Even after becoming a superstar, Amitabh Bachchan remained humble — his simplicity is his greatest identity.

New Delhi The megastar of Indian cinema Amitabh Bachchan is known not only for his acting but also respected across the country and abroad for his conduct and humility. Despite reaching the heights of success, he has always lived a life of simplicity, discipline, and respect. This is why, even decades later, he holds a special place in the hearts of the audience.

In the history of Bollywood, there are some partnerships that define not just films, but an entire era. One such unique duo was Salim-Javed, whose writing gave Hindi cinema the immortal character of the ‘Angry Young Man’. This character was portrayed on screen by none other than Amitabh Bachchan, who came to be called the ‘Megastar’ of Indian cinema.

Success Before Success

Generally, there has been a perception in the film industry that people only salute the ‘rising sun’, meaning they only bet on successful actors, but the perspective was different and far-sighted. According to the writer, “One should see the light in the sun, not focus on the time of its rising or setting, and I had seen this light in Amitabh Bachchan when several of his films, like ‘Raaste Ka Patthar’ and ‘Bansi Birju’, were failing at the box office. Despite this, I had complete faith in Amitabh Bachchan’s talent.”

The films may have been unsuccessful, but the actor was by no means a failure. I could see that the films were failing, but Amitabh was doing his job extremely well. If the script was bad or there was a flaw in the story, the blame cannot be placed on that actor. He is doing a fantastic job with the work given to him.

This belief was not based on mere general appreciation, but rather on the sharp understanding of a writer and viewer. “Whether it was comedy, a serious role, anger, or a smile, Amitabh Bachchan was portraying every emotion perfectly on screen. He is a unique actor who just needed the right script and direction, without which the films were flopping.”

The Risk and Conviction in ‘Zanjeer’

The turning point in Amitabh Bachchan’s career was the film ‘Zanjeer’ (1973). This film not only successfully earned him the tag of ‘Angry Young Man’ but also established Salim-Javed as Bollywood’s biggest writers. However, the casting of this film was no less than a cinematic story itself.

“The script of ‘Zanjeer’ had gone to several big actors, but all of them rejected it. The director/producer had only two options: either abandon the script, or take an actor whose previous films had been unsuccessful. This is where the conviction triumphed. He bet on a ‘flop’ actor but did not give up his excellent script.”

The writer salutes the director/producer for this, because at that time Salim-Javed’s name was not big enough for him to take this risk just for them.

“We were fortunate that no other actor was willing to take this role. It was his firm belief; I salute him for that.”

This was the moment when Amitabh Bachchan immortalized the characters of Vijay (Zanjeer) and Deewar with the fire in his eyes. “What I saw was Amitabh’s acting ability, which proved that this was the actor who could present the new incarnation of the ‘Angry Young Man’ to India.”

Amitabh Bachchan is not just an actor, but a symbol of Indian cultural values — restraint, humility, and hard work. Even after becoming a superstar, his simple life and respect for others make him a true megastar. His simplicity will remain a source of inspiration for generations to come.