Big B completes Four Decades in Bollywood!

Back in November 7th 1959 a young and ultra talented bloke named Amitabh appeared for the first time in bug screen in a film called ‘Saat Hindustani’. Little did director Khwaja Ahmad Abbas know that this guy was going to become the one man show of Bollywood.

Today the undisputed Shahenshah of Bollywood, Amitabh Bachchan has completed a baffling 40 years in Bollywood! Big B was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his mammoth contribution to Indian Cinema on the last day of the ‘Mumbai Film Festival’. Actress Preity Zinta gave away the award to Mr Bachchan who thanked the noted directors who recognised his talent and the ‘Mumbai Academy of Moving Images’ (MAMI).

Big B was completely overwhelmed with delight upon receiving the award. "No person can rise in his talent without others support, especially in this industry. Unless you have the support of others, you are nowhere. So, I would like to congratulate everybody of the film industry, who supported me from director to music director, assistant, spot boy, all my leading ladies and all my leading men that I had the good fortune to work with, because of whom I was able to spend so many years in the industry," said Bachchan.

"I do want to thank primarily the people of my country for giving me their love, their support, their affection and their prayers on many an occasion, trial and tribulation that I have gone through and I truly feel very, very humble in their presence. May they continue to like what we do and hopefully the few years that are left in my career, may they continue to enjoy what we do," Bachchan added.

Big B rose to fame in the 1970s with his unforgettable 'angry young man' persona. To date Bachchan has won three National Film Awards and twelve Filmfare Awards. He has progresses from a powerhouse actor to a producer, television host and even a playback singer. Bachchan won his first National Film Award for Best Newcomer for the film Saat Hindustani, but that was just teh calm before the storm. He went on to make Anand (1971) with Rajesh Khanna, Parwaana (1971) opposite Navin Nischol, Yogeeta Bali and Om Prakash, Bombay to Goa, Zanjeer (1973), Abhimaan, Namak Haram, Chupke Chupke, Deewar and of course, the grand daddy of them all - Sholay.

Thanks to the roaring success of Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Kabhie Kabhie (1976), Don, Trishul, Muqqadar ka sikandar, Big B was billed a "one-man industry" by the French director François Truffaut. Although he faced a bit of a slump in the 90s, he made a big comeback in the insanely popular 'Kaun Banega Crorepati' which he hosted from 2000 to 2005. Most of his recent films have all been successful, including Mohabbatein, , Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) and Baghban (2003). He also received critical praise for his performances in Aks (2001), Aankhen (2002), Khakee (2004), Dev (2004) and in particular, Black (2005). Bunty Aur Babli (2005), the Godfather tribute Sarkar (2005), and Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna (2006) all have been successful at the box office.

It was reported that Amitabh Bachchan has signed on to star in Hera Pheri 4. He will also appear opposite Sir Ben Kingsley in 'Teen Patti'.