When Big B faced his biggest battle: How Amitabh Bachchan fought Rs 90 crore debt, and his son Abhishek became his 'strongest' backup

Time of India

3 days ago

Amitabh Bachchan's life has been nothing short of a Bollywood script, full of highs, lows, and jaw-dropping twists. Known as the 'Shahenshah' of Hindi cinema today, Big B had once been dismissed as a 'failed newcomer.' But while he eventually conquered the silver screen, his toughest challenge came not from cinema, but from real life, when his company went bankrupt and he was left with debts of nearly Rs 90 crore.
From early failures to stardom
In the beginning, Amitabh's acting career didn't look promising. Many of his first few films failed to click with the audience. But in 1973, Zanjeer changed everything. The film was a major success and launched him into superstardom. Over the next two decades, he became a name every Indian household knew and loved.
ABCL: A risk that went wrong
Things changed in the mid-1990s. Amitabh ventured into business with Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited (ABCL), hoping to make a mark in film production, event management, and entertainment. But the gamble didn't pay off.
In an India Today interview, Amitabh described this phase as 'one of the darkest periods' of his career. He shared, 'I can never forget how creditors used to land at our door, be abusive, threatening and demanding, and worse still, when they came for 'kudkee' at Prateeksha, our residence.'
ABCL collapsed under financial mismanagement, leaving Amitabh with mounting debts that crossed Rs 90 crore.
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Abhishek leaves Boston to stand by his father
At that time, Abhishek Bachchan was studying in Boston University. But when he learned of his father's financial struggles, he made a bold decision to leave college halfway.
In an episode of Ranveer Allahbadia's podcast, Abhishek revealed: 'My father was going through this really rough time. He had started this business called ABCL… I said, I can't be here in Boston when my father doesn't know how he's going to get dinner. And that's how bad it was.'
Abhishek further said he felt 'morally obliged' to be by his father's side. When he told Amitabh about quitting college, the actor reportedly called him to his study late one night and laid out the situation: 'Movies aren't working out, the business isn't working out, nothing is working out.'
Despite this bleak outlook, Amitabh never gave up. With the support of his wife Jaya Bachchan and son Abhishek, he slowly rebuilt his career from scratch.
From bankruptcy to blockbuster again
Amitabh went back to acting and took on roles in films, TV commercials, and shows like Kaun Banega Crorepati to repay debts. Over the years, he cleared all his loans, proving once again that resilience can bring even legends back from the brink.
Today, the Bachchans are among the most respected families in Indian cinema. Amitabh continues to work at the age of 82. After making his Tamil debut in Vettaiyan, he is now set to appear in the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD and in Section 84 directed by Ribhu Dasgupta.
Abhishek, too, has built his own career, recently starring in the OTT release Kaalidhar Laapata, and currently filming for King, which stars Shah Rukh Khan.
Inputs from TOI