(b. Oct. 11, 1942, Allahabad, India) Indian film actor.
Bachchan's first film success was Zanjeer (1973); by the end of the 1970s he was something of a cultural phenonemon in India and was regarded as the most popular star in the history of Indian films. He is often compared to such American action stars as Clint Eastwood , although Bachchan's talents also extend to singing, dancing, and comedy. After a brief stint in politics in the mid 1980s, Bachchan gained a new generation of fans in the next decade as host of the television game show Kaun banega crorepati , the Indian version of the U.S. and U.K. hit Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?