Amitabh Bachchan

Amitabh Bachchan Biography -

Name :
Amitabh Bachchan
Birth Name :
Amit Shrivastava
Date of Birth :
11 October 1942
Place of Birth :
Allahabad, India
Height :
6' 3
Nationality :
Indian
Profession :
Actor
Nicknames :
Aby Baby, Big A, BIG B, Munna, One Man Industry, Angry Young Man, Bollywood's Shahenshah, Amith



Amitabh Bachchan Trivia -
Arguably India's greatest ever superstar.
He launched a multi-faceted commercial enterprise known simply as Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited, or ABCL. ABCL is engaged in production, distribution and all other aspects of the movie industry.
Had a very close association with the former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her son Rajiv Gandhi (also Prime Minister) and he was elected to parliament with a huge majority from his home town of Allahabad. But his stint in politics did not last long and he was implicated in the infamous Swedish Bofors Gun deal scandal along with Rajiv Gandhi and others.
Was one of the judges for the 1995 Miss World beauty pageant.
While filming Coolie (1983/I) he received a near fatal injury. He was hospitalised and the Indian press issued daily bulletins on his health.
Was a former stage actor, radio announcer and freight company executive in Calcutta, India.
Went to Sherwood College, a boarding school in the hill-station town of Nainital, and from there to Delhi University where he earned a double MA degree.
When he was just trying to get a break in movies he was told to soften his 'deep' voice. However it was soon realised that his deep rich voice was excellent for narration. He has provided narrations for several films.
Suffered from a rare muscular disorder known as myasthenia gravis.
Father of Abhishek Bachchan
Is a vegetarian
Presenter of Kaun Banega Crorepati, India's version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire
The first Asian actor having a wax model of his likeness displayed at Madame Tussaud's in London, UK
Highest paid Bollywood actor in the film industry.
Was named Actor of the Millennium in a BBC News Poll ahead of such luminaries as Charlie Chaplin, Sir Lawrence Olivier, and Marlon Brando.
Was considered 'finished' in the late nineties after super star status for 20 years, a string of flops and failed political and business ambitions. But made an unexpected comeback as host of the popular TV quiz series "Kaun Banega Crorepati?" (2000) which put him right back on the number one spot of Bollywood actors over 40, reaffirming his reputation as the living legend of Indian cinema with a new series of high profile films (Mohabbatein (2000), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001) etc.)
Formed a popular screen couple with Rekha
He also sung in many movies such as Laawaris, Toofan and Silsila.
Became a grandfather in 1997 when his daughter Shweta gave birth to a daughter, Navya Naveli Nanda.
Works with the Indian government's media campaign to publicize the National Immunization Days and encourage people to take their children to be vaccinated against polio and other deadly diseases.
Son of Harivansh Rai Bachchan, who passed away in January 2003.
Suffers from asthma.
His favourite screen name is Vijay, which he had as his character name in over 20 movies.
His father Harivansh Rai Bachchan was considering naming him 'Inquilab' (which means 'revolution') before settling down for Amitabh which means 'brilliance unlimited'.
On his 61st birthday, he relaunched ABCL as AB Corp. ABCL had to be closed after debts of more than millions of rupees. However, Amitabh has decided to relaunch it with a name change.
Actress Nirupa Roy is mostly cast as his mother and last time she featured was in Lal Baadshah (1999).
Has a double M.A. (Master of Arts) degree.
The facial caricature of the Indian comic book character 'Supremo' is based upon him.
Following a near fatal accident while shooting Coolie (1983/I), during which he suffered internal bleeding and required 17 bottles of blood, he became a champion for the cause of encouraging more people to donate blood.
