Founding of ABCL (1994-1997) Formally launched in January 1995, Previously, in 1992, Bachchan had announced his semi retirement from the film industry, and with the exception of the delayed 1994 release of
Insaniyat (1994), did not appear in any films for five years. He turned producer during his temporary retirement period, setting up ABCL, Amitabh Bachchan's wife and launched the careers of actors like
Arshad Warsi and southern film star
Simran. ABCL's strategy was to introduce products and services covering an entire cross-section of India's entertainment industry. ABCL's operations were mainstream commercial film production and distribution, audio cassettes and video discs, production and marketing of television software, and celebrity and event management. Notably, the company organized the
Miss World 1996 competition in
Bangalore. It was a producer of the 1998 film
Major Saab. The hosting of the Miss World competition in 1996 proved highly controversial within India, AB Corp declared bankruptcy in 1999, resulting in substantial losses for Amitabh Bachchan. With creditors led by
Doordarshan and
Canara Bank, ABCL approached the
Board of Industrial and Financial Reconstruction to seek protection under bankruptcy laws.
AB Corp (2001-2025) In 2001, ABCL was renamed AB Corp, headed by CEO Ramesh Pulapaka. In 2004, AB Corp wiped off its accumulated losses, and over the next six years, was profitable each year. From 2006 to late 2007, AB Corp had a year sabbatical in production. It then worked with
UTV to produce a new film by director
Shoojit Sarkar. In 2008, P Ramesh was CEO of AB Corp. After AB Corp entered into a contract with
Reliance BIG Entertainment for Rs 15 billion in June 2008, by 2009, the deal "fizzled out", and AB Corp had contracted with
Studio 18. In 2008, its filings with the
Ministry of Corporate Affairs showed annual profits of Rs 19.26 crore, driven in part by brand endorsements and Bachchan's media appearances. At the time, Amitabh Bachchan held over 36% of AB Corp's shares. Along with his wife Jaya Bachchan and their son
Abhishek Bachchan, the family held near 50% of shares. In 2008, AB Corp became a producer of
Vihir, and was more widely released in January 2010. Also in 2009, AB Corp was working on the film
Paa, The first production by Abhishek Bachchan through AB Corp,
Paa won four National Film Awards in 2010, which Amitabh Bachchan said was a "godsend" for the company. AB Corp and
Viacom 18 Motion Pictures produced the film
Bbuddah Hoga Tera Baap in 2011, with Amitabh Bachchan as lead actor. AB Corp in 2014 was reported to be planning on bidding on
kabaddi players in the Kabaddi Premier League. In 2015, the company produced
Shamitabh under director
R. Balki. Other recent movies supported by AB Corp include
Sarkar 3 (2017) and
Ghoomer (2023). In 2024, Rajesh Yadav was managing director of AB Corp. ==Filmography==