1. Sunil Dutt signed Bachchan for a mute's role in Reshma Aur Shera (1971) because of a letter of introduction from then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to friend Nargis Dutt.

Amitabh Bachchan. Pic/Rane Ashish

2. Amitabh's actual surname was Shrivastava, his father had adopted the pen name Bachchan. So, the family adopted this surname.

3. Mehmood was a mentor to Bachchan in his days of struggle and offered him place to stay in his home.

4. Amitabh is the only actor, who has worked in his remake film. His 1975 classic film Sholay was remade in 2007 as Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag.

5. Bachchan shot Sholay and Deewar (both 1975) at the same time. Sholay in the mornings, Deewar at night. He was never late for either of the shoots.