to be or not to be....

To Be or Not To Be looks at the life and the craft – which are inevitably inseparable-of Amitabh Bachchan who has been at the forefront of Indian cinema for well over three decades and a roster of nearly 100 films. Several epithets have been bestowed upon him. The media and he mass audience anointed him with the title of a Superstar, while a BBC poll established him as the Star of the Millennium, the public vote placing him ahead of every other charismatic and thespian icon of the globe, past or present.

The spectacle of an actor’s journey through the troughs and peaks of time and trends is a thousand times richer than the most beguiling inventions of our imagination. Bachchan’s life and career reaffirm that point. A lavishly illustrated, comprehensive study of the actor’s trajectory, subtextually this volume reflects the course that film culture has taken from the 1970s right to this day.

In addition to a critical analysis and an in-depth interview, the endeavour is underscored with personalized, heartfelt accounts written by the actor’s immediate family, providing the reader with a rare glimpse into a world that has been beset with its myriad joys and anxieties –perhaps more acutely than any other household which has been in the public glare relentlessly.

Important features of the book include the actor photographed in various moods and candid moments. For the cineaste the filmography, with brief descriptions and credits, provides a ready Bachchan-reckoner. The text as well as film stills and several family keepsake memories traced back to well-preserved albums, add enormously to the authenticity and reference value of this entertainment-packed book.

Tall and slender, Amitabh Bachchan’s personality was different in the realm of Hindi cinema habituated to conventional Adonis heroes. The reality he lived as a child within the sedentary surroundings of Allahabad was enough to make one dream: he is the son of a widely respected poet, scholar and writer. As circumstances and the unwavering pursuit of a film career proved, the elder of the two sons of the poet excelled in the creative field of film acting. Acting became his passion and his performances were astoundingly original.

From his dram-like childhood to the struggle to find a foothold in Bombay show business, from his first disappointments and successes to his ascent as a mega-star, from his induction into politics to his disenchantment with the political process, from his self-imposed sabbatical to the foray into the corporate arena, and finally to his glorious return in both cinema and television, on his own terms, are just some of the chapters in the life of the seasoned actor.

Amitabh Bachchan, who turned 60 on Octer 11, 2002, is a reclusive, media-shy personality although he has acted in scores of blockbuster. Several films are currently in various stages of production. Winner of two National Film Awards, countless other acting trophies including those honouring him for Lifetime Achievement and as the Star of the Millennium, he has been awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India