Amitabh Bachchan turns 78: Rare photos of Bollywood’s Shehenshah

Amitabh Bachchan has entertained fans across generations for over 50 years and continues to do so. When the megastar appears on the screen, it is difficult to not pay attention. It wouldn't be wrong to address him not just an actor but a phenomenon in the Indian entertainment industry. Today, on his 78th birthday, here are some rare photos of Big B. (Express Archive Photo)

Amitabh Bachchan was born on October 11 as Inquilaab Bachchan to poet Harivanshrai Bachchan and social activist Teji Bachchan in Allahabad. After completing his education in the national capital, Big B worked for a shipping firm in Kolkata for about seven years. He then moved to Mumbai and the rest is history. (Express Archive Photo)

Amitabh Bachchan married Jaya Bachchan in the year 1973, after the release of Zanjeer.

Big B is seen here with wife Jaya Bachchan, son Abhishek Bachchan and daughter Shweta Bachchan. (Express Archive Photo)

Since the 1970s, Amitabh Bachchan has been shouldering movies single-handedly. People flock to cinema halls to watch him on the silver screen whether he plays a hero or a villain. (Express Archive Photo)

The megastar of Bollywood has superhit films like Sholay, Zanjeer, Deewar, Kabhi Kabhi, Abhimaan and Silsila, Chupke Chupke, Namak Halaal and Amar Akbar Anthony among others to his credit. (Express Archive Photo)

Amitabh Bachchan has given the Hindi film industry some iconic dialogues. Some of them are, "Pura naam, Vijay Dinanath Chauhan, baap ka naam, Dinanath Chauhan, maa ka naam, Suhasini Chauhan, gaon Mandwa, umar chhattis saal," "Hum jahan khade ho jaate hain,line wahi se shuru hoti hain," "Rishte mein to hum tumhare baap lagte hain,naam hai Shahenshah" and "Don ko pakadna mushkil hi nahin,naamumkin hai". (Express Archive Photo)

Not just with films, Amitabh Bachchan made his way into the hearts of the audience with his first TV show Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC), the Indian adaptation of the British television game show, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? In 2009, he also hosted the third season of reality show Bigg Boss. (Express Archive Photo)

Currently, the actor has several projects in his kitty, including Nag Aswin's next, Ayan Mukerji's Brahmastra and Rumi Jaffery's Chehre. (Express Archive Photo)