As the first lady of Indian cinema, Jaya Bachchan turns 61, we take a look at her career, her family, the gossip and more.
As the first lady of Indian cinema, Jaya Bachchan turns 62, we take a look at her career, her family, the gossip and more.
Jaya Bachchan born Jaya Bhaduri is an alumna of the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune.
Jaya was born in a Bengali family to Indira and Taroon Kumar Bhaduri, writer, journalist and stage artist in Jabalpur. She studied in St. Joseph's Convent School, Bhopal where she was also the School Head Girl. And later studied at the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune. Her sister Rita is the wife of Rajeev Verma.
On 3 June 1973, she married actor Amitabh Bachchan. She has lived her entire married life in the public eye, yet she has always kept her distance from the media (especially when it comes to her personal life).
Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan have two kids, Shweta (born in 1974) and Abhishek, who is also a successful actor (born in 1976). Her daughter Shweta was born while Jaya and Amitabh were working on the film Sholay.
Jaya's daughter Shweta is married to businessman Nikhil Nanda (Ritu Nanda's son) and the two have a daughter Navya Neveli and son Agastya.
Jaya Bachchan's son is married to Former Miss World and Bollywood superstar Aishwarya Rai.
Coming to her filmy career, Jaya Bhaduri (her maiden name) began her profession life at the age of 15 under the master filmmaker Satyajit Ray in 1963. The film was called Mahanagar and Jaya had a supporting role with Anil Chatterjee and Madhabi Mukherjee in central roles.
Jaya Bhaduri's Bollywood break came in 1971 with the film Guddi opposite Dharmendra. Amitabh Bachchan did a guest appearance as himself in the film.
After Guddi's success Jaya moved to Mumbai and starred in many Hindi hit films, such as Jawani Diwani (1972), which remains one of the few glamorous roles, she did, compared to the girl-next-door look she usually used in most of her films Koshish, Anamika, Piya Ka Ghar and Bawarchi.
She starred opposite husband Amitabh Bachchan in Abhimaan. She won the Filmfare award for Best Actress for this role. This was among those years when Filmfare gave the award to two actresses; the other recipient was Dimple Kapadia for Bobby.
She acted with husband Amitabh Bachchan in hit films Zanjeer (1973), Abhimaan (1973), Chupke Chupke (1975) and Sholay (1975).
In 1975, both Amitabh and Jaya were cast in one of Bollywood's biggest films - Sholay. Jaya played a young widow who Amitabh falls in love with.
In 1981, Jaya Bachchan was cast along with Rekha opposite Amitabh in Silsila. This is arguably the most sensational Bollywood film for it was widely rumoured that Amitabh and Rekha were having an affair. The tension between the two ladies in the film is palpable, and the real-reel life romance brought in crowds in hordes.It is after this film thaT Jaya took a long sabbatical.
Jaya Bachchan returned to the silver screen in 1998 with Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Ma.
In 2000 she starred in the film Fiza opposite Karisma Kapoor and Hrithik Roshan. The film was considered one of her best performances and she received the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for her work.
Jaya Bachchan was reunited on screen with husband Amitabh in 2001 when they played husband-wife in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Kajol and Kareena Kapoor were the other actors in the film.
In 2003, Jaya Bachchan was part of another successful film Kal Ho Naa Ho, playing a single mother in New York. Preity Zinta, Shah Rukh Khan and Saif Ali Khan were playing central roles in the film.
In the last few years, Jaya Bachchan has done very few films. She played Rani Mukherjee and Konkona Sen Sharma's mother in Laaga Chunari Mein Daag.
Of late, Jaya has become active in politics, notably with the Samajwadi Party and has been a Member of Parliament, representing Rajya Sabha.
Jaya returned to the Rajya Sabha as MP of Samajwadi Party in July 2006. Her husband, Amitabh Bachchan, accompanied her to the swearing-in ceremony.
Jaya Bachchan is currently working on a film called Aap Key Liye Hum. She also spends some time with her grandchildren Navya and Agastya.
Jaya was born in a Bengali family to Indira and Taroon Kumar Bhaduri, writer, journalist and stage artist in Jabalpur. She studied in St. Joseph's Convent School, Bhopal where she was also the School Head Girl. And later studied at the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune. Her sister Rita is the wife of Rajeev Verma.
