 
The range which Bachchan portrayed in his performances remains unmatched even today. Like the superstar’s fees those days. The actor used to command a remuneration which was more than double that commanded by the actor who was second in popularity. It was Amitabh who started the trend of an actor taking the distribution rights of a major territory like Bombay in lieu of his remuneration. And while distribution rights were, in those days, generally sold for ten years, the superstar bought perpetual rights.
Today, films do businesses of Rs 15 and 20 crores per major territory. But in the seventies and eighties, when Rs 1 crore was the magical figure, several of Bachchan starrers touched and even crossed the Rs 1-crore mark.
Amitabh is also the last star to have had a universal appeal that cut across geographical boundaries. Whether it was the man on the street in Ludhiana in the North or Latur down South, whether it was a company executive in Porbandar in Western India or a college student studying in Patna in East India, the fondness for Bachchan was the same.
Today, a Sunny Deol runs more in Northern Indian because of his action image, a Govinda is a hot favourite of U.P. and Bihar whereas a Shah Rukh Khan flick generally records dull collections in Bihar. That is to say, Amitabh’s charm affected the audiences in the North, South, East and West with equal intensity. Not just in India, but across the seven seas too, Amitabh reigned supreme for over two decades. His super-hit stage shows bore testimony to his immense popularity the world over.
Again today when jubilees are more manipulated than actual, Amitabh’s films celebrated genuine silver, golden and platinum jubilees. r Akbar Anthony in 1977 celebrated silver jubilee in as many as 9 cinemas of Bombay, a record unparalleled even today! In the year 1978, six of Amitabh’s films celebrated jubilees, yet another record which remains unequalled to-date!
Even after Bachchan’s downswing began, the actor managed to make successes out of ordinary films like Shahanshah in 1988, Aaj Ka Arjun in 1990 and Hum in 1991.
A three-year sabbatical in the nineties was followed by a disastrous comeback with Mrityudaata, a film which Amitabh’s critics condemned as the death-knell of the actor. But Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and Major Saab thereafter gave him a breather. BMCM in 1998 might have crossed the average line because of Govinda’s antics but Amitabh Bachchan’s towering presence in the David Dhawan flick cannot be overlooked.
With KBC on Star Plus, the ageing actor’s fan following increased even more. Once again, critics derided Amitabh’s foray into television and predicted that this surely would be the end of his career on the big screen. But once again, Bachchan proved his detractors wrong! Rather than adversely affecting his film career, KBC actually gave it a big boost.
Did you know?
No star has as many hits and super-hits to his credit as Amitabh Bachchan. Of the over 100 films in which he had full-length roles, more than 35 films have been either hits or super-hits! His list of hits: Bombay To Goa, Abhimaan, Namak Haraam, Zanjeer, Kasauti, Majboor, Roti Kapada Aur Makaan, Chupke Chupke, Deewaar, Sholay, Do Anjaane, Hera Pheri, Kabhi Kabhie, Adalat, Amar Akbar Anthony, Parvarish, Khoon Pasina, Don, Ganga Ki Saugand, Trishul, Kasme Vaade, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Mr. Natwarlal, Suhaag, Dostana, Ram Balram, Barsaat Ki Ek Raat (Bengali version: Anusandhan), Laawaris, Naseeb, Yaarana, Kaalia, Khud-dar, Andhaa Kanoon, Coolie, Sharaabi, Geraftaar, Mard, Aaj Ka Arjun, Mohabbatein and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham…Besides these, there were several other films which were successful but not hits.
He is the only actor who gave at least one hit every year for 14 consecutive years - from 1972 (Bombay To Goa) to 1985 (Mard).
Amitabh has played double and triple roles in a number of films. His double role starrers include Don, Kasme Vaade, The Great Gambler, Desh Premee, Satte Pe Satta, Aakhree Raasta, Toofan, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and Sooryavansham. Adalat and Mahaan had the superstar in triple roles.
Amitabh has acted in 9 films directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, viz. Anand, Abhimaan, Namak Haraam, Chupke Chupke, Mili, Alaap, Jurmana, Gol Maal (only a guest appearance) and Be-Misal. With Manmohan Desai, he did 8 films - Amar Akbar Anthony, Parvarish, Suhaag, Naseeb, Desh Premee, Coolie, Mard, Gangaa Jamunaa Saraswathi - besides one with Manmohan Desai as producer and son Ketan Desai as director (Toofan). Prakash Mehra directed the superstar in a total of 7 films - Zanjeer, Hera Pheri, Khoon Pasina, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Laawaris, Sharaabi, Jaadugar. With Yash Chora, the superstar did 5 films - Deewaar, Kabhie Kabhie, Trishul, Kaala Patthar and Silsila - besides one, with his son, Aditya Chopra - Mohabbatein. Ramesh Sippy directed Bachchan in the latter’s (as well as the former’s) biggest hit, Sholay, besides Shaan, Shakti and Akayla. His son, Rohan Sippy, made his directorial debut with Bachchan’s son, Abhishek (Kuch Naa Kaho).
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