Abhishek Bachchan

Abhishek Bachchan (Hindi: अभिषेक बच्चन, pronounced [əbʱɪʂeːk ˈbəʧˈʧən]; born 5 February 1976 in Mumbai, Maharashtra) is an Indian actor and the son of Indian actors Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan. He is married to actress and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai.

Bachchan debuted with J.P. Dutta's Refugee (2000). In 2004, the actor delivered a hit and a critically acclaimed performance, in the films Dhoom and Yuva. His performance in the latter was praised, for which he received several awards, including his first Filmfare Award in the Best Supporting Actor category, an award he would win for the two next years as well. Since then, Bachchan has starred in films that have been commercially and critically successful, establishing himself as one of the leading actors in the industry.

Early life
Abhishek Bachchan is the son of Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan and actress Jaya Bachchan; his elder sister is Shweta Bachchan-Nanda (b. 1974). His grandfather, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, was a well-known poet of Hindi literature. The original last name of his parental family is Srivastav, Bachchan being the pen name used by his grandfather. However, when his father Amitabh entered films, he did so under his own father's pen name. Bachchan is of Punjabi Sikh heritage from his grandmother Teji's side, while also of Bengali Kulin Brahmin descent from his mother Jaya Bhaduri's side.

Bachchan was dyslexic as a child.[1] He attended Jamnabai Narsee School and Bombay Scottish School in Mumbai, Modern School, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi, and Aiglon College in Switzerland. He then went to the U.S. to complete his education at Boston University, but left midway to pursue his acting career when his father's company, ABCL, was facing trouble.

Career
Bachchan began his career with J.P. Dutta's moderately successful Refugee (2000), which also starred Kareena Kapoor, although Kapoor received more public exposure from the film.[2] In a span of four years, Bachchan went on to do many more movies, without much success. These included Kuch Naa Kaho (2003) with Aishwarya Rai, whom he married in 2007.

In 2004, his performance in Mani Ratnam's Yuva proved his mettle as an actor.[3] The same year, he starred in Dhoom his first hit.[4] In 2005, Bachchan shot to fame with four consecutive hits: Bunty Aur Babli, Sarkar, Dus, and Bluffmaster.[5] He won his second Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for Sarkar. Bachchan also received his first Filmfare nomination in the Best Actor category.

His first 2006 release, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, was one of India's highest grossing films of the year.[6] He was also a part of Mani Ratnam's stage show, Netru, Indru, Naalai, alongside many other co-stars. Bachchan's second release Umrao Jaan failed to do well at the box office, but his third film that year, the sequel Dhoom 2, did very well—although, as in the first Dhoom, critics found that Hrithik Roshan, as the antagonist, stole the show.[7]

In 2007, Bachchan starred in Guru, receiving much acclaim for his performance, and the film emerged as his first solo hit.[8] In May 2007, he made a brief appearance in the successful Shootout at Lokhandwala.[9] His next release, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, which released in June 2007, failed to do well in India[10] but did better overseas, especially in the UK.[11] While the film itself received mixed reviews, Bachchan won praise for his performance.[12]

In summer 2008, Bachchan, his wife, his father, and fellow performers Preity Zinta, Ritesh Deshmukh, and Madhuri Dixit starred in the Unforgettable World Tour stage production. The first leg covered the U.S, Canada, Trinidad, and London, England.

Bachchan is also involved in the functional and administrative operations of his father's company, originally known as ABCL, and rechristened as AB Corp. Ltd. That company, along with Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., developed the Unforgettable production.[13]

Among Bachchan's 2008 films were Sarkar Raj and Dostana.[14][15] Abhishek has now joined the long list of actors in Bollywood that have turned producer. Abhishek's first venture into producing films has been for the Hindi film Paa for his family company AB Corp. Ltd. Abhishek not only was one of the lead actors in Paa, but was the main hands on producer in charge of the film's budget, marketing, and the entire production of the film.[16][17][18]

Abhishek is currently hosting a brand new game show for Colors titled National Bingo Night which premiered on 23 January 2010.[19][20] National Bingo Night fared extremely well in its debut episode on Colors beating many other current top television series. The debut episode fetched a 3.5 in the TVR ratings.

