Bollywood film star Amitabh Bachchan is a well-known Hindi film actor, producer, singer and former television star of the game show Kaun Banega Crorepati. He was born on October 11, 1942 and began his movie career in 1969 and age 65 is still a prominent figure in the film industry.

Born in Allahabad, India to a doctor Harivansh Rai Bachchan and mother Teji. Amitabh name was well known because his father was also a poet of great notoriety of Urdu and Hindi works.

Amitabh went to Allahabad's Boys' High School and then to Nainital's Sherwood College where he majored in the arts. Later he studied at Kirori Mal College in Delhi University earning a degree in the Sciences. After a short time working in the business of freight brokering he decided that his future had to be as an actor.
Amitabh married an actress Jaya Bachchan, known as nee Bhaduri and they had two children, a daughter, Shweta and a son Abhishek, who also went on to be a film star.

In 1984, Amitabh with the support of a family friend Rajiv Gandhi decided to enter into politics where we won a seat in the Parliament with a large margin. After three years he decided to leave this position early after an implication in the 'Bofors scandal'. Eventually Amitabh was found to be not guilty of his involvement in the scandal but never returned to politics after this was settled.

Amitabh Bachchans first success was in a lead role in Saat Hindustani. His performance won him his first National Film Award even though the film was anything but a financial success. Following this performance in 1970 he was is the acclaimed Anand where he won Fimlfares Best Supporting Actor Award for his role in which he starred with Rajesh Khanna, a movie superstar.

Two less successful films were to follow but nonetheless, Amitabh would still go on to become an icon in Bollywood.