ACTOR
Amitabh Bachchan
- Known for
- Brahmastra Part One: Shiva (2022), Sholay (1975), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001), Pink (2016)
251 archived facts 7 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
Amitabh Bachchan is an actor best known for Brahmastra Part One: Shiva, Sholay and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham....
Amitabh Bachchan: 30 Facts About Characters and Roles
- #004
At the age of 58, Amitabh Bachchan jumped from a height of 30 feet for the 2001 film Aks (2001), alongside lead actor Manoj Bajpai.
- #035
By 1984, only 13 films had been classified by Trade as "All time earners" (films that crossed the 1 crore mark in every region); nine of them starred Amitabh Bachchan in the lead - Sholay (1975), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Deewaar (1975), Laawaris (1981), Suhaag (1979), Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978), Andhaa Kaanoon (1983), Coolie (1983) and Naseeb (1981). The other films were Jai Santoshi Maa (1975), Dharam Veer (1977), Ek Duuje Ke Liye (1981) and Kranti (1981). The 1 crore mark was regarded as the magic reference point for films of the 70s and 80s, and Amitabh Bachchan is the only star whose films consistently crossed the 1 crore threshold in every major region across India.
- #054
Vidhu Vinod Chopra wanted Amitabh Bachchan to play the lead role of Inspector Inayat Khan in Mission Kashmir (2000). Amitabh Bachchan turned the role down because of his commitment to Yash Chopra's Mohabbatein (2000).
- #075
Amitabh Bachchan was to play one of the lead roles in Shashi Kapoor's Utsav (1984), but Amitabh withdrew from the film and Shashi Kapoor replaced him.
- #089
Amitabh Bachchan starred in the shelved film "Kartoos" (1987). Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Meenakshi Sheshadri (replacing Amrita Singh), Naseeruddin Shah (replacing Vinod Khanna), Sujata Mehta. Produced by Firoz Nadiadwala, directed by Ketan Mehta. The film was shelved because financiers and distributors disliked the idea of Amitabh playing a negative role. Years later, in 1996, it was announced that the film would be "Kissa Kartoos" starring Sanjay Dutt. The project was shelved once again. It was finally made as Mangal Pandey - The Rising with Aamir Khan.
- #094
Amitabh Bachchan starred in two films titled "Deewar".
- #097
Amitabh Bachchan was the first choice to act in the film Aapko Pehle Bhi Kahin Dekha Hai (2003); he refused and the role was eventually played by Om Puri.
- #099
Rakesh Kumar, who directed Khoon Pasina (1977), Mr. Natwarlal (1979), Do Aur Do Paanch (1980) and Yaarana (1981), turned producer and announced Charlie, with Amitabh Bachchan in the lead. Padmini Kolhapure was to star opposite Big B. However, the project was never made.
- #100
Amitabh Bachchan, Parveen Babi, Mithun Chakraborty (who replaced Amjad Khan) and Rati Agnihotri came together for Uttam Chitra's Tala Chabi (1978/1981), produced by Romu Sippy, directed by Raj N. Sippy and scored by Rahul Dev Burman. Pran, one of the leading character actors of the time, was signed to play the main villain. An official announcement was made in April 1982. The film was never released, and it was restarted in 1989 with Vinod Khanna and Sanjay Dutt.
- #101
Prakash Mehra planned to make Chankaya Chanddragupta and had signed Amitabh Bachchan for the lead role. The film was shelved.
- #104
Feroz Khan initially approached Amitabh Bachchan for the role of Amar in Kurban. Amitabh's dates were blocked for Shaan and the deal fell through.
- #107
Amitabh Bachchan was to star opposite Chandrachur Singh in the ABCL film Dariya, directed by Priyadarshan, with Amitabh playing a fisherman. The film was shelved. This was in 1998, and it was based on the novel The Old Man and the Sea.
- #116
Amitabh Bachchan starred in the shelved film DOGS (2004), which was to feature Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor in the lead roles. Many actresses were approached for the female lead: Sushmita Sen, Diana Hayden and Rani Mukherjee. Mukul Abhyankar was to direct. The story was about two brothers. Amitabh was to play a dog trainer banned from a dog training academy because of his violent behaviour, while Rishi Kapoor was his mentally unstable younger brother. The trouble begins when Rishi Kapoor becomes involved with a prostitute, who over time grows more interested in Amitabh than in Rishi.
- #117
Amitabh Bachchan starred in Somnath Sen's shelved film about a professor and a musician. The leads were Amitabh Bachchan, Tabu (who replaced Madhuri Dixit) and Boman Irani. Fardeen Khan, Shahid Kapoor and Karan Nath were in talks for the second lead. This was in 2004.
- #121
Aishwarya Rai was to be paired with Ajay Devgan in a film to be produced by Amitabh Bachchan's production company ABCL. The yet-untitled project was based on a family-oriented subject in which Jaya Bachchan played Ash's mother. Actor Vinod Khanna and Mrs. Bachchan were reported to play a separated couple in the film. Amitabh Bachchan himself was not seen as an actor in this film, which ABCL was producing in partnership with Spice Team Entertainment. The film was to be directed by Sharbani Deodhar. Amitabh Bachchan chose not to play the lead opposite Jaya because the two older characters in the film are not shown as married to each other. Vinod Khanna's name for the role was suggested only by Big B. The film was expected to release in September 2005. It was shot in Mumbai and London. The film was shelved after the announcement.
