Why ‘Bachchan’ isn’t just a name — Amitabh’s surname a bold rejection of caste

The iconic surname ‘Bachchan’, now synonymous with Bollywood royalty, was originally adopted as a pen name by celebrated Hindi poet Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan — father of legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan. Rejecting his real surname ‘Srivastava’, Harivansh Rai chose to shed caste identifiers and adopt a more inclusive identity through his writing.

In a recent interview, Amitabh’s younger brother Ajitabh Bachchan recounted how their father opposed caste-based distinctions. The name ‘Bachchan’ was first coined by their mother, Teji Bachchan, who affectionately called her husband “Bachchanwa”. The term resonated so deeply with Harivansh Rai that he adopted it as his literary identity, and eventually, it became the official family surname when Amitabh was enrolled in school.

Ajitabh also shared that Amitabh was almost named Inquilab (Revolution) due to being born during the Indian freedom movement, while his own name was intended to be Azad (Free), as he was born after Independence. Interestingly, Amitabh later starred in films titled Inquilab and Main Azaad Hoon, reflecting the same ideals of rebellion and freedom that shaped his family’s identity.

Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan passed away in 2003 at the age of 95, but the legacy he established — of resisting societal norms and redefining identity — continues through the generations of Bachchans that followed.