Meet the actor who once earned Rs 50, slept on benches, almost lost his life, and went bankrupt

Amitabh Bachchan is a name that needs no introduction. The legendary figure began his career with ‘Saat Hindustani‘ in 1969 and went on to become one of Hindi cinema’s biggest Superstars. But success didn’t come easy.

There was a time when he earned Rs 50 and there came a time when he almost lost his life while shooting an action scene for Coolie in 1982 and there also came a time when he went bankrupt.

Back in an interview, Bachchan revealed, “I didn’t have a place to stay. You know there is a limited amount of time you can spend with friends because you’re barging into their house. So I spent a couple of days on Marine Drive benches with some of the largest rats I have seen in my life. I came to Bombay with a driving license, and that’s about it. It said if I don’t become an actor, I will drive a cab.”

On refusing a Rs 10,000 offer back in the day

I felt doing an ad would take something away from me, and I just resisted the temptation.

Bachchan‘s filmography

Bachchan has been a force to reckon with for the last 54 years. He has cemented his position in Hindi Cinema as one of the greatest actors and biggest movie stars across the globe. The mega-star turns 81 today and is still going strong, with as many as five releases last year and three lined-up in the coming months.

These are some films that have been etched in people’s hearts and minds. If you are yet to see them, do visit these following titles:

Shahenshah

This age-old iconic action-drama film showcases Big B in a dual role. He plays Inspector Vijay, a cowardly cop, and Shahenshah, a vigilante superhero, even though they are one and the same person. The story unfolds in a world riddled with corruption, where crime lords and malevolence reign supreme. The film’s gripping storyline, memorable dialogues, along with Amitabh Bachchan’s character ‘Shehenshah’ that soon happen to become his identity in Bollywood – are all the many reasons for fans of action-packed Bollywood cinema to watch the film.

Anand

In Anand, Amitabh Bachchan portrays Dr. Bhaskar, a doctor who becomes friends with a terminally ill cancer patient, Anand, played by Rajesh Khanna. Anand is a heartwarming and timeless classic known for its unforgettable characters, powerful performances, and its exploration of life’s deeper meanings. The film also went on to win several titles in the Filmfare Awards including ‘Best Film’, ’Best Director’ for Hrishikesh Mukherjee , while Big B himself won ‘Best Supporting Actor’ in the same in 1972.