Happy birthday 'Shehenshah': 12 lesser-known facts about Amitabh Bachchan

It’s Shehenshah’s birthday today. A true legend in himself, Amitabh Bachchan turned a year older today, so on this special day, we bring to you 12 unknown facts about Bollywood's original filmy don.

Did you know Amitabh Bachchan was named Inquilaab Shrivastava? However, at the suggestion of his father's poet friend, so he changed his name to what it is now.

Amitabh who now charges a bomb to be a part of any film made his Bollywood debut for only Rs 1000.

The star has played more double roles than any other actor in the Bollywood. In the film 'Mahaan' that released in 1983, he even had a triple role.

The superstar has been honoured by foreign governments on multiple occasions for his contribution to cinema. His most notable was the highest civilian knight of the Legion of Honour by the French government.

In 2014, Australian La Trobe University named a Scholarship after the actor. 

Big B got this name in the late 90s after his second comeback with 'Mrityudaata'.

Amitabh is the first Asian actor to have a wax model displayed at Madame Tussauds' in London.

Did you know that he is passionate about collecting watches and pens and his collection boasts of over thousands of pens?

Big B has played 'Vijay' more than 20 times. In fact, it is his favourite onscreen name.

Amitabh and his wife Jaya Bachchan got married in a hurry in 1973, on the insistence of his father, so that they could take a trip together abroad to celebrate the success of 'Zanjeer'.

The Bachchan bungalow called Jalsa was gifted by director Ramesh Sippy in lieu of payment for his performance in 'Satte Pe Satta'.

Amitabh Bachchan is probably the only actor who has played the role of a son to his real son in the film 'Paa'.

The megastar is ambidextrous, it is a term for a person who uses both hands equally.