General Knowledge
Amitabh Bachan
Television career
In the year 2000, Bachchan stepped up to host Indias adaptation of the British television game show, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire entitled, Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC). As it did in most other countries where it was adopted, the program found immediate and profound success, in no small part due to Bachchans charisma. It is believed that Bachchan charged a whopping Rs 25 lakhs (2.5 million Indian Rupees, approximately US$60,000 ) per weekly episode which strengthed Bachchan and his family both financially and morally after the setbacks that he had to cope after ABCLs collapse. The Canara Bank also withdrew its law suit against Bachchan in November 2000. Bachchan hosted KBC till November 2005, and its success set the stage for his return to film popularity.Comeback 2000 present In 2000, Bachchan appeared in Yash Chopras box office super hit, Mohabbatein, in which he played a stern, older figure that rivalled the character of Indias new hearthrob, Shah Rukh Khan. Audiences appreciated Bachchans work, as he played a character whose age approximately mirrored his own. Other hits followed, with Bachchan appearing as an older patriarch in Ek Rishtaa A Bond of Love (2001), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) and Baghban (2003). As an actor, he continued to exploit a range of characters suiting with his profile, receiving critical acclaim for his performances in Aks (2001), Aankhen (2002), Khakee (2004), Dev (2004) and most notably Black (2005). Taking advantage of this resurgence, Amitabh started endorsing a variety of products and services, appearing in many television and billboard advertisements.
Recently he starred with his son Abhishek in the hit films Bunty Aur Babli (2005), the Godfather tribute Sarkar (2005), and Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna (2006).All of them have been very successful at the box office and acclaimed by critics. His most recent releases Baabul (2006), Eklavya and Nishabd (2007) have failed to do well at the box office but his performances in each of them have been appreciated by critics.Zamaanat in which he plays the protagonist, has seen its release date postponed for over 10 years now for want of distributors willing to buy the movies rights. He also made a guest appearance as himself in the Kannada movie Amruthadaare directed by Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar. Most recently on May 25, 2007 two of his films Cheeni Kum and the multi starrer Shootout at Lokhandwala were released. Though he did a cameo in the film. Shootout at Lokhandwala has taken an excellent start at the box office in India and overseas and Cheeni Kum has picked up after a slow start. But ended up being an average fare.
His forthcoming releases include a supporting role in his first international English language film titled Shantaram which is directed by Mira Nair and stars Hollywood actor Johnny Depp in the lead. He is also appearing in an English language film titled The Last Lear. On the sets of The Last Lear Bachchan turned dialogue writer and penned down some on the spot Hindi dialogues.
Barabanki Land ScamIn the runup to the Uttar Pradesh state assembly elections, 2007, Amitabh Bachchan made a film extolling the virtues of the Mulayam Singh government. Unfortunately, his Samajwadi Party was routed, and Mayawati came to power. One of her first actions was to launch investigations against Amitabh Bachchan.On June 2, 2007, a court ruled that he had been illegally granted agricultural land designated for landless Untouchable farmers. He may also be investigated on related charges of forgery. If he does not qualify as the owner of agricultural land elsewhere, he may also lose a 20 acre farmhouse property he had purchased at Maval near Pune.In a related development, the Bombay High Court on June 21, 2007 issued notice to him in a case of alleged tax evasion and cover up deals.