- #123
Pran's son Sunil Sikand tried his luck at film production. Sikand first announced "Karishma" in the late 70s; it was a remake of "Reincarnation of Peter Proud" with Shashi Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan, Praveen Babi and Danny Denzongpa. Tina Munium was also approached for a role. This was even before "Karz" was shelved 3 months later. Sunil Sikand later turned "Farishta" into a remake of "Oliver Twist", starring Pran. In 1991, Pran co-produced "Lakshmanrekha" for his son.
- #126
Amitabh Bachchan was considered for the role of Sameer Khan in Gomti Ke Kinare.
- #143
Amitabh Bachchan starred in the shelved film Shiva (1978). The lead roles were to be played by Amitabh Bachchan, Rekha, Danny Denzongpa and Romesh Sharma, with Prakash Mehra producing and Rakesh Kumar directing. Boxing legend Muhammad Ali was also to appear in a guest role. The film was shelved because its script was incomplete. Announced 40 years earlier as Shiva on 28 July 1978, the film was to launch Amitabh Bachchan but never got past this stage; Rakesh Kumar was to be the ship's captain, Prakash Mehra the producer, the genre action-thriller, with Rekha in the lead and Romesh Sharma in the supporting cast. The reason for the film being shelved was the incomplete script. Amitabh Bachchan was to play Big Brother in his trademark angry young man avatar, while Romesh Sharma played the younger brother opposed to violence in this traditional typical lost-and-found masala. One of the film's notable features was the guest appearance of the famous boxer Muhammad Ali.
- #148
Amitabh Bachchan played the lead in the shelved film Fauladi (1986), starring alongside Amrita Singh under director Prayag Raj. The film was shelved because Amitabh entered politics.
- #149
Amitabh Bachchan starred in Nadiadwala Son's shelved "Alishaan" (1988). The cast included Amitabh Bachchan, Dimple Kapadia, Meenakshi Sheshadri, Kimi Katkar (who replaced Archana Puran Singh) and Shakti Kapoor. The film was to be a remake of "Scaramouche"; Kimi's role was offered to Anu Aggarwal, but she did not want to act in films at that point. The film was to be produced by Habib Nadiadwala, written by Javed Akhtar, with music by Kalyanji Anandji and direction by Tinnu Anand. It was shelved when Amitabh and Tinnu decided to make the unusual Main Azaad Hoon instead. Alishan's script had earlier been directed by Ramesh Sippy under the title "Ladlaa", with Amitabh Bachchan, Sangeeta Bijlani and Amrita Singh signed. Alishaan's script later leaked and, years afterwards, was made as "Rajkumar" with Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit. The roles of the other two heroines were ultimately dropped.
- #168
Amitabh Bachchan signed the lead role in Shalimar but withdrew for unknown reasons.
- #170
In Paa (2009) Amitabh Bachchan played the son of his own son's character.
- #173
Amitabh Bachchan signed a Bengali film in 1975: Srirum Chitra's Koyeler Kachhya. The film starred Amitabh Bachchan and Saira Banu and was directed by Agradoot.
- #174
In 1973 Deven Verma became producer and director of the film "Naam Bade". The leads were Amitabh Bachchan, Deven Verma, newcomer Mona and Nirupa Roy. After two months of shooting Deven decided to turn the script into an action film. He scrapped Naam Bade and dropped Mona. He then began Besharam.
- #186
Amitabh Bachchan was the first choice for the film Himalay Se Ooncha.
- #192
All the scenes planned for Prakash Mehra's Zameen (starring Amitabh Bachchan, Mohammed Ali, Zeenat Aman and Prem Nath) were present in Manoj Kumar's Kranti. The reason was that writer Harbance Kumar stated he had been inspired by the TV series ROOTS. Salim Javed had also seen ROOTS and took several ideas from it and put them into Kranti. This upset Mehra greatly. The film was shelved. In 1979/1980 he tried to restart the film with Sunil Dutt (stepping into Prem Nath's role) and Sanjay Dutt. Neelu Arora was competing to be the third lead. The film was scrapped because of the release of Rocky.
- #208
Amitabh Bachchan appeared in Sathya Movies' untitled film in 1974. It starred Amitabh Bachchan and was directed by Jairam.
- #217
In 1980, Gulshan Rai was to produce "Vijay", starring Amitabh Bachchan and directed by Yash Chopra.
- #218
Amitabh Bachchan starred in Satya Chitra International's shelved film "Number 1" (1983). It starred Amitabh Bachchan, with a story by Prayag Raj, produced by Satyanarayana and Suryanarayana and directed by S. Ramanathan.
- #220
Amitabh Bachchan starred in the shelved Rupam Chitra film "Inspector General" (1974). It starred Amitabh Bachchan, with music by Madan Mohan, produced by N. C. Sippy and directed by Gulzar.
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