Not common nowadays, but when he used to play title roles, the credits always displayed "Amitabh Bachchan as" or "Amitabh Bachchan in and as" and then the title of the film would come up.
Singer Sudesh Bhonsle dubs his voice for playback songs in many movies.
At the age of 58, he jumped from a height of 30 feet, along with co-star Manoj Bajpai, for his 2001 movie Aks (2001).
In 1996, he released an album called "Aby Baby". This album was released under ABCL and featured songs like "Eer Bir Phatte" and remixes of his songs from his early movies "O Saathi Re" and "Kabhi Kabhi". "Eer Bir Phatte" was inspired by one of his famous dialogues in his movie Adalat (1976/I).
In 1984, he was honored by the Indian government with the Padma Shri Award for his outstanding contribution to the Hindi film industry.
He is the only actor who achieved at least one hit every year for 15 consecutive years - from 1972 in Bombay to Goa (1972) to 1986 in Aakhree Raasta (1986).
He has played double and triple roles in a number of films. His double role starrers include Adalat (1976/I), Don (1978), Kasme Vaade (1978), The Great Gambler (1979), Bemisaal (1982), Desh Premee (1982), Satte Pe Satta (1982), Aakhree Raasta (1986), Toofan (1989), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998), Lal Baadshah (1999) and Sooryavansham (1999). Mahaan (1983) had the superstar in a triple role.
He was closely associated with Indira Gandhi, the former Indian Prime Minister, and her son, Rajiv Gandhi. It was Mrs. Gandhi who wrote a letter of introduction for Amitabh, and that's how he got his break in Bollywood.
He was the original choice to play a role in Aapko Pehle Bhi Kahin Dekha Hai (2003), which he declined and was finally played by Om Puri
His survival and his success could in short be termed best in his wife's own words that "Amit ji is a loner !"
Although Amitabh Bachchan's Immaan Dharam (1977) proved to be a disaster, the producer went ahead and announced Asmaan with Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha, with Mohan Kumar in the director's seat. Salim-Javed, who had penned the script of Immaan Dharam, were scripting Asmaan as well. However, the film was shelved subsequently.
Rakesh Kumar, who had directed Khoon Pasina (1977), Mr. Natwarlal (1979), Do Aur Do Paanch (1980) and Yaarana (1981), had turned producer and announced Charlie, with Amitabh Bachchan enacting the title role. Padmini Kolhapure had been cast opposite the Big B. However, the project never got made.
Amitabh Bachchan and Dilip Kumar were seen on screen for the first time in Ramesh Sippy's Shakti (1982). But much before Shakti happened, Eagle Films had signed Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan and Amjad Khan for their new project, which was to be directed by Yash Chopra. However, the project did not materialize subsequently.
In 1976 Amitabh Bachchan was to star in Manoj Kumar's Naya Bharat, alongside Amitabh it was also supposed to star Manoj Kumar, Hema Malini, Rajesh Khanna, Shashi Kapoor, Shatrughan Sinha, Zeenat Aman and Rishi Kapoor. The film was shelved subsequently.
Amitabh Bachchan, Parveen Babi, Mithun Chakraborty and Rati Agnihotri were teamed in Tala Chabi, produced by Romu Sippy and directed by Raj N. Sippy. One of the foremost character actors then, Pran, had been signed to enact the main villain's role. An official announcement was made in April 1982. The movie never took off.
Amitabh Bachchan was supposed to play one of the lead roles in Shashi Kapoor's Utsav (1984) however; Amitabh opted out of the film. Shashi Kapoor replaced him.
Amitabh Bachchan was the first choice of Rakesh Roshan's King Uncle (1993). But since the actor wasn't signing films then, Roshan opted for Jackie Shroff.
Prakash Mehra was planning on making Chankaya Chanddragupta and had signed Amitabh Bachchan for the main role. The movie was shelved.
Vidhu Vinod Chopra wanted Amitabh Bachchan to play the lead role of Inspector Inayat Khan in Mission Kashmir (2000). The reason why Amitabh Bachchan declined the role was because of his commitment to Yash Chopra's Mohabbatein (2000).
Kader Khan wanted to direct him as the lead hero in Jaahil, unfortunately the movie was never made.
Amitabh Bachchan Detailed Biography -
