Kolkata’s Chartered Bank Building where Amitabh’s beginning commenced
Kolkata’s Chartered Bank Building where Amitabh’s beginning commenced
Kolkata’s Chartered Bank Building holds special place in cinematic icon Amitabh Bachchan. It’s from here his humble beginning kicked-off
Notedly It remains a testament to Kolkata’s colonial heritage and holds a special place in the history of India’s cinematic icon Amitabh Bachchan.
Indian Film industry’s legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan, began his career in one of Kolkata’s most historic landmarks — the Chartered Bank Building on N.S. Road.
This architectural marvel, constructed in 1908, was designed by Edward Thornton, a Calcutta-based architect working for Sir Rajen Mookerjee’s firm, Martin & Co. The building’s striking red-and-white appearance comes from its exposed brickwork and Porbunder stone sourced from Mumbai. Two grand towers adorn the structure: a 110-foot clock tower facing India Exchange Place and a 135-foot tower overlooking N.S. Road. Originally owned by the Maharaja of Burdwan, the land was leased to the Chartered Bank, adding to the area’s historical significance.
Among the notable tenants of this building was Bird & Co., a British firm established in 1904, with diverse business interests in paper, jute, and shipping. During the 1960s, Bird & Co.’s freight division employed a young and ambitious Amitabh Bachchan as an executive in their N.S. Road office. At the time, the towering figure of Indian cinema earned a modest salary of ₹500 per month (₹460 after deductions). Years later, on July 27, 2011, Amitabh reminisced about his early days in Kolkata through a tweet:
The Chartered Bank Building remains a testament to Kolkata’s colonial heritage and holds a special place in the history of India’s cinematic icon.
News Edit KV Raman
