Megastar Amitabh Bachchan often speaks about the two people who moulded him into the man he is today — father Harivansh Rai Bachchan, who was a celebrated poet, and mother Teji Bachchan, who was a well-known social activist.
Amitabh, who celebrates his 81st birthday today, once shared that he has no legacy and it is his father’s legacy that he is interested in.
“It is coming on to 50 years in public life… That is as far as I am personally concerned. But I have been in public life from the day I was born. I was always the son of Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan, eminent poet, litterateur, having public presence far greater than mine. I have no legacy. My father’s legacy is what I am interested in, and I shall try always to further it,” shared Amitabh Bachchan while talking to IANS.
But not many know that it was Amitabh Bachchan’s mother, Teji Bachchan, who had introduced him to the creative world of cinema, arts, and theatre. In one of his blogs, the actor revealed how his mother inspired him to enter the world of theatre and ballroom dancing.
Talking about his mother, Big B wrote, “Even when she was wheel chair borne, that evening drive to her snack and coffee joint was a permanent feature .. the owners still remember her each day .. not just in the city of Mumbai, but in those locations in Delhi .. they come over to meet me often and talk gloriously of their time spent with her ..”
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He added, “She sacrificed her all to give my Father his space and time and bearing .. knowing how valuable it would be for a poet a thinker and philosopher to be so …. she introduced me to theatre, films and music .. and to ballroom dancing.”
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Amitabh Bachchan has often mentioned that his father, Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s poetry is still a motivator for him. He still keeps his father’s books close and recites his poetry but regrets not spending much time with him.
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In one of the posts shared by Big B on his social media, the actor shared an old video where he can be heard saying, “I keep quoting my father all the time and I’m sure I’ve done this millions of times.” The actor shared that one of the first things that his dad Harivansh Rai Bachchan taught him was, “Man ka ho to achcha, na ho to aur bhi achcha (If things happen according to your wish, that’s good. But if they don’t, that’s even better).”
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Amitabh also shared in the same session another million-dollar piece of advice he received from his father during his struggling days. The actor told his father, “Bada sangharsh hai jeevan mein (There is a lot of struggle in life),” and to this, his father replied, “Jab tak jeevan hai, tab tak sangharsh hai (As long as there is life, there is struggle).”
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On his famous game reality show, Kaun Banega Crorepati, Amitabh Bachchan has often shared many anecdotes about his family.
Sharing an inside scoop about his parents, Big B once opened up about his father, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, and his mother, Teji Bachchan’s marriage. He revealed how his parents were from different castes, and when they got married, they faced a lot of backlash.
Amitabh Bachchan also shared how iconic politician Sarojini Naidu contributed in consoling his father back in those days when he was receiving a lot of backlash for getting married to a woman from the Sikh community.
Revealing how Sarojini Naidu introduced his father to Jawaharlal Nehru, Big B stated, “So during that time, people fought against my father when he took my mother to Allahabad. So Sarojini Naidu was the first person who consoled him. He introduced him to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who used to live in Anand Bhavan in Allahabad. I still remember the way she had introduced my father. She said, ‘Meet the poet and his poetry’. ”
Amitabh Bachchan’s father Harivansh Rai Bachchan died in 2003 at the age of 95 and his mother, Teji Bachchan expired in 2007.
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Kriti SonaliKriti works as a Copy Editor for the Entertainment section of Indian E… read more