Jaya Bachchan is a well-known Indian actress and politician. She has been associated with the Samajwadi Party, an Indian political party since 2004.
Wiki/Biography
Jaya Bhaduri (her name before marriage) was born on Friday, 9 April 1948 (age 75 years; as of 2023), in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. Her zodiac sign is Aries. She completed her schooling from St. Joseph’s Convent School, Bhopal. Later, she joined the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune and graduated with a gold medal in diploma in acting.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 2″
Hair Colour: Salt & Pepper
Eye Colour: Black
Family, Caste & Husband
She was born in a Bengali Brahmin Family. Her father, Taroon Kumar Bhaduri was a renowned author and poet. Her mother’s name is Indira Bhaduri. Jaya is the eldest of three sisters, one of her sisters is Rita Verma, who is married to Rajeev Verma (who played the character of Salman Khan’s father in Maine Pyar Kiya, 1989).
Jaya Bachchan’s Parents
Jaya Bachchan’s Sister with Amitabh Bachchan
Jaya got married to the legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan on 3 June 1973. She saw Amitabh for the first time at Pune’s Film Institute in 1970. Amitabh was a struggling actor at that time, and she was a well-known face of the Hindi Film Industry. As per the sources, Amitabh was reading a magazine and saw a picture of Jaya featured on its cover. Amitabh was mesmerised with her beauty and realised that she was the girl of his dreams, a perfect combination of traditional and modern look. Jaya and Amitabh met officially through Hrishikesh Mukherjee on the sets of Guddi in 1971. Jaya shared this incident in an interview, she said,
I was introduced to him on the sets of Guddi. I was impressed by him and somewhat in awe as he was Harivanshrai Bachchan’s son. I felt he was different, though people laughed at me when I said that. I expressed my feelings and said he’s going to make it big, even though I was aware he wasn’t the usual stereotype hero. I fell in love with him very soon.”
Soon, their friendship turned into love while they were shooting for the film ‘Ek Nazar’ (1972), and after the success of the film Zanjeer (1973), they both got married. In an interview, Amitabh shared how they got married, he said,
While shooting for Zanjeer, I promised Jaya that we will go together on a trip abroad if the movie becomes a hit. The movie was a hit. In an attempt to keep the promise, I decided to take Jaya on a trip. This idea was opposed by my father, he was against the idea of Jaya and me making a trip as friends. To keep my promise to Jaya along with making sure I did it with his father’s will, I got married to Jaya.”
Jaya Bachchan and Amitabh Bachchan’s Marriage Picture
Marriage Picture of Jaya Bachchan and Amitabh Bachchan
Jaya Bachchan with Amitabh Bachchan and Amitabh’s Parents
On 17 March 1974, Jaya gave birth to her first child, Shweta Bachchan, and on 5 February 1976, her second child, Abhishek Bachchan was born.
An Old Picture of Jaya with Her Daughter
An Old Picture of Jaya with Her Family
Jaya Bachchan with Her Family
Old Picture of Jaya and Family
Jaya Bachchan with Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, and Shweta Bachchan
On 16 February 1997, Shweta Bachchan got married to the businessman Nikhil Nanda, and the couple is blessed with two children, daughter Navya Naveli Nanda and son Agastya Nanda.
Shweta Bachchan Nanda with Her Husband and Kids
On 20 April 2007, Abhishek Bachchan got married to Aishwarya Rai, and the couple has a daughter Aaradhya Bachchan.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, and Aaradhya
Career
As an Actor
Jaya Bachchan started working as a child actor in the Bengali films when she was 15 years old. She debuted in the Bengali film Mahanagar in 1963, directed by Satyajit Ray. After acting in three Bengali films, she joined the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune to brush up her acting skills.
Jaya Bachchan in Mahanagar
In 1971, she made her debut as a lead actor in the Bollywood film Guddi. Some of her popular Bollywood films are Uphaar (1971), Koshish (1972), and Kora Kagaz (1974). In 1972, she acted with Amitabh Bachchan as the female lead for the first time in the film ‘Bansi Birju.’
Poster Look of Bansi Birju
Apart from this film, she has acted with her husband in many other Bollywood films including Zanjeer (1973), Abhimaan (1973), Chupke Chupke (1975), Mili (1975), and Sholay (1975). Her last film as a ‘lead actress’ was Silsila in 1981.
She then took a break of 14 years from Bollywood to focus on her personal life. In 1988, she wrote the story of Shahenshah, the movie turned out to be a big hit. She made a comeback with the Marathi film ‘Akka’ with her husband in 1995.
Jaya Bachchan and Amitabh Bachchan in Akka
Later, she acted as a supporting actor in various films including Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham… (2001), Desh (2002), Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003), and Laaga Chunari Mein Daag (2007). In 2011, she appeared in a Bangladeshi film ‘Meherjaan.’
