What makes Amitabh Bachchan click?

Amitabh Bachcan is just another aam admi like you and me who has made it to the top and is the number one in his field today. It is not just his looks, deep voice, energy, talent and and luck that got him so far. It is his persistence, his hard work and confidence which made him succeed.

Amitabh was reportedly rejected at a voice audition during his early years in the industry. It did not deter him and it is the  same voice which is his biggest asset today. His first few films did not click, but he persisted till the tide took a turn and he catapulted to the top, giving one hit after the other. He has suffered grave illnesses and health problems, numerous operations, but they have not stopped him from doing what he wants to do. He started his own organisation, ABCL but it failed and ran into losses, yet he never gave up hope.

Years back, when ABCL organised the Miss World contest in Bangalore in the late nineties, I was deputed to cover the pageant and that is when I learned how he works. Four days before the event, he held the first press conference. The press room was over-crowded, people asked awkward questions which he fielded cleverly and cheerfully. He remained cool and calm as many women’s organisations marched towards Bangalore to protest against the beauty contest.

Tension and trouble was brewing. There were media people from all over the world. Amitabh Bachchan was here, there and everywhere. Many important people were slated to attend the pageant and security was beefed up. The open stadium was cleared the previous day and strict security was imposed. Every person was thoroughly checked.

There were more problems in store. The weather was threatening to create trouble with heavy rain expected. Undeterred. ABCL went and got umbrellas for almost ten thousand people who were to be accommodated in the open ground.

On the day of Miss World contest, Amitabh was ushering in guests, looking after them personally, attired in a simple white kurta pajama. I was impressed by his cool demeanour and confidence. He might have been worried and tense but it did not reflect on his face or in his behaviour.

It was then that I realised that there was more to being Amitabh Bachchan than mere height, looks or voice. It was his inner confidence, his clevar thinking that have made him what he is today. And on this 70th birthday, here is wishing AB all the very best , with expectations of many more successes.