50 years of Amitabh Bachchan: 5 iconic roles the superstar played that stole our hearts!

In 5 decades, Amitabh Bachchan has dabbled in various film genres and delivered numerous impressive performances. As he competes half a decade in the industry, we list down 5 of his most iconic roles to date.

Amitabh Bachchan is not just a name but a legacy that will keep inspiring people for years and years to come. His contribution to the Indian cinema has been so immense that it’s impossible to talk about Bollywood films and not mention his name. The 76-year-old actor began his film career back in 1969 with Saat Hindustani and then went on to deliver hits like Zanjeer, Sholay, Abhimaan, Amar Akbar Anthony, and many more. Though Big B tasted tremendous success after starring in Zanjeer, the actor went through a rough patch in-between but eventually made a successful comeback with his film Agneepath which earned him his first ever National award. As Senior Bachchan continues to wow us with his craft, let’s take a look at some of his finest work.

Vijay Deenanath Chauhan (Agneepath)

Raise your hands if you felt goose bumps just by reading that name. Well, we can’t blame you because that’s the power of Big B’s acting – he always leaves a mark. Portraying roles similar to this one made Amitabh Bachchan the ‘Angry Young Man’ of Bollywood. But ironically, Big B never portrayed his angry persona on the big screen after playing Vijay Deenanath Chauhan in Agneepath. In the film, Bachchan played the role of an underworld mafia don Vijay who is hell-bent on avenging the murder of his father.

Vijay Verma (Deewaar)

Yes, the famous dialogue ‘Mere paas maa hai’ is from this very film which also starred Shahid Kapoor in the lead. Big B played his younger brother in the film who winds up being a criminal whereas Kapoor’s character is that of an honest police officer. The whole story about two brothers who end up fighting against each not only tugged our hearts but also entertained us thoroughly. No wonder, it’s regarded as cult classic today.

Don and Vijay (Don)

Sorry SRK, but no one can ever pull of this role with as much finesse as Mr Bachchan did back in 1978. In the film, Bachchan played double role and proved his caliber as an actor. As Don and his lookalike Vijay, Big B was an absolute delight to watch on the big screen. And as if that wasn’t enough, his song Khaike Paan Banaras Wala became a chart-buster and till today has a special fan base that loves dancing on it especially during the festive season of holi.

Debraj Sahay (Black)

If you haven’t watched this masterpiece then you must be living under a rock. Playing an aging teacher to a blind, deaf and mute girl, Mr Bachchan as Debraj Sahay was beyond perfection in the Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial venture. Rani Mukerji, who starred alongside Big B in the film, was equally good and together these two actors gave us one of the most beautiful films ever made in Bollywood. For his towering performance, Big B was even presented the prestigious National Award which he rightly deserved.

Bhaskor Banerjee (Piku)

In Shoojit Sircar’s delectable life, Amitabh Bachchan played the role of an annoying father to Deepika Padukone’s character Piku. From having an opinion on every damn thing to not letting his daughter get married, Big B as Bhaskor Banerjee wasn’t lovable at all and yet he made everyone fall in love with him. Guess that’s what good acting is all about, right? While Dippy delivered a fabulous performance in the film, it was her co-actor and superstar Big B who made us smile throughout the film. And that’s one reason why Bhaskor Banerjee will always remain a special.

The legend has reached beyond the point that he needs any validation. We can just rejoice his work and contribution to the cinema. The man with a unique voice, the most happening demeanor and a poise like no other. We are all hearts  for the legend completing 50 years and we are excited for what else he has in store for us.