Amitabh Bachchan is the undisputed king of Indian cinema; having appeared in over 90 films, he is certainly one of his country's most prolific performers. His 1969 film debut, Saat Hindustani, was not met with success, but within a few years his place as a top action star in India would be firmly established. His 1970s success, including such films as Zanjeer, Deewar, and Sholay, would continue for over ten years. Eventually, Bachchan retired almost completely from acting and pursued other interests, including in film production and a brief political stint in Indian parliament. Although popular male action stars throughout Asia are inevitably compared to Clint Eastwood, Bachchan may, in fact, defy this rather cliched analogy. In addition to strong acting and presence, this Indian superstar's performances have also required singing and dancing in the elaborate musical numbers that are popular in his country's cinema.