The trademark deep baritone voice, the tall, brooding persona, and intense eyes, made Amitabh Bachchan the ideal "Angry Young Man" in the 1970s, thereby changing the face of Hindi cinema. The son of the late poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Teji Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan was born in Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh. After completing his education from Sherwood College, Nainital, and Kirori Mal College, Delhi University, he moved to Calcutta to work for shipping firm Shaw and Wallace. Later, Amitabh Bachchan moved to Bombay and struggled for a while to get his foot in the door of the Hindi film industry. The lanky, dark, and intensely brooding persona did not go down well with directors who were looking for wise-cracking, fair, loverboys - the trademark of the Indian hero in the 1960s. Starting with the low key Saat Hindustani, Amitabh Bachchan struggled through many roles and was relegated at times to doing voice-overs and in one instance playing a deaf-mute (his deep baritone voice might have overshadowed the other actors!). Amitabh Bachchan broke through with Zanjeer (the Chain) in 1973 playing opposite his real-life love interest and future wife Jaya Bhaduri. His persona seemed apt for the 1970s, capturing the resentment of underemployed youth and the increasing cult of violence. Amitabh Bachchan reworked the image of the Hindi film hero with major hits like Deewar, Sholay, Trishul, Don, Kala Patthar, and Shakti. Adapting former screen idol Dilip Kumar's mannerisms and adding his own flamboyance, he popularized the violent melodrama. Amitabh Bachchan proved that he had an equal flair for tragedies (Deewar, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Shakti) and comedies (Chupke Chupke, Don, Naseeb, Amar Akbar Anthony) as well. His most memorable performance was as the renegade against a harsh society in Deewar. After Amar Akbar Anthony in which he reveled in the role of the Cathlolic bootlegger - he played similar "masala" roles, movies that required action, comedy, tragedy, and romance in one character. This had disastrous consequences later with movies disintegrating into Amitabh Bachchan variety shows rather than plot-driven stories. Bachchan was dubbed the Superstar, taking over that title from Rajesh Khanna, something he hung on to until the mid 1980s when the floor widened after his temporary departure. At the height of his popularity he was injured in an accident while shooting for the film Coolie - long lines of people prayed for his recovery at the Breah Candy hospital, underscoring his megastar status. Amitabh Bachchan left films in 1985 to become a Member of Parliament from Allahabad constituency as a Congress party candidate, as a favor to his family friend Rajiv Gandhi - the new Prime MInister of India. A report of involvement in financial irregularities (of which he was completely cleared later) made him decide to step down as MP. His return in 1987 was lukewarm as the Hindi film industry had moved on and newer, younger heroes essayed the part of Angry Young Man with more conviction. Amitabh Bachchan seemed to have lost his heart in making films as his later roles did not show the flicker of passion that had marked earlier efforts in the 1970s. In 1989, for the first time since 1976, three of his films were flops i.e. they could not recover their money (in the Hindi film industry a flop is a film that does not recover a distributor's price, not the producer's cost). A series of lackluster films in the 1990s pointed to a long overdue exit, common to many other stars. A seemingly well-thought out venture to start a production company ABCL landed him in immense debts. Astonishingly, Amitabh Bachchan burst back with a double act: one, playing the stern patriarch (the kind against which he had rebelled in the 1970s but which role was suited to his gravelly voice), and two, reinventing himself as a brand that in turn, could market anything. He began the latter by hosting the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Kaun Banegaa Crorepati) and is now back in demand for endorsements.

