As Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan turned 83 on Saturday, heartfelt wishes poured in from across the film industry, with colleagues, co-stars and admirers celebrating the icon’s towering legacy and enduring influence.Prabhas, Big B’s co-star from Telugu hit ‘Kalki 2898 AD’, also extended his greetings through Instagram stories. “It’s a privilege to witness your legacy and work alongside you. Wishing you a wonderful year ahead, sir, happy happy happy birthday,” the actor said.
Ajay Devgn, who shared screen space with Bachchan in ‘Runway 34’, recalled directing him in the movie. “The toughest task was saying ‘cut’ when the sir delivered a shot,” Devgn wrote alongside a still from the movie.Actor Kriti Sanon shared a photograph with Sr Bachchan, saying, “Happiest birthday, sir! Your legacy, talent and warmth continue to inspire us all.”Shilpa Shetty wished the veteran actor “happiness, success and great health above all”, while Sonam Kapoor shared a photo of Bachchan and simply captioned, “Happy Birthday Amit uncle.”Veteran actor Jackie Shroff paid tribute to Bachchan with a collage of his iconic film stills, saying he has “immense respect” for the star.Filmmaker-choreographer Farah Khan also joined in, sharing a picture with the caption, “Happy birthday legend.”Suniel Shetty posted, “To the man who defines greatness… Happy Birthday @SrBachchan. You’ve inspired me and million others in ways words can’t describe, with your strength, grace, and spirit. Always a fan… always in awe.”Filmmakers Shoojit Sircar and Mohit Suri also sent their best wishes to the senior actor.Sircar, who collaborated with Bachchan on ‘Piku’ and ‘Gulabo Sitabo’, expressed deep gratitude for the actor’s influence on his career. “I think his participation in my life has been extraordinary. Without him I wouldn’t have been where I am today. I’m really fortunate that he agreed to work with me. Best wishes to him. I’m grateful he came into my life,” Sircar told PTI.Suri, who began his career assisting on Big B’s 2004 movie ‘Aetbaar’, said he remains in awe of the veteran’s artistry. “Happy birthday, sir. You are just one more year younger for all of us in our hearts. I had the fortune of assisting him in a film, and it was the most eye-opening experience for me. I don’t know if there’s any director who hasn’t wished to direct Amitabh Bachchan. I would be honoured to do something with him,” Suri said.Kajol also dropped a rare photo with Amitabh and wrote, “Happy birthday to the reigning and forever rockstar @SrBachchan .. May u have many more reasons to smile and laugh this year.”Farhan Akhtar, who recently appeared in ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati 17’ with father Javed Akhtar, shared, “Happy birthday Amit uncle. What a pleasure and privilege it was to be with you on your birthday special. Listening to you and dad reminisce about your life and times together was an absolute treat. The experience in itself is more valuable than any amount that one can hope to win on the show. (folded hands emoji)Wish you good health and happiness always. Lots of love. (red heart emoji)”Veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha wished Amitabh using the following words, “Many many happy returns of the day for our icon, role model, for everybody @SrBachchan.”West Bengal Mamata Banerjee expressed, “Wishing the legendary Amitabh Bachchan Ji a very happy birthday! May you be blessed with continued good health, happiness, and many more inspirational years for us all. I cherish the affectionate relationship I share with Amitabh ji since 1984 when we both became first-time Members of the Indian Parliament . It is our honour that he and Jaya Ji have enriched us many times by their graceful presence in the Kolkata International Film Festival. They are members of our Festival Parivar. Many Happy Returns of the Day, Amitabh ji!”Anupam Kher dropped a video in which he said, “Amit Ji, I wish you a very happy birthday. May God give you a long and healthy life. May you get all the happiness in the world. May your health always be good. You have given us so much happiness in our lives. You have taught us so many lessons in life without us realizing that you are doing it. In my personal life, in the beginning of my career, when I was told that it is very hot and you don’t feel it, you told me that if I think about the heat, I feel it. If I don’t think about it, I don’t feel it. That initial lesson taught me in the next 40 years that patience is the most important factor in any profession.”Actor Vineet Kumar Singh recalled sharing the screen space with Bachchan in filmmaker Anurag Kashyap’s segment from the 2013 movie ‘Bombay Talkies’. “If you see his whole life journey, he’s an artist, a very good father, a very good son. There’s so much to learn from him. I once worked behind the camera when he was the lead in ‘Viruddh’, and later got a chance to share one frame with him in Bombay Talkies. That moment remains a memory forever,” he said.Amitabh Bachchan made his acting debut with ‘Saat Hindustani’ in 1969, but it was the 1973 film ‘Zanjeer’ that catapulted him to stardom. He went on to embody the ‘angry young man’ persona of the 1970s, delivering a string of iconic performances in films such as ‘Don’ and ‘Sholay’.After facing a brief career slump in the 1990s, Bachchan staged a remarkable comeback in 2000 as the host of ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ and transitioned seamlessly into mature, nuanced roles in films like ‘Black’, ‘Khakee’, ‘Cheeni Kum’, ‘Sarkar’, ‘Paa’, ‘Pink’, and ‘Jhund’.His constant reinvention and adaptability across five decades have cemented his place as one of Indian cinema’s most enduring and versatile legends.
