When Amitabh Bachchan revealed he slept on the benches of Marine Drive: ‘If I don’t become an actor, I will drive a cab’

Amitabh Bachchan, who has an illustrious career, is undoubtedly one of the most iconic actors in Indian and world cinema. His contribution to cinema is immeasurable. He is one of the most talented actors of all time and is also celebrated for his versatility. But life wasn’t always rainbows and sunshine for him. Prior to his debut in cinema, he had a challenging time, when he had to sleep on the benches of Marine Drive.

An old interview of Bachchan talking to Vir Sanghvi during the 1990s has now resurfaced on Rediff. In the conversation, Big B recounted the time when he arrived in Mumbai, with nothing, but his driving license and a determined mindset.

Amitabh also recalled that he faced several hardships, including a lack of accommodation, which led him to spend nights on the benches of Marine Drive for several days. When the journalist inquired about his struggles given his background in a well-off family and a successful job in Calcutta, Amitabh Bachchan explained that he had given up all that for his passion to pursue a career in films.

Senior Bachchan spoke about the tough days, when he had no place to stay, and there was a limited amount of time one can spend with friends, he spent a couple of days on Marine Drive benches and encounters with the largest rats during his time on the streets.


He further spoke about how he left behind a successful job and comfortable life in Calcutta, and was prepared to drive a taxi if his acting aspirations did not materialize.

Amitabh Bachchan got his break in 1969 with ‘Saat Hindustani’, and the rest is history.
Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”