Indian star Amitabh Bachchan likes getting old
NEW DELHI (AP) — Amitabh Bachchan, Bollywood's biggest star, turned 70 on Thursday, and said he liked the idea of getting old.
Hundreds of film stars, politicians and fans greeted Bachchan at a birthday bash thrown by his family Wednesday night in Mumbai, India's entertainment capital.
"I quite like the idea of getting old. It's a natural phenomenon," Bachchan told the Hindustan Times newspaper in an interview published Thursday.
The actor tweeted, "Birthdays are special for all ... mine is no different ... but would never be the same without your love and affection."
Popularly known as "Big B," Bachchan has acted in more than 180 Indian films in a career spanning four decades. He rose to stardom following his leading role in the 1973 film "Zanjeer," or "The Chain," in which he played an angry policeman. He currently is hosting "Kaun Banega Crorepati," India's version of the hit television show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire."
The Bachchans are known as Bollywood's first family — Amitabh is married to Jaya Bachchan, an actress-turned-lawmaker, while their son, Abhishek, is also an actor and married to Bollywood beauty Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
Amitabh Bachchan said his most cherished birthday gifts are his children and grandchildren.
"To see the family happy, that everybody is happy in their space, that gives me a lot of happiness," he told the TimesNow television news channel.
