Amitabh Bachchan on 2 August marked what he and his fans call his 'rebirth day' — the anniversary of his miraculous survival following a near-fatal accident on the set of Coolie in 1982 — and took to his personal blog to express heartfelt gratitude for the outpouring of love he received. The 83-year-old megastar said he was overwhelmed by calls, messages, and greetings from well-wishers across the country.

What Bachchan Said

In a note on his blog, Bachchan wrote: 'I must most humbly accept the most gracious and kind words expressed on the phone and through gestures at the GOJ. It shall be very difficult to reply each one personally, so I put it here for all. Your kindness has no bounds and the affection that follows is simply insurmountable!!'

He continued in Hindi, acknowledging that very few people are aware of the significance of 2 August in his life. Translated, he said: 'Very few people know the significance of August 2, but I sincerely thank everyone who sent me their wishes. It was your prayers that made it possible for me to express my gratitude to all of you through this medium today.'

Bachchan also revealed that he was heading into the first day of recording for Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC), calling it 'another challenge' he was taking on with his fans' blessings and affection.

The 1982 Coolie Accident

The day's significance traces back to the sets of director Manmohan Desai's Coolie in 1982. During a fight sequence with co-star Puneet Issar, Bachchan mistimed a jump and collided with the edge of a table after an accidental blow, sustaining a serious abdominal injury and severe internal bleeding.

He was rushed into emergency surgeries, and his condition remained critical for several days. Bachchan has previously recalled that he was clinically dead for a brief period before doctors revived him — with 2 August marking the moment of that revival, which he has since referred to as his rebirth.

A Nation That Prayed

The accident triggered an extraordinary national outpouring of concern. Millions of fans reportedly gathered outside the hospital, and prayers were offered at temples, mosques, churches, and gurudwaras across India for his recovery. The scale of public emotion at the time remains one of the most documented instances of collective fan solidarity in Indian cinema history.

Following months of treatment and rehabilitation, Bachchan returned to complete Coolie, which went on to become one of the biggest box-office hits of 1983.

Fans at Jalsa

Earlier on Sunday, hundreds of fans gathered outside Bachchan's Mumbai residence, Jalsa, for his weekly Sunday greeting. Many arrived carrying flower garlands, bouquets, handwritten letters, and greeting cards to mark the occasion — a tradition that reflects the enduring bond between the actor and his admirers, now spanning more than four decades since the accident.

As Bachchan heads into a fresh season of KBC, the day serves as a reminder of both the fragility and the resilience that have defined one of Indian cinema's most remarkable careers.