Vijay, Amit, Jai: Big B's most memorable roles

As Amitabh Bachchan turns 70, we cannot but help recall this legendary actor's contribution to cinema. From the Angry Young man in Zanjeer to the sensitive lover in Kabhi Kabhie, to the 13-year-old child in Paa, there is no role that Mr Bachchan has not made his own. Heres'a look at his most memorable roles down the years.

Zanjeer (1973): Inspector Vijay Khanna captured the nation's imagination as the angry young man seeking revenge for his parents' murder. A new era began in Indian cinema and Amitabh Bachchan single-handedly broke the trend of the romantic, chocolate boy hero in Bollywood. The era of Vijays had begun.

Singer Subir Kumar Abhimaan (1973): Amitabh Bachchan played the singer who is jealous of his wife's talent. His real life wife Jaya co-starred. They were married a month before Abhimaan released.

Vijay Verma in Deewaar (1975): Amitabh Bachchan's path breaking performance as hardened smuggler Vijay Verma took the nation by storm. The Angry Young man had arrived and Amitabh became the symbol of protest against all that was wrong with the country's politics in the 70s.

Jai in Sholay (1975): Amitabh Bachchan captured the country's imagination as the cynical mercenary Jai, out to seek revenge against the notorious dacoit Gabbar Singh with his friend and partner Veeru (played by Dharmendra). The record breaking blockbuster, which was the first film in the history of Indian cinema to celebrate a silver jubilee in over a 100 theatres, remains the defining film of Bollywood.

Sukumar/Parimal in Chupke Chupke (1975): One of Amitabh Bachchan's few out and out comedic films, he played the role of English professor Sukumar Sinha who helps his newly-married friend Parimal (played by Dharmendra) to play a practical joke on his wife's family by impersonating him.

Amit Malhotra in Kabhi Kabhie (1976): Amitabh Bachchan was brilliant as the romantic poet left heartbroken when the object of his affections marries another man.

Anthony Gonsalves in Amar Akbar Anthony (1977): Amitabh Bachchan made a complete switch from his Angry Young Man avataar as the endearing, fun loving Anthony, one of three brothers who get separated during childhood. The self-medication scene from the movie had the audience doubling over with laughter and Amitabh's performance fetched him the Filmfare Best Actor Award.

Vijay in Don (1978): Amitabh Bachchan received tremendous adulation for his double role in the hit film Don which went on to be remade twice, both times starring Shah Rukh Khan.

His famous dialogue from the film - Don ko pakadna mushkil hi nahin, naamumkin hai - is well known to every movie buff worth his salt.

Sikandar in Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978): Amitabh Bachchan's role as the tragic hero who sacrifices his love for his beloved Raakhee's happiness remains a classic performance.

Amit Malhotra in Silsila (1981): Amitabh Bachchan played a character named Amit Malhotra a second time after Kabhi Kabhie. This time, it was he who was forced by circumstance to abandon his girlfriend and marry another woman. But fate conspires to throw the old flames each other's way again and an epic extra-marital affair follows.

The film reflected the alleged love triangle of Amitabh-Jaya-Rekha and was considered a casting coup of sorts on the part of director Yash Chopra who had the actors play the real life roles.

Johnny in Naseeb (1981): Amitabh Bachchan is also remembered for his portrayal of Johnny, the son of a waiter, who falls in love with the same girl (played by Hema Malini) as his friend.

Heera in Laawaris (1981): Amitabh Bachchan is memorable in his powerpacked performance as the orphan, born out of wedlock, who murders the man who raises him and later comes across his biological father. He is equally loved for his hit song Mere angne mein, tumhara kya kaam hai in which he sings and cross-dresses.

Kaalia in Kaalia (1981): Amitabh delivered a very convincing performance as the boy next door who goes on to become a criminal in adverse circumstances.

Arjun Singh in Namak Halaal (1982): Mr Bachchan again proved his versatility with a hilarious turn as Arjun Singh, the pampered grandchild of his Daddu who sends him to lead an independent life in the city, and the adventures he consequently meets with.

Ravi/Babu in Satte Pe Satta (1982): It was a Bachchan double whammy as the eldest of seven brothers who falls in love with a nurse (played by Hema Malini), and the criminal lookalike who masquerades as his heroic counterpart only to be reformed by the innocent adventures of the family.

Iqbal Khan in Coolie (1983): The famous film during the shoot of which Amitabh Bachchan suffered a near-fatal injury saw him deliver a convincing performance as the leader of railway station porters who fights for the rights of his community.

Shahenshah in Shahenshah (1988): Amitabh Bachchan is fondly remembered for his character of the vigilante Shahenshah, a police inspector by day, who dons this guise after becoming frustrated with corruption. His famous lines from the movie - rishte mein to hum tumhare baap hote hain, naam hai Shahenshah - became a household dialogue.

Vijay Deenanath Chauhan in Agneepath (1990): Yet another Vijay and perhaps the most famous. Amitabh Bachchan will always be remembered for his role as gangster Vijay Deenanath Chauhan and for his famous dialogue from the film - Vijay Dinanath Chauhan poora naam, baap ka naam Dinanath Chauhan, maa ka naam Suhasini Chauhan, gaon Mandwa, umar chhattis saal.

The role won him a National Award for Best Actor.

Debraj Sahai in Black (2005) : Mr Bachchan delivered one of his finest performnaces as a teacher to a blind and deaf girl (played by Rani Mukherji) in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Black. He transforms the life of his student but himself develops Alzheimer's disease. The role fetched him the National Award and the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.

Auro in Paa (2009): Proving that talent defies age, Mr Bachchan delivered a breathtaking performance as a 13-year-old with progeria, a disease that ages the victim prematurely. Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan swapped father and son roles in reel life. For the second year, he won the National Award and Filmfare Award for Best Actor.