Akon

Akon Biography -

Name :
Akon
Birth Name :
Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam
Occupation(s) :
Singer-songwriter, record producer
Genre(s) :
R&B, pop, hip hop
Label(s) :
Universal, SRC, Konvict Muzik, UpFront
Associated acts :
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Kardinal Offishall, Savage, Michael Jackson, Colby O'Donis, T-Pain, 50 Cent, Eminem, DJ Khaled, Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, Young Jee
Height :
5' 11" (1.80 m)
Born :
30 April 1973, St. Louis, Missouri, USA



Akon Trivia -
He is also known for his reggae music. "Ghetto" is one of his popular songs. "Mama Africa" is created in 2007.
Akon Detailed Biography -
Aliaune Thiam, better known by his stage name Akon, is an American R&B singer-songwriter, and record producer, of Senegalese origin. He came to prominence in the year 2004 following the release of "Locked Up” the first single from his debut album Trouble. His second album, Konvicted, earned him a Grammy Award nomination for the single "Smack That." He has since founded two record labels, Konvict Muzik and Kon Live Distribution.Akon often sings hooks for other artists and is presently accredited with more than 155 guest appearances and 23 Billboard Hot 100 songs. He is the first solo artist to accomplish the feat of holding both the number one and two spots simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 charts twice.
As the son of famed Senegalese percussionist Mor Thiam, Akon was raised in a musical setting and taught to play several instruments. At the age of 7, he spent time between America and Senegal until he was 15, then he moved permanently to Jersey City, New Jersey.During Akon’s alleged time in jail for 12 years, he began to understand his music abilities and developed an appreciation for his musical background. Akon's unique blend of West African-style, skills and moves eventually caught the ears of executives at Universal. Akon began writing and recording tracks in his home studio. The tapes found their way to SRC/Universal, which released Akon's debut LP Trouble in June 2004. The album is a hybrid of Akon's silky, West African-styled vocals mixed with East Coast and Southern beats. Most of Akon's songs begin with the sound of the clank of a jail cell's door with him uttering the word "Konvict".Akon is a Muslim, as he explains he has never drunk alcohol or smoked due to his faith. He has also been rumored to have three wives, however the actual figure is unknown. He claims to have five children with three different women in an interview with Blender.
In April 2007, Akon drew criticism for having on-stage simulated sex with Danah (Deena) Alleyne, a preacher's [at the time] fifteen-year-old daughter, at a club in Trinidad and Tobago, as part of a fake contest, despite the club's claim to have a 21 years and over age limit. The incident was filmed by Akon's crew and later uploaded to the Internet. On April 20, 2007 local media, channel TV6, aired the video clip publicly.He also has his own charity for underprivileged children in Africa called Konfidence Foundation. Akon owns a diamond mine in South Africa and denies the existence of conflict diamonds (Otherwise casually referred to as 'blood diamonds'), saying, "I don't even believe in conflict diamonds. That's just a movie. Think about it. Ain't nobody thought about nothing about no conflict diamonds until the movie came out." He also allegedly had a previous occupation as a drug dealer but has stated in interviews that he's never used drugs, though some of his lyrics would suggest otherwise. Despite his alleged criminal history, he proclaims that he has turned his life around.
Akon has made the confirmation that a reality television show is in the works. It will be called "My Brother's Keeper" and the point is that Akon's two nearly identical brothers will go around in Atlanta posing as him fooling people into thinking that it is in fact Akon. They will try to get VIP treatment, girls and free things. Akon has claimed that people have mistaken his brothers for him many times in Atlanta which is what the show is based on.Akon is planning to work on a full-length movie titled Illegal Alien. The film is centered on some of the events of his life and actor Mekhi Phifer is set to play him. Besides Akon confirmed in August 2007, in the interview with Polish website INTERIA.PL, that he works on a movie "Cocaine Cowboys," which tells the story of Jon Roberts, the main pilot of Medellin Cartel (Colombian drug traffickers). He was also featured on a Verizon Wireless commercial and singing Snitch along with Obie Trice on a CSI: Crime Scene Investigation episode named "Poppin' Tags."On November 30, 2007, Akon entered the Big Brother house in Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition 2 as a guest so the housemates can meet him for only 100 seconds.He also made appearance on November 17, 2008 edition of WWE Raw, with Santino Marella citing him in his speech. Because of Santino's Italian Stereotyping, he mispronounced Akon's name to "Akorn".On April 27, 2008, Akon appeared with Colby O'Donis in Dance on Sunset.In February 2007, Akon launched his clothing line, Konvict Clothing. It features urban streetwear including denim jeans, hoodies, t-shirts and hats. Aliaune is the upscale version, or high-end line, for males and females, which includes blazers, denim jeans and other items. Timothy Hodge appeared on MTV's Direct Effect alongside Akon while promotioning the Konvict clothing line.

98 degrees

98 degrees Biography -

Name :
98 degrees
Profession :
Singer, American boy band



98 degrees Trivia -
Group members are Nick Lachey, Drew Lachey, Justin Jeffre, Jeff Timmons.
98 degrees Detailed Biography -
98 Degrees was an American boy band consisting of four vocalists: brothers Nick and Drew Lachey, as well as Justin Jeffre and Jeff Timmons. 98 Degrees was formed in Los Angeles, but its members are all from Ohio. Unlike most boy bands, they formed independently and were later picked up by a label, as opposed to being assembled by the label itself. 98 Degrees was originally signed to the Motown label in the mid-1990s. After building popularity with their appearance in the movie Mulan, singing "True to Your Heart," a duet with labelmate Stevie Wonder, their success broke out in late 1998 with their album 98� and Rising, which included the hit singles "The Hardest Thing" and "I Do (Cherish You)". After the first album, 98 Degrees left Motown for its parent company, Universal Records. All four albums released by 98 Degrees went platinum. Although they never did reach the level of success of their rival boybands, Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC, they manage to do something the Backstreet Boys never accomplished. 98 Degrees scored a Billboard #1 hit with the single "Thank God I Found You," a collaboration with Mariah Carey and Joe. 98 Degrees also received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for the same song.

