As Amitabh Bachchan turns 80, writer Reema Moudgil looks back at the reasons that made him more than just an actor.  He was our rage and conflict and angst and sublimation, our pride and joy. On the shoulders of characters primarily created by Salim-Javed and Kadar Khan, Amitabh Bachchan stood tall to become the “lambu,” the country came to look up to and love unreasonably, selflessly. 

But did he ever realize what he meant to us? 

Was he ever anything more than just a really good actor who always obeys the director? And never goes against the script?