Why Amitabh Bachchan likes being busy with work even at 83: What people of all ages can learn from the megastar |

When you think of Amitabh Bachchan, you probably don’t just see an actor; you see a legend. They call him the “Shahenshah of Bollywood,” (a megastar) and rightly so! For over 60 years, he’s been the backbone of Indian cinema, appearing in more than 200 films and somehow maintaining a presence that can make a stadium full of people go silent just by clearing his throat. Whether he’s the “Angry Young Man” of the 70s or the wise, baritone-voiced grandfather of today, he has this uncanny ability to make us lean in. Between his films and his role as the face of Kaun Banega Crorepati—which has basically become a sacred Sunday ritual for families across India—he’s more than a celebrity; he’s a constant in a world that changes way too fast.But here’s the thing that’s actually fascinating about him: At the age of 83, he has a net worth reportedly around ₹1,600 crore, as per Forbes, and yet he still loves to work– every single day. And, he gets the “Sunday Scaries” if he isn’t working. Most people in his position would have retired decades ago, but not Amitabh. Recently, he opened up about why the idea of a “lazy day” actually freaks him out. It turns out that for a man who has achieved everything, the one thing he can’t handle is sitting still.In a surprisingly vulnerable blog post recently, he described an unplanned day off as “disturbing.” It’s a word most of us would never use for a day of rest—we usually call that a “vacation.” But for him, if a day doesn’t have a purpose or a schedule, it starts to feel heavy. He used a phrase that sticks with you: a “mystery of deeds.” When the rhythm of work breaks, he feels like his day loses its shape. “A day that spelt ‘lazy’ .. no reason whatsoever .. just it seems disturbing to not be working each day .. and when you do not work each day according to a schedule .. the entire process of habit forming that pre seeded .. the day suddenly becomes a mystery of deeds, which normally would have worked in perfect unison,” he shared in his blog.This isn’t just about being a workaholic, though. It’s about the psychology of discipline. For Bachchan, routine isn’t a cage; it’s an anchor. He’s spent a lifetime building a structure that keeps him grounded, and when that’s gone, he admits it can trigger a sense of imbalance that goes deeper than just being bored. He mentioned that while some people find peace in doing absolutely nothing, for him, that stillness can actually invite anxiety. It’s a very human admission from a man who usually looks untouchable. He views a steady routine as a form of mental health maintenance—a way to keep his mind and body in sync so that life’s unpredictability doesn’t knock him off his feet.You could see that emotional depth when he recently wrapped up the 17th season of Kaun Banega Crorepati. His sign-off wasn’t just a standard “goodnight”; it was an emotional farewell that left a lot of viewers misty-eyed. You could tell that KBC isn’t just a TV show for him. It’s his way of staying connected to the pulse of the country. It’s where he stops being a distant superstar and becomes a curious, empathetic human being who genuinely wants to hear people’s stories. That connection is clearly part of the fuel that keeps him going.And if you thought he was slowing down in the movies, his performance in Kalki 2898 AD probably changed your mind. Seeing him hold his own—and often steal the show—in a massive global blockbuster that crossed the ₹1,000 crore mark was a reminder that his talent hasn’t dimmed an inch. Now, as he gears up for the sequel, he’s quietly proving that age is just a number that other people care about. For him, the only thing that matters is the next call sheet and the next opportunity to create something. It’s a level of dedication that feels rare today, and it’s exactly why he’s still the “Big B” after all these years. He doesn’t just work to live; he lives to work.What are your views on the idea of keeping yourself busy, regardless of your age? Tell us in the comments below.