50 Cent

50 Cent Biography -

Name :
50 Cent
Birth Name :
Curtis James Jackson
Date of Birth :
6 July 1975
Place of Birth :
Queens, New York, New York, USA
Height :
6'
Nationality :
American
Profession :
Musician
Claim to Fame :
Debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin' produced by Eminem and Dr. Dre (2003).
Sometimes Called :
G-Unit, C. Jackson, Curtis Jackson.

50 Cent Trivia -
Is currently involved in a feud with music artist, Ja Rule.
Is currently signed to Eminem's Shady Records imprint, which is distributed by Interscope Records.
Has a son: Marquise, nicknamed 25 Cent
His debut album "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" was the highest debut ever with 900,000 copies sold in the first week.
His mother was killed at the age of 23. 50 Cent was only 8 years old at the time
Was discovered by Jason Mizell aka Jam Master Jay.
Grew up in the same area of Queens, New York as actor Dwayne Winstead's cousin Ted Witherspoon.
Voted #8 on VH1's 100 Hottest Hotties
Used to be a boxer
Neither drinks alcohol nor smokes.
He bought former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson's Farmington, Conn., mansion for $4.1 million. The house is approximately 50,000 square feet, has 52 rooms, and was bought by Tyson for $2.7 million in 1996. The house includes five Jacuzzis, 25 full ba
50 Cent Detailed Biography -
Born in South Jamaica, Queens, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson has lived in New York City all his life. Raised by his grandparents after his father ran out and his mother was shot when he was only eight. Growing up, the Queens rapper originally wanted to be a heavyweight boxer, but eventually fell back on rapping. DJs had taken it upon themselves to release two Best of 50 Cent mix CDs, before he had even signed to a major label. 50 Cent hit the scene with "How To Rob An Industry Nigga" and he's been on a rampage ever since dealing with bootleggers, label back stabbing and other platinum selling artists trying to get at him physically. In 1999, 50 Cent's album Power of the Dollar, was heavily bootlegged and Trackmasters/Columbia never released it. Supposedly, Trackmasters weren't comfortable with him being caught up in the streets and getting shot three days before filming the video for "Thug Love," (with Destiny's Child) -- his first single. 50 Cent was shot nine times that night, two shots hitting him in the head, the bullet that struck his face he carries as a reminder of what happened. That event led to the fall out with Columbia and negotiating his release from their grasps. 50 Cent still showed love and rhymed over a Trackmasters produced remix of "I'm Gonna Be Alright" on J-Lo's latest album, but rivals at Murder Inc. had 50 Cent cut from the track which could have launched the rapper. This all changed in one night when Eminem said on a radio show that "50 Cent is definitely my favorite rapper right now, he's the only one keeping it real." The very next day a bidding war started on 50, ending when 50 Cent signed to Eminem's very own label Shady/Aftermath. 50 Cent's fame has exploded, being produced by Dr. Dre and Eminem and finally making his debut album "Get rich or Die Tryin'." 50 has full access and advantage of the streets through mix-tapes; that's his forum because he controls it. 50 Cent is the most anticipated artist of 2003. It's well deserved because he's "been patiently waiting."

2 Face

2 Face Biography -

Name :
2 Face
2face Idibia :
Background information
Birth�name :
Origin
Genre(s) :
Occupation(s)
Instrument(s) :
Years�active
Label(s) :
Website



2 Face Trivia -
N/A
2 Face Detailed Biography -
Innocent Ujah Idibia best known as 2face Idibia is a recording artist from Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. He was a member of the defunct R&B/hip hop group Plantashun Boyz.
One of the most internationally recognised celebrities Nigeria has produced in recent years, his massively popular song African Queen was the first ever video to be played on Pan African channel MTV Base. 2face was the recipient of awards such as the 2005 Channel O Best Male Music Video award and the first award given for Best African at the MTV Europe Awards held in Lisbon, Portugal in November 2005.
2face's song African Queen has been featured as one of the soundtracks of a movie called Phat Girlz.
Innocent Idibia started calling himself 2Face in 1996. "The name to me just refers to the outside and inside: when you first see me you see the outside but when you get to know me, you see the inside" he said in an interview with the BBC. In 1997, 2Face together with Blackface and Faze formed the group 'Plantashun Boyz'. The group was brought to the lime light when they were featured on Tony Tetuila's song, "Omode meta".
Album Cover
Album Information
Face 2 Face
Grass 2 Grace
Solo