Amitabh Bachchan is a Bollywood actor who has starred in such films as Sholay, Don, Mohabbatein, and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. He also hosted the TV show Kaun Banega Crorepati (India's Who Wants to be a Millionaire?) and served as a member of parliament from 1984 to 1987.

Amitabh Bachchan was born in Uttar Pradesh. His father was a poet, and his mother was a homemaker. His first screen appearance came opposite Utpal Dutt in the film Saat Hindustani (1969), but his first big breakout role was in Zanjeer, where he played the main lead (1973).

Bachchan reached a milestone in his career when he starred in Sholay (1975). The film went on to become one of the iconic classic films of Indian cinema.

In 1984, he became a member of parliament in support of Rajiv Gandhi, but his career in politics only lasted three years.

After a slump and failed attempt at producing, he made his comeback with the film Mohabbatein (2000) and has been involved with a number of hit films since. He is set to star in Shantaram opposite Johnny Depp. The film is directed by Mira Nair and is Bachchan's first leap into Hollywood cinema.

He made a phenomenal comeback in the public eye when he was the host for the TV show "Kaun Banega Crorepati" in 2000- which was based on the popular TV show "Who wants to be a millionaire "

• Note: The majority of the links in this timeline are to IMDb, which has pop-ups.

• October 11, 1942: Born

• 1975: Sholay

• 1978: Don

• 1991: National Film Award

• 2000: Hosts Kaun Banega Crorepati

• 2001: Kabhi Khushi Khabie Gham

• 2008: Shantaram