Amitabh Bachchan in his Teens
Amitabh Bachchan the ‘superstar’, in other words ‘God himself’; since ages people have watched him act and talk. He is an actor who can mesmerize and hypnotize a person with his mere existence. Today is Amitabh Bachchan’s 65th birthday. From his 20’s to his 60’s he has been a performer and continues to be one. To some he is a muse, for many he is an inspiration but who is his role model, his inspiration?
Amitabh Bachchan went to Sherwood College in Nainital. No matter what he did, he knew that his father would support him at all stages. Amitabh grew up with his share of female admiration and adulation. He was no different than any teenager, with his ever-charming smile he sure won many hearts.
Acting occupied a corner of his heart even then. His play performance had won him the best actor’s award, which no doubt he treasures even today. Although now he owns a whole collection of them. One such performance was what he was eagerly waiting for; he practiced until perfection. He was to play the role of a judge in an Agatha Christie play titled ‘And Then There Were None’.
On the final day of his act he suddenly felt dizzy and was confirmed with measles, he was restrained to a room. He no longer could do the play, disappointed and dejected, in solitude he sat in the hospital room to hear the play. The play was about to begin…with every minute his heart sank. And suddenly the door opened and in walked his father. His father spoke to him for the next two hours in order to distract him. It sure was not easy seeing another actor say his lines, wear his costumes. But that day he learnt the most valuable lesson of his life told to him by his father, ‘Jeevan mein apne mann ka ho toh acha hai, apne mann ka na ho toh zyada acha’. (If life goes your way, well and good. If not, one mustn’t worry as it’s not in one’s control…it is in control of the Almighty and the Almighty will do nothing to harm an individual.)
At the crux of the moment those words did not make any sense but later he saw the enormity of those words. For when you are 20, you do not see logic, but when you are 30, you do. And when you are 40 you mellow, at 50 you accept and at 60 you follow. This is what his idol left him with, a thought that Amitabh Bachchan still follows and passes on to his next generation.
