Mumbai:
Pics: Amitabh Bachchan's life in pictures
Pics: Many faces of Big B
Basking in the National Award gloryfor his unconventional role in Paa, megastar AmitabhBachchan, who turned 68 today, is still going strong andcontinues to be the busiest actor of his generation in theHindi film industry.
It has been a mixed year for the legendary actor, whois hosting the fourth edition of the popular quiz show KaunBanega Crorepati (KBC), which incidentally played a key rolein reviving his flagging Bollywood career a decade ago.
He was seen in different avatars in his latest releaseseven though the movies did not ring well at the box office.
In Aladin, which released in October last year, he wasseen as a genie; Teen Patti featured him as a mathematicsgenius along with noted actor Ben Kingsley. His homeproduction Paa, which saw him playing a child suffering fromprogeria causing pre-mature ageing, was a box office grosser.The film fetched Bachchan a national award this year.
It was on his 66th birthday in 2008 that there was ahealth alarm when Big B was hospitalised due to abdominal painand had to be operated following which he did not sign any newfilm in the last one year and only hosted season three of hitreality show Bigg Boss for Colors.
This year, the legendary actor is back facing camerasfor Rajkumar Santoshi's Power with Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgnand Anil Kapoor. Besides, he is also back on small screen asthe host of KBC on Sony.
The channel is hosting a party for Bachchan tonight withthe first episode going on air.
Bachchan began shooting for Power in Mumbai early thismonth. He recently completed a Malayalam movie Kandaharbased on the 1999 Indian airlines plane hijack episode, withsouthern superstar Mohan Lal.
The veteran actor had said on his blog that he had shot ascene where he had to say Malayalam dialogues in one take.
Apart from Power, Bachchan is also part of Telugufilmmaker Puri Jagannath's Budda and Prakash Jha'sArakshan.
Sources close to the actor said he has taken a day offfrom shooting and will spend his birthday with familyincluding daughter Shweta Nanda and grandchildren Navya Naveliand Agastya who have flown down from Delhi.
As is the case every year, fans from all over India havegathered outside Bachchan's bungalow 'Jalsa' in suburbanMumbai to catch a glimpse of the megastar since morning.
Despite being busy with films and television, Big B wasalso active in promoting cricket and tourism. He was appointedbrand ambassador of Twenty20 Champions League held in SouthAfrica in September.
Braving criticism from some quarters, Bachchan also wentahead to become tourism brand ambassador of BJP-ruled Gujarat.
Penning thoughts on his blog, Bachchan today thanked hisfans for standing by him and said, "It has been a long trip,but hope and pray, one that has been, scattered along theboundary. Easily identifiable and quick to take command on."
"I think I have remained myself despite myself - weak,uncertain, hesitant, incomprehensible, indecisive. This mythof power and greatness, abundance and position, connection andelevation, has been and shall always be a realm, that I am notfamiliar with and one that I do not have any desire to acquirefamiliarity with either," he wrote.
"If perception is that rules the mind then I cannot stopor bring correction to those that are in charge of opinion. Imust remain honest and sincere to what I was born with, notallowing any pollution to destroy what I believe or wish tobelieve."
"I am content in knowing what I am and what I want andwhat others want from me. I am content with what came my way,what disturbed me, what made me anxious and helpless andwithout motivation. And I wish no one has ever to go throughthe ordeal that most fear; that of being misunderstood,"Bachchan further wrote.
He said his family had wished him with flowers and cardsand thanked all his fans and admirers.
"To all that have sent me birthday wishes my sinceregratitude and love... I can give nothing else in return butthat... and more of that," the actor said in reply to birthdaywishes on Twitter.
Pics: Many faces of Big B
Basking in the National Award gloryfor his unconventional role in Paa, megastar AmitabhBachchan, who turned 68 today, is still going strong andcontinues to be the busiest actor of his generation in theHindi film industry.
It has been a mixed year for the legendary actor, whois hosting the fourth edition of the popular quiz show KaunBanega Crorepati (KBC), which incidentally played a key rolein reviving his flagging Bollywood career a decade ago.
He was seen in different avatars in his latest releaseseven though the movies did not ring well at the box office.
In Aladin, which released in October last year, he wasseen as a genie; Teen Patti featured him as a mathematicsgenius along with noted actor Ben Kingsley. His homeproduction Paa, which saw him playing a child suffering fromprogeria causing pre-mature ageing, was a box office grosser.The film fetched Bachchan a national award this year.
It was on his 66th birthday in 2008 that there was ahealth alarm when Big B was hospitalised due to abdominal painand had to be operated following which he did not sign any newfilm in the last one year and only hosted season three of hitreality show Bigg Boss for Colors.
This year, the legendary actor is back facing camerasfor Rajkumar Santoshi's Power with Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgnand Anil Kapoor. Besides, he is also back on small screen asthe host of KBC on Sony.
The channel is hosting a party for Bachchan tonight withthe first episode going on air.
Bachchan began shooting for Power in Mumbai early thismonth. He recently completed a Malayalam movie Kandaharbased on the 1999 Indian airlines plane hijack episode, withsouthern superstar Mohan Lal.
The veteran actor had said on his blog that he had shot ascene where he had to say Malayalam dialogues in one take.
Apart from Power, Bachchan is also part of Telugufilmmaker Puri Jagannath's Budda and Prakash Jha'sArakshan.
Sources close to the actor said he has taken a day offfrom shooting and will spend his birthday with familyincluding daughter Shweta Nanda and grandchildren Navya Naveliand Agastya who have flown down from Delhi.
As is the case every year, fans from all over India havegathered outside Bachchan's bungalow 'Jalsa' in suburbanMumbai to catch a glimpse of the megastar since morning.
Despite being busy with films and television, Big B wasalso active in promoting cricket and tourism. He was appointedbrand ambassador of Twenty20 Champions League held in SouthAfrica in September.
Braving criticism from some quarters, Bachchan also wentahead to become tourism brand ambassador of BJP-ruled Gujarat.
Penning thoughts on his blog, Bachchan today thanked hisfans for standing by him and said, "It has been a long trip,but hope and pray, one that has been, scattered along theboundary. Easily identifiable and quick to take command on."
"I think I have remained myself despite myself - weak,uncertain, hesitant, incomprehensible, indecisive. This mythof power and greatness, abundance and position, connection andelevation, has been and shall always be a realm, that I am notfamiliar with and one that I do not have any desire to acquirefamiliarity with either," he wrote.
"If perception is that rules the mind then I cannot stopor bring correction to those that are in charge of opinion. Imust remain honest and sincere to what I was born with, notallowing any pollution to destroy what I believe or wish tobelieve."
"I am content in knowing what I am and what I want andwhat others want from me. I am content with what came my way,what disturbed me, what made me anxious and helpless andwithout motivation. And I wish no one has ever to go throughthe ordeal that most fear; that of being misunderstood,"Bachchan further wrote.
He said his family had wished him with flowers and cardsand thanked all his fans and admirers.
"To all that have sent me birthday wishes my sinceregratitude and love... I can give nothing else in return butthat... and more of that," the actor said in reply to birthdaywishes on Twitter.
