Which is your favourite Amitabh Bachchan film?

Some skipped classes to watch Amitabh Bachchan’s films and were beaten up by their teachers, some stood in long queues for hours, some got bruises reaching the ticket counters and some saw his films on TV, but the Bachchan magic remains true for each one of them. Everyone has a Bachchan story and memories of watching his films. When asked to pick their favourite Bachchan film – the only reply that was common was that it is too tough to choose.His die-hard fans say that his films had a huge influence on them. As he celebrated his 80th birthday, we asked some of his high-profile fans to share a list of their favourite Bachchan films.

ADIL HUSSAIN
“Watching Bachchan sahab’s films was about getting in queues, getting bruises on my knuckles to get through to the ticket window and coming back out sweaty and feeling victorious after getting tickets,” says actor Adil Hussain.
FAV FILMS: SAUDAGAR, ABHIMAAN, SILSILA
RICKY KEJ
Ricky Kej, the Grammy award winner and environmentalist, says all three of his favourite Amitabh Bachchan movies are made by Mukul Anand. “I thought those films were really unique in their own way and those films gave him a completely different character to play each time,” he adds.
FAV FILMS: HUM, KHUDA GAWAH, AGNEEPATH
NEERAJ KUMAR
Neeraj Kumar, the former Delhi Police Commissioner, says on returning to his hostel room after watching Anand, he felt compelled to write about the brooding eyes of Dr Bhaskar played by Amitji. So deep was the impact left by his acting, he recalls being haunted by the character for days.
FAV FILMS: SHAKTI, DEEWAR, ANAND
RAJESH TAILANG
“Main bachpan se Bachchan ka bohot bohot bohot bada fan hoon. All his films are my favourite, but two are special – I have seen Agneepath 18 times and Sholay 14 times in theatres, and I’m not even counting how many times I have seen them on TV,” says actor Rajesh Tailang. Narrating an incident when he first worked with Bachchan, Tailang says, “I got a chance to work with him in Govind Nihalani’s Dev. He was playing the role of Joint CP and I was ACP, and the moment he got out of the vehicle and looked at me maine shoot ke beech mein unko aise haath jod ke namaste sir kar diya. I was awestruck by him. ”
FAV FILMS: TRISHUL, CHUPKE CHUPKE, AGNEEPATH


ABHISHEK BANERJEE
"I became actor because of Mr Bachchan and I even took admission in Kirori Mal college (KMC) in Delhi because he is from the college. Three Bachchan movies is a wrong question, one should ask 30 top Bachchan films. I think my first memory of watching Bachchan film is Hum. Hum TV par aa rahi thi. It was a big deal those days to watch films on TV and there was pin drop silence in the village in south India where I was. Nobody was out, no kids were playing and everyone was watching the film on TV.
FAV FILMS:DEEWAAR, AGNEEPATH, HUM
SUNIL SETHI
Sunil Sethi, the chairman of Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), says the first time he noticed what a fabulous actor Amitabh Bachchan is, was in the movie Reshma Aur Shera. “Many people who would know about this 1971 film might not know about his presence in the film but for me, that film is one of his best movies as he stands out with his acting. I have always loved and respected Amitabh Bachchan more as an actor than a superstar,” he adds.
FAV FILMS: RESHMA AUR SHERA, BLACK, PAA

DR ANUPAM SIBAL
Dr Anupam Sibal, Group Medical Director and Pediatrician, Apollo Hospitals Group, says he was seven years old when Sholay was released and there was a sort of competition among kids on who knew more dialogues of the film. As a doctor myself, there was an instant connection with the character he played in Anand. Besides, he wrote the foreword for my book and I am sure that helped the book become a national bestseller.
FAV FILMS: ANAND, KABHI KABHIE, SHOLAY
VANI TRIPATHI TIKOO
“There is an entire generation that never saw Bachchan’s films in the theatre, but they saw them on TV. The kind of magic he still creates is unbelievable,” says Vani Tripathi Tikoo, a CBFC member. ” “I am a crazy fan of Deewar and Don, but if I have to pick then I’d say Abhimaan. Also, his performance in Anand was so subtle and so beautiful. His performance in Black reminds me of the best performers in Hollywood like Robert De Niro. The depth of character he has portrayed is amazing,” she adds.
FAV FILMS: ABHIMAAN, ANAND, BLACK
KAMAL GIANCHANDANI

Kamal Gianchandani, the President of the Multiplex Association of India, says Sholay was the first film that he ever saw in a theatre. “This was in 1976 at Vadodara. My father was friends with someone who ran a theatre, and this person made me watch Sholay, which had already become a blockbuster by then, from the port hole of the cinema’s projector room. The memory of that experience is still fresh in my mind,” he adds.
FAV FILMS: MUQADDAR KA SIKANDAR, KAALIA, SHAKTI
SANDEEP KAPUR
Sandeep Kapur, a senior lawyer, says he is a die-hard Bachchan fan and that he has seen all his films in theatres. “It used to be like an event for us when we’d book tickets and go out on Sundays. Now we have so many heroes, but he was the only hero back then. I have seen his films so many times that I know all the dialogues by heart. Even today when I’m changing channels and I see his film on TV, I just stop to watch his films. All his films have a repeat watch value,” he adds.
FAV FILMS: DON, AMAR AKBAR ANTHONY, SATTE PE SATTA
VIKRAMJIT ROY
“All my memories of watching his films have been on single screens. The atmosphere used to be simply electric and the audiences would go berserk when Bachchan said something in his rich baritone voice. His entrance used to be awaited with bated breath and the moment he appeared on the big screen, there would be whistles and cheers. The songs drove the audiences wild,” says Roy. Another memory, Roy says, he has of Bachchan is his voiceover in Satyajit Ray’s Shatranj Ke Khilari. “It was his voice that enriched the narrative and made the film much more emotional. You run out of superlatives when it comes to describing the legend. He simply transcends everything,” he adds.
FAV FILMS: SHOLAY, DON, DEEWAAR, AMAR AKBAR ANTHONY