At 75, Amitabh Bachchan has seen it all—the good, the bad and the ugly—and yet emerged as the proverbial phoenix. Virender Kapoor analyses the legend

 
At a time when most youngsters want to earn enough and retire by the time they turn 40, here is a silver making waves at 75 who seems in no hurry to hang up his boots. The biggest superstar of Indian cinema Amitabh Bachchan is a living example of the statement that age is merely a number. He is omnipresent; you will catch him staring at you from the hoardings and entertaining you on TV, cinema screen and radio. In fact, his presence on social media platforms is also meticulous.

Recently, while researching for my book Excellence The Amitabh Bachchan Way, I uncovered so many facts about this gentleman, which can be part of a learning process for all of us. Bachchan has learnt and perfected his craft over a period of time; he has leveraged his strengths and handled his weaknesses, proving that legends are not born but made.

Along the way he has had a bumpy ride, battling serious health issues, mixed fortune at the box office, bankruptcy and a not very delightful brush with politics. To his credit, Bachchan handled all of these with grace and élan. They say emotional intelligence largely has to do with self-awareness and self-management. Bachchan’s statement, “Hai andheri raat par diwa jalan kab mana hai” (yes it is a dark night, but when has anyone stopped you from lighting a lamp?) reflects his never-say-die attitude. In fact, he has demonstrated resilience of the highest order while navigating lean patches in professional and personal life.

The big difference

In an industry known for chaotic schedules and star tantrums, Amitabh Bachchan is famous for his punctuality, discipline and professionalism. Even today, he follows a punishing schedule, literally living his father Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s lines, “Jeevan ek sangharsh hai. Jab tak jeevan hai, tab tak sangharsh hai.” (Life is a struggle. Till there is life, there is struggle.) What has given him a larger-than-life halo and earned respect in the industry is not just the way he conducts himself, but the way he treats others. People have been witness to Bachchan arriving early on the sets and waiting patiently for co-stars for hours; and receiving them without a trace of annoyance.

Anupam Kher, who shot with Bachchan for Aakhree Raasta in Chennai in blistering heat, recalls being upset on the set once as the air-conditioner in the makeup room was not functioning. However, he was surprised to see Bachchan sitting quietly with full make-up and costume on, waiting for his shot to be canned. “I was in complete awe of this person, who being such a big star didn’t create any fuss and was taking this as a part of work,” he says.

Integrity with grace

A BBC online poll in 1999 named Amitabh Bachchan ‘Superstar of the Millennium’, ahead of the likes of Alec Guinness and Marlon Brando. The same year, however, the situation at ABCL, the company Bachchan had launched, was so bad that he was hounded by creditors. Writing about those days in his blog, Bachchan said, “…in the year 2000, when the entire world was celebrating the new century, I was celebrating my disastrous fortune. There were no films, no money, no company, a million legal cases against me and the tax authorities had put notice of recovery on my home.” He adds, “I looked at the options before me and evaluated different scenarios. The answer came pat: I know how to act. I walked up to Yashji, who stayed behind my house. I implored him to give me work. That is when the worm turned, he gave me Mohabbatein.”

Imagine a megastar of the industry requesting a producer to give him work! One needs strength of character to undergo such pressure and be ready to do whatever it takes—even bending backwards—to keep one’s honour and commitment. That said, Bachchan has battled not just external pressures but serious health concerns including liver cirrhosis, myasthenia gravis (a muscle dysfunctional disorder) and tuberculosis of the spine, not to forget the fatal accident on the set of Coolie, to emerge triumphant. None of this could have been possible without three Ds—dedication, determination and discipline—the traits of a winner!

Kapoor is the author of Excellence The Amitabh Bachchan Way (Rupa; ₹ 195; 150 pages)

Featured in Harmony — Celebrate Age Magazine
November 2017