Amitabh Bachchan

2004: Expected number of releases in which he has acted: 10. Blades has had great success in the Anglophone movie world, but musically he has done well keeping close to his Latin roots. Abhishek Bachchan has already followed his father's footsteps having starred in such movies as Refugee, Tera Jadoo Chal Gayaa, Dhai Askar Prem Ke, Hain Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya, Om Jai Jagdish, Mein Prem Ki Diwani Hoo, Kuch Na Kaho, Zameen, and L.O.C. Blades has stated in interviews that he believes his biggest mistake was releasing an English-language album in 1988 in the wake of his 1987 Grammy for Escenas — a trap he sees other Latin artists falling into. The couple has two children, Abhishek and Shweta. Blades' 1999 album Tiempos which he made with the 12-piece Costa Rican band Editus, represented a break from his salsa past and a rejection of commercial trends in Latin music. In 2004, he is reported to be charging around 80-100 million rupees for brand endorsements. In 1999, he played Mexican artist Diego Rivera in Tim Robbins' Cradle Will Rock In 1997, Blades headed the cast of singer/songwriter Paul Simon's first Broadway musical, The Capeman, based on a true story about a violent youth who becomes a poet in prison.

His ability to reinvent himself has meant new films, new endorsements and millions of rupees. His many film appearances include The Milagro Beanfield War (1988), The Two Jakes (1990), Mo' Better Blues (1990), and Devil's Own (1997). Some of the films starring Amitabh and Jaya : Zanjeer, Abhimaan, Sholay, Silsila, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham. During the 1990s, he acted in films, got a doctorate in international law from Harvard University, mounted his unsuccessful presidential bid, founding the party Movimiento Papa Egoró, and continued to make salsa records. Amitabh Bachchan married actress Jaya Bhaduri with whom he had co-starred in many films. He was also the subject of Robert Mugge's documentary The Return of Ruben Blades, which debuted at that year's Denver Film Festival. In the same year, Amitabh Bachchan once again re-entered Indian popular culture by anchoring the hugely popular quiz program Kaun Banega Crorepati, the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. This same year he earned a master's degree in international law from Harvard University.

In June, 2000 he became the first living Asian to have a wax statue erected in his honour at Madame Tussaud's. In 1985, Blades gained widespread recognition as co-writer and star of the independent film Crossover Dreams as a New York salsa singer willing to do anything to break into the mainstream. In 1999, in a BBC Online Poll, Amitabh Bachchan was named the Superstar of the Millennium ahead of the likes of Alec Guinness and Marlon Brando. In 1982, Blades got his first acting role in The Last Fight writing the title song as well as portraying a singer-turned-boxer vying for a championship against a fighter who was played by real life world champion boxer Salvador Sánchez. In 1997 at the age of 55, Amitabh Bachchan made his comeback to cinema with the film Mrityudata. In the early 1980s, Blades began his career in films as a composer of soundtracks. However, his political career was short lived. When he was free of his contractual obligations, Blades signed with another label, Electra, and assembled a top-notch band (known variously as Seis Del Solar or Son Del Solar) and recorded a number of albums with them.

Amitabh Bachchan retired from the film industry to briefly enter politics by winning a seat in parliament from his hometown of Allahabad. These are generally considered toss-offs and Blades himself told his fans to avoid them. Amitabh Bachchan is most famous for introducing the character of the "angry young man" into Hindi cinema, in stark contrast to the more romantic characters being played by his contemporaries. After 1980, Blades tried to terminate his contract with Fania, but he was contractually obligated to record several more albums. His first film was Saat Hindustani and he has since made over a hundred films in a career that included such box office successes as Zanjeer, Deewar, Sholay, Do aur Do Paanch, and Amar Akbar Anthony. Their album Siembra (1978) became the best-selling salsa record in history. He did his schooling at Sherwood College in Nainital and went on to Delhi University to earn a science degree. Shortly thereafter Blades started collaborating with trombonist and band leader Willie Colón, and they recorded several albums together.

The eldest son of Harivanshrai Bachchan, a well known contemporary poet, and Teji Bachchan, he was brought up in the rich tradition of the arts. Blades began his musical career in New York playing with local bands while working in the mailroom at Fania Records, and soon was working with salseros Ray Barretto and Larry Harlow. He was born in Allahabad, India. In 1974, Blades moved to the United States, staying temporarily with his exiled parents in Miami before moving to New York City. Amitabh Bachchan (born October 11, 1942) is an Indian actor. After obtaining degrees in political science and law at Panama's Universidad Nacional, Blades worked at the Bank of Panama as a lawyer. His grandfather, Reuben Blades, was a black worker from St Lucia, and had come to Panama to build the canal.

Blades's father is a percussionist-turned-detective and his mother was a singer and radio performer. His most famous song is "Pedro Navaja", a song about a criminal whose day to die has come. Blades is completely bilingual, working both in English and Spanish. In September 2004, he was appointed minister of tourism by Panamanian president Martín Torrijos.

Although he only got 20% of the vote in his failed attempt to win the Panamanian presidency in 1994, he remains wildly popular in that country and much admired throughout Latin America. As songwriter, Blades brought the lyrical sophistication of South American nueva canción and Cuban nueva trova to salsa, creating thinking persons' dance music. Rubén Blades (born July 16, 1948) is a Panamanian salsa singer, songwriter, actor and politician.