Amitabh Bachchan on fate vs luck: 'Fate is what you make'
Synopsis
Amitabh Bachchan's blog post on fate versus luck is more than a motivational note — it is a statement shaped by a man who was once declared clinically dead on a film set. His insistence that 'luck is an excuse' carries the full weight of the Coolie accident, a decades-long career comeback, and a philosophy forged in real adversity.
Key Takeaways
Amitabh Bachchan posted a reflective message on fate and luck on his blog on 22 August .
He wrote in both English and Hindi, arguing that 'luck is an excuse' and that individuals shape their own fate.
Bachchan stressed that resilience through life's ups and downs — via ability, strength, and hard work — matters most.
His message is informed by his near-fatal injury on the set of Coolie in the early 1980s , when he was reportedly declared clinically dead before recovering.
Bachchan has long credited fan prayers and love with giving him a second chance at life.
Veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan took to his personal blog on the evening of Friday, 22 August to share a reflective message on fate, luck, and the power of self-determination — urging fans to stop attributing life's outcomes to chance and start owning their choices.
What Bachchan Said
Writing in both English and Hindi, the 82-year-old megastar challenged the popular tendency to credit or blame luck for one's circumstances. In his own words: 'They ask me .. luck or your fate .. luck is an excuse .. fate is what you make, and the success is what your fate is .. you built your fate .. blaming luck on fate - cannot understand.'
Sharing the same sentiment in Hindi, Bachchan pushed back against a common refrain he hears from people around him. Translated into English, his Hindi note reads: 'Many times people say, My fate is just like this, it is bad. No, no, no! All of you have the ability to make your own fate. It is not written anywhere that luck is becoming ineffective because of fate.'
On Resilience Through Life's Highs and Lows
Bachchan went further, acknowledging that adversity is universal — but arguing that the response to it defines a person. As he put it: 'There are ups and downs in everyone's life. How you come out of them through your ability, strength and hard work is what holds greater importance in life.'
He concluded the blog post with warm wishes for his readers, consistent with the tone of personal connection he has long maintained with his audience through his blog and social media.
The Coolie Accident: When Luck Became Personal
Bachchan's words carry particular weight given his own brush with mortality. During the filming of Coolie in the early 1980s, the actor suffered a near-fatal injury on set. He was subsequently hospitalised and was, according to accounts from that period, declared clinically dead by doctors — only to recover hours later in what many described as a miraculous turn.
The incident remains one of the most documented near-death experiences in Indian film history. Bachchan has, over the years, repeatedly expressed gratitude to fans whose prayers and support he credits with giving him a second chance at life. Notably, this personal history lends his message about fate and human agency a dimension that goes well beyond motivational rhetoric.
A Recurring Theme in Bachchan's Public Persona
This is not the first time the actor has reflected publicly on luck and destiny. Throughout his decades-long career — spanning commercial highs in the 1970s and 1980s, a difficult period in the 1990s, and a remarkable resurgence from the 2000s onward — Bachchan has consistently returned to themes of perseverance and self-belief in his public writings and interviews.
His blog, which he has maintained for years, serves as a direct channel to fans and has become a space where he shares personal philosophy alongside updates on his work and health. The 22 August post is the latest in that tradition, and its message — that fate is built, not bestowed — reflects a worldview shaped as much by lived experience as by philosophy.
Point of View
But this one deserves a closer look. A man who was declared clinically dead on a film set and then rebuilt one of Indian cinema's most storied careers is not speaking abstractly about fate. His rejection of luck as a framework is a product of lived experience — and that context is almost always missing from the coverage. The broader point is that Bachchan's public persona has always been constructed around resilience, but rarely examined: how much of his philosophy was shaped by privilege and industry access, and how much by genuine grit? That tension is worth holding even as the message itself resonates.
NationPress
22 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Amitabh Bachchan say about fate and luck?
Amitabh Bachchan wrote on his blog on 22 August that luck is an excuse and that every individual has the ability to shape their own fate through hard work, strength, and resilience. He shared the message in both English and Hindi, pushing back against the idea that circumstances are determined by luck.
Where did Amitabh Bachchan share this message?
He shared the message on his personal blog, which he has maintained for years as a direct communication channel with fans. The post went up on the evening of Friday, 22 August.
What is the Coolie accident that Amitabh Bachchan often refers to?
During the filming of the Bollywood movie Coolie in the early 1980s, Bachchan suffered a severe on-set injury and was hospitalised. Doctors reportedly declared him clinically dead, but he recovered hours later. The incident is one of the most documented near-death experiences in Indian film history.
Why does Amitabh Bachchan's message on fate carry special significance?
Bachchan's personal history — including a near-fatal accident, a difficult professional phase in the 1990s, and a major career resurgence — gives his words on self-determination a grounding in lived experience. He has repeatedly credited fan support and prayers with helping him survive and rebuild.
Has Amitabh Bachchan spoken about luck before?
Yes, Bachchan has referenced the luck factor multiple times over the years, particularly in the context of the Coolie accident. He regularly expresses gratitude to fans for their unconditional support, which he says gave him a second chance at life.
