Amitabh Bachchan, one of Indian cinema’s most enduring icons, has shared a candid reflection on his past, sparked by the discovery of an old photograph. Speaking during a recent episode of his long-running quiz show Kaun Banega Crorepati, the actor described his amusement on finding the picture and opened up about regrets from his personal life.
The photograph, in black and white, showed a young Bachchan standing in front of a building with folded arms. Dressed in bell-bottom trousers and a matching shirt, with a hairstyle typical of the era, the actor said the image felt almost alien to him. “I kept on looking at the photograph for quite some time and ended up laughing after seeing my own photograph. Although it was my face, it felt like I was looking at someone else. Hairstyle, clothes, body language, everything was from the days gone by, I felt I was looking weird,” he remarked on the show.
Bachchan added that when the photograph was originally taken, he believed he was looking fashionable and stylish. The contrast between then and now, he said, revealed the impact of time not just on appearances but also on perceptions and dreams. “Pictures make us realize that time not only impacts our faces but also our mindsets, and our dreams,” he reflected.
Alongside this lighter moment, Bachchan also shared a more emotional reflection about his family life. Speaking to a contestant, he admitted that his packed work schedule during his peak years as an actor prevented him from spending time with his children, Abhishek and Shweta. “Our environment was very simple. Jaya would take care of the kids, and I would go to work. But there is one thing that I really regret, and that is I couldn’t spend time with my kids when they were little. I used to work from morning to night. When I would leave in the morning for work, they would be sleeping, and when I used to come back home, they would be sleeping. Jaya took care of them completely,” he said.
The actor recalled how his absence from home during those years left him wishing for more time with his children. To address this, he made a conscious decision to reserve Sundays exclusively for his family. “Sometimes I wish that I could spend time with Abhishek and Shweta. But then it was decided that I will not work on Sunday, and it will be completely dedicated to my family. We used to make food for the kids and eat with them that day,” he said. Bachchan added that the Sunday tradition has continued into the present day, with the family still gathering for meals together at the end of each week.
The candid admission sheds light on the personal side of an actor whose career has spanned over five decades. While celebrated for his unmatched contribution to Indian cinema, Bachchan’s reflections remind audiences of the sacrifices often hidden behind professional success. His decision to preserve family time on Sundays is now a cherished tradition for the Bachchan household, offering a glimpse into the balance he sought between work and home.
For fans, Bachchan’s ability to share both humour and regret in such a public setting reinforces his reputation for honesty and relatability. Whether laughing at his retro fashion choices or acknowledging the missed moments of fatherhood, his reflections continue to resonate across generations.
