Jaya Bachchan < Bollywood Actors And Actresses By Sunita

Bollywood Actress Jaya Bachchan

Jaya Bachchan

If you know Amitabh Bachchan than Jaya Bachchan(Jaya Bhaduri before marriage) need no introduction as she is the wife of bollywood king and legend in Hindi cinema, Mr. Amitabh bachchan. She is also an actress and performed in many indian movies with leading roles. On June 3, 1973, she married actor Amitabh Bachchan. The couple have two children: Shweta Bachchan-Nanda and Abhishek Bachchan, who is also an actor.

Jaya was born in a Bengali Kulin Brahmin family to Indira and Taroon Kumar Bhaduri, writer, journalist and stage artist. She studied in St. Joseph's Convent School, Bhopal. She started her career with a small role in Satyajit Ray's Bengali film, 'Mahanagar' at the age of 15. She was quite successful in Bengali movies and taking that in mind she got the chance to play a role in her first Hindi movie 'Guddi' along with the well known actor Dharmendra. It was not a big role but she played a childish role of a sweet schoolgirl.

After acting in the Guddi movie she became very active in the bollywood and gave many hit films to the indian cinema like Bawarchi, Anamika, Koshish and Jawani Diwani to name the few. She acted with her husband Amitabh Bachchan in the hit films Abhimaan (1973), Zanjeer (1973), Sholay (1975)(co-starring with Amitabh bachchan, Dharmendra and Sanjeev Kumar), Chupke Chupke (1975). Her movie Bawarchi is a light-hearted film directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee where she co-starred with Rajesh Khanna, Asrani, A.K. Hangal and Durga Khote in supporting roles. In the film Jawani Diwani she acted opposite to Randhir Kapoor. Her movie Koshish is considered a landmark movie in the history of Indian cinema where she co-starred with Sanjeev Kumar and this bollywood film was directed by Gulzar. Her movie "Anamika" is a romantic, suspense film with memorable songs by composer R.D. Burman and lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri, such as " Meri Bheegi Bheegi Si" sung.

Her daughter Shweta was born while Amitabh and Jaya were working on the film Sholay. Due to this she retired from films and focused on raising her child. Her last film as a lead actress was Silsila (1981), also opposite her husband (incidentally "Silsila" was a surprise flop of the year). After which she stopped acting in movies. During the late 1980s she wrote the story for the film Shahenshah which starred her husband in the lead.

Jaya was cast for a small role in Satyajit Ray’s film when she was fifteen and it was the legendary filmmaker who persuaded her to take a career in acting. Jaya joined the ‘Film and Television Institute of India’ in Pune for an acting course.

After graduating from FTII, Jaya got her first break in Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s ‘Guddi’. Director Hrishikesh became her mentor and he casted her in ‘Bawarchi’, ‘Anamika’, ‘Abhimaan’, ‘Chupke Chupke’ and ‘Mili’. Jaya also proved to be a lucky mascot for Big B when she saved his sinking career with ‘Zanjeer’ after which the two started dating. Jaya got married to Big B in 1973 and has two kids Shweta and Abhishek Bachchan.

After acting in superhit movies like ‘Sholay’ and ‘Silsila’, Jaya took a sabbatical as she wanted to spend more time with her kids.

After 17 years, she made a comeback in ‘Hazar Chaurasi Ki Maa’. Jaya acted with her husband Amitabh after a gap of 20 years in Karan Johar’s ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham’. Jaya is also actively involved in politics and is seen rallying for Samjawadi Party. Jaya became a MP in Rajya Sabha, but her political seat was disqualified and had to give up her position. Jaya is also a grandmother to Shweta’s two kids Navya Naveli and Agastya Nanda.

After a gap of film appearances for 18 years, She returned to acting with Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa (1998), a film that sensitively portrays the Naxalite movement, and has since played mother roles which she has been praised for. 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. Doing a few films every year she also starred in Karan Johar's family drama Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham(2001)(starring Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan herself, Shahrukh Khan, Kajol, Hrithik Roshan, Kareena Kapoor, Alok Nath and more) with her husband again. She then starred in Karan Johar's next film, Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003). She played the role of Preity Zinta's mother, Jennifer, for which she again received a best supporting actress award. Other actors and actresses in the movie were Shahrukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Satish Shah, Dara Sing, and more.