As a Politician
Jaya was elected as the Member of Parliament from the ‘Samajwadi Party’ in 2004, representing Uttar Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha till March 2006. In 2006, she was disqualified as a member of the Rajya Sabha; as she was holding an office of profit- Chairperson of the UP Film Development Board. In an interview, she said,
The complaint has come from the Congress party. It is a shame that people like us are not allowed to sit in Parliament.”
Her second term started from June 2006 to July 2010. Subsequently, her third term was from 2012, and in 2018, she was re-elected for the fourth time in the Rajya Sabha.
Samajwadi Party candidate Jaya Bachchan Filing Nomination Papers for the Rajya Sabha Election 2004
Controversies
- She made a controversial statement on the use of English language during the musical launch of the film Drona (2008), she said,
Hum UP ke log hain, isliye Hindi mein baat karenge, Maharashtra ke log maaf kijiye.”
Later, Amitabh apologised on her behalf.
- She has been in news for throwing tantrums and lashing out on the media representatives at various events.
Awards & Honours
Padma Shri
1992: In the field of Art
Jaya Bachchan Receiving Padma Shri from the Former President of India R Venkataraman
Filmfare Awards
1972: Special Award for Uphaar
1974: Best Actress Award for Abhimaan
1975: Best Actress Award for Kora Kagaz
1980: Best Actress Award for Nauker
1998: Special Award for Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa
2001: Best Supporting Actress Award for Fiza
2002: Best Supporting Actress Award for Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham…
2004: Best Supporting Actress Award for Kal Ho Naa Ho
2007: Lifetime Achievement Award
Jaya Bachchan Posing with Her Filmfare Award
International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA Awards)
2001: Best Supporting Actress Award for Fiza
2002: Best Supporting Actress Award for Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham…
2004: Best Supporting Actress Award for Kal Ho Naa Ho
Honours & Recognitions
1994: Yash Bharti Award, UP state’s highest award
2013: Master Deenanath Mangeshkar (Vishesh Puraskar) Award for her dedicated services to Indian theatre and cinema
2017: Best Parliamentarian Award by Lokmat
Jaya Bachchan Receiving Parliamentarian Award
Note: She has many more accolades to her name.
Address
Jalsa, B/2, Kapol Housing Society, VL Mehta Road, Juhu, Mumbai – 400049, Maharashtra, India
Jaya’s residence Jalsa in Mumbai
Assets/Properties
Jaya Bachchan and Amitabh Bachchan’s declared property as in 2018
Immovable Assets: Rs. 460 crore
Movable Assets: Rs. 540 crore
Net Worth/Salary
MP Salary: 50,000 (INR) plus allowances
Signature
Signature of Jaya Bachchan
Favourite Things
- Travel Destination(s): London and Switzerland
- Colour(s): Blue and White
Facts/Trivia
- Jaya is called as ‘Didibhai’ by her sisters.
- Jaya was the head of NCC batch in her school and was awarded the best All India NCC Cadet on the Republic Day celebrations, 1966.
- Her hobbies include listening to music, reading, and cooking.
- She is often spotted consuming alcohol in parties.
- Unlike Amitabh, she is a non-vegetarian.
- Reportedly, one of her close friends, Rajesh Khanna was not happy with the friendship of Jaya and Amitabh.
- While shooting for Sholay (1975), she was pregnant with her first child.
- Jaya used to call Amitabh ‘Lambuji’ until their daughter, Shweta, too started calling him by the same name.
- Jaya’s happy married life went through a rough phase when the rumours of Amitabh and Rekha’s affair started. Jaya said in an interview,
I totally trust my husband and I know this industry. I have never been threatened or felt insecure about anything he did. I am associated with a family who believes in having a relationship. You should not be very positive about anything. Especially in this profession, where you know that nothing is easy here. If he really left me and then he never belonged to me.”
- Reportedly, Jaya once called Rekha for dinner and said that she would never leave her husband and Rekha should step back.
An Old Picture of Jaya And Rekha
- Reportedly, the 1981 film Silsila was loosely based on the real-life love triangle of Jaya, Amitabh, and Rekha, which was directed by Yash Chopra.
A Still from Silsila
- In KBC 11, Amitabh revealed that he was attracted to Jaya’s long hair, and he had saved her contact name as ‘JB’ in his phone.
An Old Picture of Jaya
- In an interview, Jaya said that she has been pampering Amitabh just like her child.
Candid Moment of Jaya Bachchan and Amitabh Bachchan
- Jaya has appeared in various television commercials with her husband.
A Still From Jaya and Amitabh’s TV Commercial
- Once she was asked about “Nepotism” in Bollywood, she replied,
Nepotism charges are not true. My son is still struggling. The first film you can get maybe if you are from the film industry, but lots of sons of lots of film people are still waiting.”
- She moved to tears while giving a speech on the 2012 Delhi Nirbhaya rape case.
- After submitting the details about her income and properties in the 2018 Rajya Sabha Elections, she became one of the richest MPs in India.
People now want the Government to give a definite answer. Such people (the accused in a rape case) need to be brought out in public and lynched.”
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
