Father of the Week: Amitabh Bachchan

Active in the film industry since 1969, Bachchan has acted in over 180 films and was famously known as the "angry young man" of Bollywood until he started playing more mature roles by appearing on-screen as a father.

Bachchan's first role as a father was in the 2000 romantic drama Mohabbatein as Narayan Shankar, a strict and stern headmaster but a loving father to his daughter Megha (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan). He was a man of staunch principles who did not entertain changes and believed that love brings only pain; Megha committed suicide because he expelled Megha's lover, Raj (Shah Rukh Khan), without seeing his face or even talking to him. Bachchan carried on his image of a principled father in Karan Johar's family melodrama Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, where he played the role of a man who insisted on controlling the lives of his wife and sons. His beliefs eventually broke his once happy family into pieces. These two blockbusters, along with the semi-hit Ek Rishtaa: The Bond of Love (2001), proved that the angry young man of Bollywood can carry on a fatherly role with ease.

The following year, in 2003, Big B starred in Ravi Chopra's blockbuster and critically acclaimed Baghban where he played the abused father. The film is about Raj Malhotra (Bachchan), his wife Pooja (Hema Malini) and their four sons. The two parents raised their children with love, care and affection but everything changed when Raj retired from his bank job and needed support of his sons. His sons separate the two parents and and we witness one son neglecting his Raj. Bachchan excelled in this role and brought many tears to our eyes whenever we saw him hurt or attempting to hide his pain.

In 2004, Big B starred in Aetbaar and portrayed the role of a protective father who loves his daughter (Bipasha Basu) immensely. Aetbaar is about Riya (Basu), daughter of Dr. Ranveer (Bachchan), who falls in love with Aryan (John Abraham) - a psychotic young man who killed his own father. Ignoring her father's concern, Riya starts dating Aryan but soon comes upon the real face of Aryan. When Aryan threatens to kill her, Riya is rescued by Dr. Ranver who kills Aryan while protecting his daughter.

Last but not the least, Big B appeared as the cool daddy in Karan Johar's Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna (2006). In this romantic drama, Bachchan surprised the audience portraying the role of Sam, a fun-loving father who flirts with all kind of women; he defends his activities by stating that he is only fulfilling a promise made to his late wife - that he must do everything now that he wasn't allowed to do while they were married. For this different kind of role, Bachchan won a Filmfare award for Best Supporting Actor.

Writer: Alina S.

Editors: Shreya S. and Jenifer Y.

Graphics: Gurprit K.