Amitabh Bachchan -- the Shahenshah of Bollywood, who turns 69 today, is celebrating his birthday. Amitabh started his Bollywood career in 1969 with Khwaja Ahmad Abbas' Saat Hindustani, but it was 1973 film Zanjeer that actually kick-started his film journey.

His stint on game show Kaun Banega Crorepati has brought him closer to the people of real India. The latest season of the show is witnessing a lot of contestants from the disadvantaged groups, for whom meeting Amitabh Bachchan is like a dream come true.

On his special day today, the sangam city of Allahabad and the birth place of the veteran actor is paying tribute to the icon on his 69th birthday by making an 8ft long sand sculptor of the actor.

Raj Kapoor Chitera, a renowned artist of the city, who has made many sand sculptors of various personalities of the world including that of M F Hussain, is at the helm of affairs.

The artist said, 'I know I can`t reach him, but by making this sand sculptor, I want to pay respect to the legendary icon. I will be using the sand of the river ganga and will be making the sculptor near sangam.'
That’s the respect Big B holds amongst his fan and the actor makes sure that he acknowledges each one of their praise.

The actor even at this age harnesses the online medium to reach out to people who shower these accolades on him.

The revered actor has received many accolades for his magnificent contribution to the film industry, most important and significant of which are the prestigious National Awards.

Born in the tumultuous year of 1942, he was given the name Inquilab, befitting the ongoing fight for freedom. His father, renowned poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, and mother Teji soon changed his name to one that meant `the light that would never go off`, one that seemed to be an epiphany of the man he would soon become.

On stepping into70s, Amitabh Bachchan says, ' I don't know what it is like. But its a new chalenge and I will give my best shot.'