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Is he a superstar? Is he a phenomenon? Amitabh Bachchan is the larger-than-life screen persona whom I have admired since my childhood. These bits-n-pieces are a small endeavour to display my appreciation for the greatest ever celluloid star. This is Amitabh... |
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Compiled by : DEBASHISH CHAKRABARTY |
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new millennium has seen Amitabh Bachchan in the spotlight again, albeit in
a different avatar. Bagging the No.1 spot on the BBC's millennium poll
earlier in the year, he has undoubtedly been this years household
favourite having charmed prime time audiences with his Kaun Banega
Crorepati, the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire, which
changed the TV ratings game in India.
Now he joins the 400 other wax statues at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in London. After an initial survey conducted by the British Tourism Authority to select an Indian film star for a statue, Bachchan polled the largest number of votes among the short-listed stars for the honour which included Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Aishwarya Rai and Anil Kapoor. |
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Who is the better looking one? Amitabh seems to ponder in this picture shot at the museum on Dec.20,2000 |
Now scores of his fans can visit the 200 year old Madame Tussauds to be photographed with his stand-in wax model. Bachchan, the only Indian film star to have his wax sculpture included here, joins the ranks of Hollywood legends James Dean, John Wayne, Marlon Brando, Alfred Hitchcock, Humphrey Bogart, Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Caine, Anthony Hopkins, Nicolas Cage, Hugh Grant and Brad Pitt. Other Indians represented there are Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and P.V. Narasimha Rao.
KBC takes a break
PTI Mumbai, November 28, 2001
Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC), the hugely popular gameshow hosted by megastar Amitabh Bachchan on Star Plus, takes a break after its sweeping success of 18 months. KBC, which made Star a household name, had its final episode on the new year's day, January 1, 2002. Sameer Nair, executive vice-president, content and communication, Star network, said "every such show needs a small break. But come July-August and we will be back with Amitabh Bachchan and a big, brighter and bigger show". KBC will be back with a new crop of episodes, he said.
The popular host, Amitabh Bachchan said, "I enjoyed hosting the show, the interaction with participants, the audience. KBC brought me to the closest I could get to the viewers and my fans in all these years. Now that we are taking a break, let me say, Till we meet again...It's goodbye". Peter Mukherjea, CEO Star India, said KBC has fulfilled all that Star had hoped for. "We have had a successful run of over 300 episodes and now like all big shows needs to take a break".
AB Corp back on the rails
Times of India dt.24/06/2001 :
Top Star Amitabh Bachchan is about to put AB Corp back on the rails with 3 new film projects produced by his corporation. The first one in the trio is 'Aks' directed by adman-turned director Rakesh Mehra is scheduled for a late June release. The second production show-casing Amir Khan and to be directed by Mansoor khan will roll when the script is finalized this year. The third to be directed by Mehra again will feature the Bachchan family- Amitabh, son Abhishek and wife Jaya in principle roles.
Amitabh disclosed that ABCL has cleared 99% of its liabilities. ABCL has to shut shop 3 years ago due to debt and differences with it's frontline executive staff. With the upswing in the fortunes of the 59-year old superstar who has received a fresh lease of life following the KBC show, AB Corp is back in to reckoning. The West Bengal unit of the Amitabh Bachchan Fan Association, which has 10,000 registered fans, has mega plans to set up a huge marble temple in the name of the Bollywood icon. The temple will have a 12-foot marble idol of the Big B. That's not all. They also plan to build a museum with the Bachchan memorabilia. This ain't an uncommon practice in South India. But in a city like West Bengal, it comes as a surprise element. The Bachchan remains unamused and says, "Temples are for Gods and Goddesses and I am no God." We can't argue with that one. Come July, superstar Amitabh Bachchan will wrestle it out with son Abhishek Bachchan. But the only difference is that the battle will be on the pavilion. The two Bachchans will confront each other at the box office with their respective films.
Clash of the Bachchans
Times of India dt.26/06/2001 :
Come July and Senior Bachchan will be seen in a new role in Rakesh Mehra's psychological thriller Aks, while Bachchan Jr has got two releases lined up Shararat and Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai, both of which are family oriented dramas. According to trade pundits one of them is likely to be pushed further by one or two week. But that doesn't leave out the other one, which is certainly releasing on the same day with dad Amitabh's Aks. The D Day is schedule to be on July 13, when two Bachchans will come face to face in the box office. Will Abhishek be able to take on the might of his superstar father? Let's see. After all, how can we forget...Rishte mein Amitabh baap lagte hain.
Amitabh Bachchan is underworld's Godfather
FILMFARE January 13, 2002
He's excelled himself in fatherly roles like in Karan Johar's K3G and now the industry is bent on making him the Godfather of the underworld as well. We already know that he's doing Mahesh Manjrekar's Kutumb, which is said to be loosely based on the Hollywood hit The Godfather. Now one hears that director Deepak Balraj Vij is also 'inspired' on the same lines. Apparently he is supposed to have approached the Big B to play the lead in his next film titled Bombay Godfather. If rumours are to be believed, the film is a realistic one based on the underworld.
The Fragrance of Amitabh Bachchan
Source Unknown
He's a legend, a persona, and a phenomenon and now even a perfume. Well, its true 'Amitabh' is soon going to be a lingering fragrance that you can wear wherever and whenever. Sources reveal that the Big B has struck a deal with a France based company 'Robertet' for launching an exclusive brand of perfume called 'Amitabh for 'him' and 'her'. The worldwide launch is planned for September 2002. We've had 'SRK' brand of perfumes before this, so this one courtesy - the Millennium Super-star doesn't really come as a surprise. Now if there is a temple being built in our 'City of Joy - Kolkata' to honour the Big B, what's in a perfume? Soon the omnipresent 'Amitabh' is going to be in the air that you breathe in!
The return of AB, the cop
(Rediff.com 19Nov'02)
Is Amitabh Bachchan doing a film with Nagesh Kukunoor? He is and he is not. Kukunoor, a diehard Bachchan fan, has been vocally keen to work with the actor. Says the Big B, "Yes, I'm doing a film with Nagesh Kukunoor. But we are still to meet to formalise the script and commerce." Apparently, Bachchan is slated to play a chef in Kukunoor's Tandoor. While the Bachchan-Kukunoor project is still to get off the ground, almost certain is a film about the police force that will bring together the Big B and Govind Nihalani. The film will also star Om Puri in a stellar role. A long-standing admirer of Nihalani's craft, the Big B has been keen to work with Nihalani for a long time.
Noted Hindi poet Harivansh Rai dead
(PTI, Mumbai, January 19 2003)
Harivansh Rai Bachchan, a doyen of Hindi poetry and megastar Amitabh Bachchan's father, died at his residence in Mumbai on Saturday night after prolonged illness. He was 96. When the end came, all family members of the poet, including son Amitabh, daughter-in-law Jaya and grandson Abhishek were present at the bedside.
Born in Allahabad Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan exploded on Hindi literary scene in 1935 with his recitation of Madhushala to a huge audience, unfolding to listeners an enchanting world with rings of Omar Khayyam. He was to carve out another niche for himself decades later with his autobiography in four volumes, beginning with "Kya bhoolun kya yaad karoon" (what to forget and what to remember), regarded till date as a literary masterpiece. In a literary career spanning over more than 50 years, he captured the imagination of readers and continued to hold it with an unbroken series achievements.
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