Mumbai, August 17, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has revealed the story behind his iconic surname, recalling how his father, celebrated Hindi poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, rejected the caste system and chose “Bachchan” as the family’s surname.
The revelation came during an episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 18, when Bachchan discovered that contestant Dr. Jagriti was also from Prayagraj and had studied at St. Mary’s Convent School, which he had attended as a child.
Recalling the admission process at the school, Bachchan said his parents took him there and were required to fill in details including his caste.
“My father was against the caste system right from his childhood. He disliked it completely and never accepted it. For the first time, right there, he said, ‘Our caste is Bachchan.’ Under that name he filled in the form,” Bachchan recalled.
The actor said the moment became the origin of “Bachchan” being used as the family surname.
Born Amitabh Srivastava on October 11, 1942, in Allahabad, now Prayagraj, Amitabh is the elder son of Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Teji Bachchan. Harivansh Rai Bachchan, born into the Srivastava family, became one of the most influential figures in modern Hindi literature.
He is best known for Madhushala, while his other notable works include Madhubala, Madhukalash, Nisha Nimantran, Satrangini, Agneepath and Jo Beet Gayi So Baat Gayi. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1976 for his contribution to Hindi literature.
Amitabh’s mother, Teji Bachchan, was born Teji Suri in Lyallpur, Punjab, then part of British India. She belonged to a Punjabi Sikh family and was educated in Lahore, where she also taught psychology. She met Harivansh Rai Bachchan at a college event in Lahore, and the couple married in Allahabad in 1941.
A theatre enthusiast, Teji also played Lady Macbeth in her husband’s Hindi adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The couple had two sons, Amitabh and Ajitabh Bachchan.
Amitabh made his Bollywood debut with Saat Hindustani and endured several setbacks early in his career. His breakthrough came with films such as Zanjeer, Deewaar, Trishul and Kaala Patthar, establishing him as one of the defining stars of Hindi cinema.
He is married to actor and former co-star Jaya Bhaduri, who is now known as Jaya Bachchan.
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