One thing that every colleague of Big B will vouch for is his innate sense of professionalism and uncanny ability to put everyone at ease. Some of his near and dear co-workers talk about what maketh the man

'I couldn't keep up with his pace'
Amitabh Bachchan has romanced many leading ladies from the industry, but Nafisa Khan aka Jiah Khan remains his youngest ever

`I had only heard about the phenomenon that is Amitabh Bachchan but working with him was a different high altogether. I very categorically remember that I was on the sets and was listening to a random track when he came and he asked me what I was listening to.

He changed the track to some St Tropez-esque trance song, which is something you don't associate with someone who is in his '60s. It shows what diverse taste he has in music. In fact, he is also a fantastic dancer. When we had to shake a leg in Nishabd, I couldn't even keep up with his pace. He is the epitome of coolness.`


'He'd make everyone relax'
Having worked with Big B in several films, Zeenat Aman talks about working with the Don

`Mr Bachchan is a very punctual man. Even though he was intensely involved with the work at hand, he would make everyone around him relax with his great sense of humour.

Once a director came on the sets drunk. I had reported on time. But the director started yelling when I entered. I got upset and retired to my make up room. After sometime Mr Bachchan came with the producer and explained that the director was inebriated.

Then, the director came and apologised to me. I still don't know what transpired between him and the director. I will be meeting him on his birthday to wish him.`


'He teased me about my eating habits'
David and Amitabh did two films and the director fondly calls him Badke Bhaiya...

`Amitji ka kaun fan nahi hai? The first day when I shot with him, I was nervous about saying cut, sound and action, but I vouch for his discipline. I am so blessed that my son recently went on the sets of KBC and danced with him.

When big actors refuse me, I tell myself, 'Ja mujhe kya fark padta hai. I have done two films with Amitabh Bachchan. You are not bigger than him.' One little-known fact about him is that he has a tremendous sense of humour and he has a bag full of jokes. Only people close to him know about this. I have witnessed this when he used to tease me about my eating habits.`


'His discipline is worth emulating'
Manoj Bajpai is excited about starting his third film with Big B very soon

`I have been completely privileged and fortunate to have worked with him. His behaviour, his discipline and his punctuality are something that everyone should try and emulate. I guess I have become an actor of some importance just by working with him.`

I distinctly remember when he called me in the middle of the night to discuss certain scenes in Aks, where he had to copy my performance. He told Rakyesh Mehra (director) that the scene in question would only be okay once I okayed it. I was rendered speechless. On that day I realised the greatness of the man I was working with.`


'I think 70 is just a number'
Rati Agnihotri was Big B's co-star when he met with his near-death accident on the sets of Coolie

`He is such a stalwart and yet so cool. I think 70 is just a number and he rocks. When we first met, I had butterflies in my stomach. Incidentally, I was not on the sets during his accident but I did visit him at Breach Candy hospital.

The country was praying for him to get better. I wonder what the family must have gone through. But when he came back on the sets, he started shooting as if nothing had happened. He was very finicky about time and so was I. When we were shooting at Bangalore station, I would decide to reach the sets before him. But he was always there before me.`


'His name is God on my phone'
A close family friend, Suniel Shetty has worked with him in two films...

`His number on my phone is saved as God. So whenever he wishes me on my special days, I feel blessed. When we worked together in Kaante, he was going through lot of pain due to injuries. In LA, he used to be on the sets ready at 7 am. He would promise to join us for lunch but never came.

Then we realised that his doctor was attending to his shoulder and back injury during that time. He did not tell us, as he did not want to disrupt the shoot. It is unbelievable! I have five TV sets at my home. And when KBC starts, all the sets are tuned into the show.`

Banking on Big B

Over the years, people have been obsessed with Big B and his baritone. So much so that mimicking the superstar has generated careers and star status for the fans themselves. Here's how...


'I owe my career to his voice'
Stand-up artiste Raju Srivastava has made a living out of imitating Amitabh Bachchan for his stage shows

`It is thanks to Amitji's deep baritone voice that stand-up artistes in the country are running their homes. Every stand-up artiste in the country has to have Amitabh Bachchan's voice in one of their acts - or at least a line. I usually begin my shows with the famous dialogues from Deewar and end with lines from Kaun Banega Crorepati.

Wherever and whenever I have done stage shows, I have always included memorable lines from his films. His voice is recognised all over the globe, so there is this instant connect with the audience.

I was recently in New Zealand, and it was his voice that got the loudest applause. I have met Bachchanji several times and told him that I owe my career to his voice! Even when I was in Bigg Boss and he was the host, I kept on reaffirming it.

What I find most remarkable about him is his ability to reinvent himself. It's a lesson for all actors. He has taught actors that age doesn't matter.

Also, what is noteworthy is his humility. He could be working with filmmakers as old as his son Abhishek or with debutants but he's still receptive to new ideas and viewpoints. This is something that endears him even to the present generation in Bollywood. `


'When I lost my mother, Amitji called me from LA'
Singer and mimicry artiste Sudesh Bhonsle is known to imitate Bachchan's baritone to the T

My first song was for the film Ajooba when composers Laxmikant-Pyarelal introduced me to Shashi Kapoor who was directing this film. It was only after I recorded the song Ya Ali Ya Ali, did they tell me it was for Big B.