Personal life
In October 2002, at Amitabh Bachchan's 60th birthday celebration, Abhishek Bachchan and Karisma Kapoor announced their engagement.[22] The engagement was called off in January 2003.

In 2006, Abhishek was named the sexiest man in Asia by UK magazine Eastern Eye.[23]. This Bollywood superstar, long considered widely as the most eligible bachelor of India [24] married Aishwarya Rai, the Bollywood superstar who earned praises from Julia Roberts and Oprah Winfrey as the most beautiful woman on Earth.[25] After much speculation concerning their relationship, Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai announced their engagement on 14 January 2007.[26] The couple was married on 20 April 2007, according to traditional Hindu rites of the South Indian Bunt community, to which Rai belongs. Token North Indian and Bengali ceremonies were also performed. The wedding took place in a private ceremony at the Bachchan residence Prateeksha, in Juhu, Mumbai, but was heavily covered by the entertainment media. The couple is considered a supercouple in India, and is often referred by the portmanteau "Abhiaish" (for Abhishek and Aishwarya).

Bachchan's paternal grandmother Teji Bachchan died on 21 December 2007.[27] Abhishek along with his spouse Aishwarya Rai Bachchan appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show on Monday, 28 September 2009.[28]

[edit] Awards and nominations
Main article: List of Abhishek Bachchan's awards and nominations
[edit] Filmography
Year Film Role Notes
2000 Refugee Refugee Nominated, Filmfare Best Male Debut Award
Dhai Akshar Prem Ke Karan Khanna
Tera Jadoo Chal Gaya Kabir Srivastav
2001 Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai Surajchand Shrivastav
2002 Haan Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya Shiv Kapoor
Shararat Rahul Khanna
Om Jai Jagadish Jagadish Batra
Desh Anjaan
2003 Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon Prem Kumar Nominated, Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award
Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost Kanji
Kuch Naa Kaho Raj
Zameen ACP Jaideep "Jai" Rai
LOC Kargil Lt. Vikram Batra
2004 Run Siddharth
Yuva Lallan Singh Winner, Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award
Hum Tum Sameer Guest appearance
Dhoom ACP Jai Dixit
Phir Milenge Tarun Anand
Rakht: What If You Can See the Future Manav Guest appearance (item number)
Naach Abhinav
2005 Bunty Aur Babli Rakesh Trivedi/Bunty Nominated, Filmfare Best Actor Award
Sarkar Shankar Nagare Winner, Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award
Dus Shashank Dheer
Antar Mahal Brij Bhushan
Salaam Namaste Dr. Vijay Kumar/Narrator Special appearance
Home Delivery: Aapko... Ghar Tak Customer at Pizzeria Special appearance
Ek Ajnabee Bodyguard Special appearance
Neal n' Nikki Man in Bar Special appearance
Bluffmaster Roy Kapoor
2006 Alag Special appearance in song Sabse Alag
Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna Rishi Talwar Winner, Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award
Lage Raho Munna Bhai Sunny Khurana Special appearance
Umrao Jaan Nawab Sultan Khan
Dhoom 2 ACP Jai Dixit
2007 Guru Gurukant K. Desai Nominated, Filmfare Best Actor Award
Shootout at Lokhandwala Abhishek Mahatre Special appearance
Jhoom Barabar Jhoom Rikki Thukral
Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag Gypsy singer Special appearance
Laaga Chunari Mein Daag Rohan Varma Extended cameo
Om Shanti Om Himself Special appearance
2008 Sarkar Raj Shankar Nagare Nominated, Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award
Mission Istanbul Special appearance
Drona Aditya/Drona
Dostana Sameer Nominated, Filmfare Best Actor Award
2009 Luck by Chance Himself Special appearance
Delhi-6 Roshan Mehra
Paa Amol Arte
2010 Raavan Beera Releasing on June 18, 2010
Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey Surya Sen Releasing on December 3, 2010
2011 Game Filming
Dum Maro Dum Filming
Dostana 2 Pre-production