Megastar Amitabh Bachchan revisited the earliest chapter of his performing life on Kaun Banega Crorepati, revealing that his first-ever stage role was playing a baby chick at a convent school in Allahabad — where he was enrolled in kindergarten. The candid disclosure offered a rare, charming look at the origins of one of Indian cinema's most iconic careers.

The Baby Chick Who Became a Megastar

During a special episode of the long-running quiz-based reality show, Bachchan recalled being enrolled at St. Mary's Convent in Allahabad as a young child. He described how the school introduced students to stage performance from a remarkably young age. 'Sabse pehle hamara dakhila hua tha ek convent school Allahabad mein.. Kindergarten mein.. Wahan se hum stage pe humko dala jata tha. Tab se hum khel rahe hain..' he said — meaning, 'First of all, I was admitted to a convent school in Allahabad. In kindergarten. From there, we were put on stage. We have been performing ever since.'

His debut role, he revealed with evident amusement, was that of a baby chick. 'Aur hamara pehla role jo tha woh murgi ke bachche ka tha.. Chhota chicken hota hai na aise-aise par hila karke humko bola hilana toh..' he said — describing how he was instructed to flap his arms in imitation of a little bird's wings.

From Convent to Delhi University Stage

Bachchan traced his theatrical journey from St. Mary's Convent to a boys' school in Allahabad, where he continued taking part in plays. He subsequently moved to Kirori Mal College at Delhi University, where he credited drama teacher Frank Thakur Das with shaping his early sensibility as a performer. 'Frank Thakur Das jo the woh ek toh shikshak the sath mein woh play wagaira the drama ki aur unka dhyan jata tha sabko aur woh drama sikhate the.. aur bahut achha anubhav raha..' he said, describing Das as a dedicated mentor who gave individual attention to every student.

Alumni Rebuild the Kirori Mal College Stage

Beyond personal nostalgia, Bachchan shared a heartening recent development: alumni of Kirori Mal College collectively contributed funds to rebuild the institution's stage, which had fallen into disrepair. 'Us stage ko jo ki jeern-sheen avastha mein tha, sabne thoda thoda contribute karke woh stage banwa diya hai, phir se naya stage ban gaya hai..' he said, noting that the collective effort has resulted in a fully restored, new stage for the college. The gesture underscores the enduring bond Bachchan and fellow alumni share with an institution that helped form them.

Why This Moment Resonates

Bachchan's disclosure is more than a lighthearted anecdote. It places the beginnings of a seven-decade career in performance not on a film set or an audition room, but in a kindergarten classroom in Allahabad — with a child flapping his arms like a bird. It is a reminder that even the most celebrated careers often begin in the most unassuming circumstances. The Kaun Banega Crorepati episode serves as one of the rare platforms where Bachchan speaks at length about formative personal experiences beyond his film work.