Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan is celebrating his 80th birthday today. Star of films like 'Deewar', 'Sholay' and 'Amar Akbar Anthony', Big B, as he is fondly known, lives in the hearts and minds of generations of Indians. Now an octogenarian, Amitabh Bachchan is still among Bollywood's biggest stars. His latest movie, 'Goodbye', just had a theatrical release.
Bachchan has been working for over five decades in showbiz and has not only worked in different film industries, but has successfully dabbled in nearly all mediums, including but not limited to television. Many stars have over the years cited him as an influence, including Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan.
Amitabh Bachchan met people gathered outside his home, Jalsa, at midnight, accompanied by daughter Shweta Nanda. Big B also took to his blog and expressed gratitude towards his fans for always being by his side. His appeal and fan following has long since expanded beyond India’s shores, and members of the Indian community in Singapore wished him the best on his birthday.
“Your commitment and devotion to your craft over the years is an inspiration to all of us, you have touched so many lives with joy. Happy Birthday sir!” Shalaka Ranadive, founder of Dastak, a premier Hindi theatre festival in Singapore, told Connected to India. Shalaka has starred in popular TV serials on leading national channels in India.
“Amitabh Bachchan revolutionised the ‘angry young man’ and with even more ease made the ‘learned old man’ characters his own. My dad was born in the 1960s, I am born in the 1980 and my nephew is nine years old but we all connect to his movies and his songs. We hope he lives a healthy lifestyle and keeps entertaining us with his intellect, acting and wise words. A very happy birthday, Bachchan sahab. From Singapore, with love," Singapore-based standup comedian and performer Sharul Channa said.
"Happy Birthday Amit Sir, you are an inspiration for so many of us specially in the acting world. What I have learnt from you is that you are an institution in yourself despite that still learning & adapting your craft. I am a big believer of Ikigai and you are living it. Here’s wishing you a long, healthy life full of awesome creative work," Shalima Motial, producer, actor and Founder and CEO of Singapore-based production Dream Catchers, wished the actor.
To celebrate his birthday, wife Jaya Bachchan and son Abhishek Bachchan joined him on the set of 'Kaun Banega Crorepati 14' for a special episode which will air tonight.
“A very happy 80th birthday to Amitabh Bachchan Ji. He is one of India’s most remarkable film personalities who has enthralled and entertained audiences across generations. May he lead a long and healthy life,” tweeted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Big B replied to him, writing in Hindi, "Most respected, Shri Narendra Modi ji, I thank you for your good wishes. Your words of blessings will always be a source of inspiration for me."
Tamil superstar Rajnikanth wished him on Twitter, and Bachchan sent a heartfelt reply.
Shah Rukh Khan posted a video of him singing "Ek dusre se karte hai pyaar hum" with Amitabh Bachchan. Wishing the latter on his birthday, SRK further wrote, "One thing to learn from this great man, actor, superstar, father and superhuman is to never back away….instead learn….level up and launch again and again….forever. May you always be healthy and entertain our grandchildren also.”
More celebrities and prominent political and business leaders around the globe took to social media to congratulate Big B on his birthday.
Lakshmy Iyer, film critic and e-learning strategist in Singapore, composed a short celebratory poem for the occasion.
Dear Big B,
Larger than life you have always been.
At 80 with the energy of someone 18.
Sholay Namak Halal Don or Abhiman,
The list is endless and so are the fans.
Wishing you lots of health and joy everyday.
Thank you for the entertainment, Happy 80th birthday.
Fans and well-wishers around the globe are hoping to catch Big B on the silver screen for many years to come. Amitabh Bachchan will soon be seen in Sooraj Barjatiya's 'Uunchai'.