Amitabh Bachchan: Health, Wife, Net Worth, and Rare Disease Explained

When a Bollywood icon quietly reveals he has been living with a rare autoimmune disease — including a 75% loss of his liver to hepatitis B — it’s natural to wonder how serious the condition really is. This article consolidates verified medical and biographical sources to answer the most-asked questions about his rare disease, his marriage, his wealth, and what’s next for the legendary actor.

Born: 11 October 1942 ·
Age: 82 (as of 2025) ·
Height: 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) ·
Spouse: Jaya Bhaduri (m. 1973) ·
Net worth (est.): USD 400–500 million ·
Known for: Hindi cinema actor, playback singer, producer

The table below summarizes key biographical and medical data about Amitabh Bachchan from verified sources.

What is Amitabh Bachchan diagnosed with?

Amitabh Bachchan has two major documented health conditions: myasthenia gravis, a rare autoimmune disease, and chronic liver damage from hepatitis B. Both have been publicly acknowledged through interviews and medical reporting.

Rare disease: Myasthenia Gravis

• Diagnosed in the early 1980s — hospitalisation covered by India Today (national magazine) in June 1984.
• The Indian Express reported that director Tinnu Anand said Bachchan “nearly died” after the diagnosis (The Indian Express).
• Myasthenia gravis causes fluctuating weakness in voluntary muscles, especially the eyes, face, and throat, per NDTV (health desk).

Liver damage details

• In 2015, Bachchan told PBS NewsHour (U.S. public broadcaster) that he had lived with hepatitis B for more than two decades and had lost more than 75% of his liver.
• The liver damage is linked to blood transfusions received after a near-fatal accident on the set of Coolie in 1982.

The implication: Bachchan’s ability to maintain a full career despite both conditions underscores advances in managing chronic illness, but also highlights gaps in public knowledge about his current liver function.

Who is Amitabh Bachchan’s first wife?

Amitabh Bachchan has been married only once. His wife is Jaya Bhaduri, a celebrated actress in her own right.

Marriage to Jaya Bhaduri

• Married on 3 June 1973, as recorded by Wikipedia (biography).
• Jaya Bhaduri is his only spouse; they have two children: Shweta and Abhishek.

Relationship timeline

The couple met on the sets of the 1973 film Zanjeer and married the same year. Neither has publicly acknowledged any separation. Reports about a relationship with actress Rekha are not confirmed by any primary source.

The pattern: unsubstantiated rumors about Bachchan’s personal life have persisted for decades, yet every verifiable record points to a single, continuous marriage to Jaya Bhaduri since 1973.

Is Amitabh Bachchan a billionaire or not?

No. Multiple financial estimates place his net worth well below the billionaire threshold.

Net worth estimates

• NDTV (financial report) reports Amitabh Bachchan’s personal net worth at about ₹273.74 crore (~USD 33 million) for FY2022-23.
• The combined family net worth of Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan is estimated at about ₹1,578 crore (~USD 190 million), still under the billion-dollar mark.

Comparison with Aishwarya Rai

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s net worth is estimated at around ₹800–900 crore (~USD 100 million), lower than her father-in-law’s personal estimate. Neither Amitabh nor Aishwarya qualifies as a billionaire.

The catch: conflating individual net worth with family assets creates a misleading picture; Bachchan’s personal fortune is substantial but far below billionaire status.

Why didn’t Amitabh marry Rekha?

The simple answer: he was already married. When Amitabh Bachchan worked with Rekha in the 1970s, he was already wed to Jaya Bhaduri.

Rekha and Amitabh’s relationship

• Rumours of an affair circulated after their films Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978) and Mr. Natwarlal (1979).
• No primary evidence — letters, statements, or legal documents — confirms an extramarital relationship.

Marital status of both

• Amitabh Bachchan remained married to Jaya throughout the period.
• Rekha married Mukesh Agarwal in 1990 (Agarwal died by suicide the same year). She never married Amitabh.

The implication: the persistent Rekha rumor, despite lacking any primary evidence, reflects how unsourced tabloid claims can overshadow documented marital history.

How serious is Amitabh Bachchan’s liver damage?

Serious enough that Bachchan himself has described surviving on a fraction of a normal liver.

Cause of liver damage

• The 1982 accident on the set of Coolie required multiple blood transfusions, which transmitted hepatitis B.
• By 2015, the virus had destroyed more than 75% of his liver, per his own disclosure to PBS NewsHour.

Current health status

Bachchan has not publicly updated the extent of his liver function since 2015. He continues to work and host Kaun Banega Crorepati, suggesting the condition is managed with medication and monitoring. No recent medical report has been released.

The catch: the seven-year gap since Bachchan last disclosed his liver function means any current assessment is conjecture; only a new medical update can provide clarity.

Timeline

• 11 October 1942 — Born in Allahabad, British India.
• 1969 — Film debut in Saat Hindustani.
• 1973 — Married Jaya Bhaduri; breakthrough film Zanjeer released.
• 1982 — Near-fatal accident on set of Coolie; leads to liver damage from transfusions.
• 1984 — Hospitalised for myasthenia gravis, reported by India Today.
• 2000–present — Hosts Kaun Banega Crorepati; continues acting.
• July 2020 — Admitted to hospital with COVID-19, mild symptoms; per Los Angeles Times.

The pattern: each major health event in Bachchan’s life — from the 1982 accident to COVID-19 in 2020 — has been publicly documented, creating a rare longitudinal record of a celebrity’s medical history.

Clarity section

Quotes

“He nearly died after being diagnosed with that rare muscular illness.”

— Tinnu Anand, film director, quoted by The Indian Express

“I have been living with hepatitis B for more than two decades. I have lost more than 75% of my liver.”

— Amitabh Bachchan, in a 2015 interview with PBS NewsHour

“All four of them tested positive for coronavirus… Bachchan, 77, was in stable condition with mild symptoms.”

— Los Angeles Times, July 2020

Summary

Amitabh Bachchan’s health history reveals a man who has survived a rare autoimmune disease, advanced liver damage from hepatitis B, and a COVID-19 infection — all while maintaining an active career. For fans and the Indian entertainment industry, the essential takeaway is that his medical conditions are publicly documented but not fully current. The next official update, whether from Bachchan or his treating physicians, will be the only reliable measure of his long-term prognosis. For media outlets covering Bollywood, the lesson is clear: verify health claims against primary sources, or risk spreading speculation.

For a detailed breakdown of his medical condition and finances, you can read more about Amitabh Bachchans health and net worth.

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