Amitabh Bacchan - Don, Doyen and Demigod of Indian Cinema

Sep 25th 2019
Amitabh Bacchan - Don, Doyen and Demigod of Indian Cinema
By Nash 


Belated but quite nice, that Amitabh  Bacchan got the Dada Saheb Phalke award, the highest honor in Indian cinema today.

Few random things I recall about Amitabh the legend in no particular order.

1. Someone remarked, more people in Tamil nadu learnt Hindi in 1970s and 80s via Amitabh Bacchan films compared to hindi prachar sabha.  A huge testimony to his prowess cutting across languages.

2. In many areas of middle east and far east, he is perhaps better known than even Mahatma Gandhi from India. Like what the great boxer Mohammed Ali once said "more people know me than Jesus christ in this world" applies to Amitabh too.

3. In 1980s when he got hurt, during the shooting of movie Coolie, my grand mother, who was perhaps 75 years at that time, prayed  for his recovery at home, in Chennai. Such a crazy fan following cutting across generations.

4. In a BBC survey he was rated the greatest actor of the millennium. Cutting across nations. Period. 

5. His versatility as an actor is quite amazing. He is a great character actor, style icon, humourist, dashing action hero and a dancer par excellence. 

6. His discipline and work ethics are legendary. Close to 70 plus years he works out at the gym for over few hours every morning. He still learns and shows he is ageless.

7. After his business setbacks, he literally launched himself back, via TV through KBC. People could see the real Amitabh in close quarters the gentleman with great humility grace poise and style.

8. On his legendary humility. When he was asked who is better Sachin Tendulkar or him in world standing, he said "clearly sachin is the winner and there should be no comparison. Sachin represents our country and our flag. When he does well the Nation is proud. However I'm just an actor in an industry. No actor gets to represent our nation like a sports person" how true and how humble.

9. When Kamal Hassan, another great actor was asked to host KBC in Tamil, he politely declined, saying even for a remote reason, I would not want to be compared with a legend. Such peer respect 

10. Lastly, when Rajinikanth, the superstar  was asked in front of Shah Rukh, Aamir Khan who was the greatest infusn actor, he said Amitabh. And when Shah Rukh asked how can he attain such greatness, he simply said "Shah Rukh you are Badshah (king), but Amitabh is Shehanshah (king of kings)"

Truly one in a millennium actor - Amitabh Bacchan. Congratulations sir.

By Nash Narasimhan Tupil

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