party.
  • He won his First National Film Award for the Best Actor for his role as a Mafia Don in the 1990 film- Agneepath.
  • After the box-office failure of his film- Insaniyat (1994), he didn’t appear in any film for 5 years.
  • In 1996, he formed his film production company- Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited (ABCL). ABCL was also the main sponsor of the 1996 Miss World beauty pageant at Bangalore but lost millions.
  • His career and fame were revived in 2000 when he made his television debut with a game show- Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC).
    Amitabh Bachchan GIF
  • In June 2000, he became the First living Asian whose statue was modelled at the London’s Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.

    Amitabh Bachchan's wax statue at the Madame Tussauds, London

    Amitabh Bachchan’s wax statue at the Madame Tussauds, London

  • He had a pet dog, Shanouk, who died in June 2013 after a brief illness. It was a Piranha Dane dog, one of the world’s tallest dog breeds. [12]Hindustan Times

    Amitabh Bachchan with his pet dog, Shanouk

    Amitabh Bachchan with his pet dog, Shanouk

  • He can write evenly well with both of his hands.

    Amitabh Bachchan Writing

    Amitabh Bachchan Writing

  • In 2017, All Bengal Amitabh Bachchan Fans’ Association unveiled the life-size statue of Mr. Bachchan in Tiljala, a neighbourhood of South Kolkata. Crafted by Subrata Bose, the statue has given Bachchan’s ‘Sarkar’ avatar. [13]The Times of India

    Amitabh Bachchan's Temple in Tiljala, Kolkata

    Amitabh Bachchan’s Temple in Tiljala, Kolkata

  • On 24 September 2019, the Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar announced through a tweet that Mr. Bachchan would be conferred the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award. The award came in the year that marked Mr. Bachchan’s golden jubilee in cinema since his debut in 1969 with Khwaja Ahmad Abbas’ Saat Hindustani. Interestingly, the Dadasaheb Phalke award itself was first presented in the year of Mr. Bachchan’s debut. It was introduced by the government in 1969 to commemorate the “father of Indian cinema” who directed Raja Harischandra (1913), India’s first feature film, and it was awarded for the first time to Devika Rani, “the first lady of Indian cinema.”
  • When a KBC contestant asked him about his real name, he shared an interesting story behind his name. He said, during Quit India Movement in 1942 (his birth year), people used to organize rallies. His mother Teji Bachchan who was eight-month pregnant at that time joined one of the rallies. Unable to find her at the house, the family members got worried and searched for her at the rally. When they brought her back, one of Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s friends joked about Teji Bachchan’s patriotism and said that the baby (Amitabh Bachchan) should be named Inquilab. He added that later his father’s close friend Sumitra Nandan Pant, who visited the family on the same day Big B was born, came up with the name Amitabh.
  • In April 2020, he shared a throwback picture on his social media account, reminiscing his first photo-shoot for a film magazine – ‘Star & Style.’

    Amitabh Bachchan's Post About His First Photo Shoot For a Magazine

    Amitabh Bachchan’s Post About His First Photo Shoot For a Magazine

  • On 11 July 2020, he was tested positive for COVID-19 and had been admitted to the Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai. The actor announced the news on his Twitter handle.

  • The megastar often campaigns against smoking and drinking habits. Although he used to smoke and drink, he quit both habits in the early 1980s. In a blog post that he shared in April 2023 on social media, he talked about his smoking and drinking habits. He wrote,

    When in job in the City of Joy, the natural curriculum seemed to be in line with that phrase ‘social drinking’ .. I shall not deny the consumption of it, but its reason or resolve in leaving for years and years now, I shall not deliberate .. it is a personal choice and demeanour .. yes I do not .. but why the announce of it.”

    He added,

    As is the case with the cigarette .. in abundance in the years of free, and the sudden and immediate resolve to leave it .. and the way to leave is really quite simple .. chuck that glass of the intoxicant , while in the middle of it and crush the ‘ciggi’ on your lips at the same time and .. sayonara .. the very best way to be in riddance .. not some part time exigencies to stop the use .. its the removal of the cancer at once .. done at the rush of a stroke .. the more the dwindling , the greater the undesired habit of remaining.” [14]India Today

  • On 25 November 2022, the Delhi High Court issued an interim order restraining persons at large from infringing the personality and publicity rights of Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan after the actor approached the court to request an omnibus order protecting his name, image, voice, or any of his characteristics without his consent in any way or form. While representing Mr. Bachchan in court, lawyer Harish Salve, in the suit of over 900 pages, said,

    Someone is using his picture and selling lottery while the other person is using his voice for mobile app. One is using his image to sell G.K. books. I am giving you an idea that what is going on.” [15]The Hindu

  • In an episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 15, Amitabh Bachchan shared a story from his family’s history. He recounted the challenges his parents, Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Teji Bachchan, faced due to their inter-caste marriage, particularly when they arrived in Allahabad, where such marriages were deemed unacceptable at the time. Despite the societal resistance, Sarojini Naidu, an ardent admirer of Harivansh Rai Bachchan, emerged as a pillar of support during that phase. Naidu also introduced them to Jawaharlal Nehru by saying “meet the poet and his poetry.” [16]The Times of India Amitabh Bachchan said,

    I am getting a little hesitant to say this but she was also a big fan of my babuji. My babuji had done an intercaste marriage. My maataji Teji was from a Sikh family and when we lived in Allahabad over there gettting married in a different caste was called a sin during that time. So during that time, people fought against my father when he took my mother to Allahabad. So Sarojini Naidu was the first person who consoled him. She introduced him to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who used to live in Anand Bavan in Allahabad. I still remember the way she had introduced my father. She said, ‘meet the poet and his poetry.’

  • In March 2024, he reportedly underwent an angioplasty at Kokilaben Hospital in Mumbai; however, the actor called it ‘fake news’ when a paparazzo asked him about his health while he was attending the finale of the Indian Street Premier League in Mumbai. [17]Hindustan Times