I was both happy and nervous at the same time. Shashiji then asked me to mimic Amitabh's voice and offered me another song, which they were planning to record in his voice. Shashiji took me to the sets at Film City to finally meet Bachchanji.

This is how I landed a second opportunity to sing, Jhumma Chumma in Hum for him. In fact, he had a tough time convincing Jayaji (Bachchan) that it was not his voice.

When I lost my mother, he called me from Los Angeles to convey his condolences. Jaya and Abhishek visited me and I felt so touched.

During the recording of Mere Makhna from Baghban, Jayaji and Abhishek were present at the scene. After I finished the song, Jayaji came up to me and music director Aadesh Srivastava and gave us `100 each!

Abhishek told me how this track would become one of Big B's most popular songs. Whenever I perform, everyone asks me to mimic 'Rishte mein toh hum tumhare baap lagte hai. Naam hai Shehenshah'.

The band of people behind Big B's magic

Behind Amitabh Bachchan's iconic looks are a band of people who work their magic fingers on the star. But it's not just his appearance but also his aura that makes him a superstar and an absolute delight to work with


'Mr Bachchan shocked me instead'
Leepakshi Ellawadi, stylist for Bbuddah - Hoga Terra Baap, talks about her experience of going shopping with Big B

`I thought Bachchan Sir would be shocked by my styling but he shocked me instead. I was asked by the film's director Puri Jagannath to make a mental picture of the man after hearing his lingo in the film, and then style him. It was decided to make Big B look peculiar, a bit outlandish.

He accompanied me on a shopping trip in London. We picked up a lot of stuff including several high-end labels. He'd keep asking if he'd be able to carry them off and if it would look good on him. I would tell him `You are Amitabh Bachchan, you can carry off anything!`


'Mr Bachchan doesn't need styling'
Fashion designers Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla, who've known Bachchan for over two decades, tell us how the superstar manages to make every look his very own:

`The man is a tour de force, not a mannequin. He is a chameleon; an adventurous and a consummate professional. He is a delight to work with when it comes to designing his wardrobe or shoots. Always ready to experiment, he's equally at home in a kurta pyjama or in a smoking jacket.

And manages to make it 'his' look. He is a connoisseur and really knows his stuff. From clothes to accessories, he's passionate about beautiful things. Like all stylish people he's always bigger than anything he wears.`


He is the ultimate dude'
A self-proclaimed Bachchan fan, Balki has directed the actor twice

`The only memories of my movie making are with Amitabh Bachchan. I first met him when I was doing an ad with him. I read my script to him in his own voice as that's the only way I can speak Hindi.

Suddenly I looked up at him and he was looking at me with that trademark blank expression of his. Suddenly I had these 100 million thoughts in my mind and I ran from there. However, I haven't learned from my mistake and I have made that mistake every time I've narrated anything to him.

I can say his poker-faced wit, humour and his patience are three things about him that I cannot forget. For me, he is the ultimate dude.`


'Bachchanji is the only No. 1 hero'
Make-up artiste Deepak Sawant has been working with Big B since the past 40 years, almost becoming the superstar's shadow.

The only thing that matters to Amitabh is his work. His best assets are his hard work and his concentration.

As soon as Amitabhji reaches on the sets, he does not waste a single minute and starts reading the scene or his dialogues. He does several rehearsals and then goes for a take.

I enjoyed working most on Black. Even if he has to sit for five hours of make-up, he does not get tired at all. In Black, it was tough to hide his original beard and show extra wrinkles. In the Bhojpuri film I produced, I gave him three looks; he managed to pull off all of them!


'He donated '10 lakh'
Big B's junior at Nainital's Sherwood College, Dalip Tahil also later shared screen space with the veteran actor

`My very first scene for Shaan that was also my first commercial Hindi film, was shot with Bachchansaab at Pali Naka in Bandra. Then again in 1986, I invited him to my marriage in Allahabad. At that time he was a MP from there.

To my great surprise he made it a point to attend the wedding. About a decade ago, some students from Sherwood were keen to stage the play One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest in Mumbai to raise funds for a squash court.

He readily agreed to be chief guest. He not only came on time but also sat through the whole play. He even donated '10 lakh for the cause.`
'India is lucky to have him'
Karan Johar grew up watching Bachchan and even today, the 40-year-old filmmaker sounds like a child in awe of his superhero.

`Given the time span and the extent of his achievements, I believe the word legend doesn't do justice to Amitji. When he enters the room, he just overawes everyone! Even today, I touch his feet whenever we meet, be it in Mumbai, London or New York.

That's part of my body language and I don't have to pretend. The respect just flows naturally. That's just the kind of the man he is. He manages to command such respect just with his humility. India is lucky to have him. Nobody could fill his shoes. In fact, nobody should even try.`