When Jaya Bachchan allegedly told Rekha 'Amitabh mera tha, mera hai, aur mera hi rahega’ after inviting her over lunch, reveals Hanif Zaveri

In the world of Bollywood, few stories have captured public imagination like the alleged love triangle between Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, and Rekha. Decades later, the intrigue surrounding it still sparks discussion. Recently, writer and film expert Hanif Zaveri revisited the speculation in an episode of the Meri Saheli podcast, shedding light on moments that have now become part of cinematic folklore.

Zaveri recalled that Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha’s closeness began during the filming of Do Anjaane. “Woh log bahut kareeb aa gaye aur pata nahin kaise ek doosre ke pyaar mein pad gaye. Lekin yeh 100% tha ki dono ek doosre ko chahne lage the (They grew very close, and somehow, they fell in love with each other. But one thing was certain — they had truly started to care for one another),” he said.

According to Zaveri, the dynamics shifted dramatically after Amitabh’s near-fatal injury on the set of Coolie. “After Amitabh Bachchan’s accident on the set of Coolie, Jaya Bachchan played a very important role, staying by his side at the hospital 24/7, taking care of him, meeting with the doctors… When Amitabh saw all this, certain things naturally began to shift, and he started drifting away from Rekha,” he recalled.

One incident, in particular, has been retold in whispers over the years — Jaya Bachchan’s direct confrontation with Rekha. Zaveri narrated the moment: “It is said that Jaya Bachchan once invited Rekha over for lunch at her home. Uss waqt Amitabh Bachchan ghar mein the nahi. Unko achhe se khana-wana khilaya gaya, wahaan ki bahut saari gupshup hui. Aur gupshup karne ke baad, jab last mein jab jaane ka time aaya toh Jaya Bachchan ne Rekha se kaha: ‘Dekho, Amitabh mera tha, mera hai, aur mera hi rahega’ (At the time, Amitabh Bachchan wasn’t at home. Rekha was served a lovely meal, and the two engaged in a long, friendly chat. But as Rekha was about to leave, Jaya reportedly said to her: ‘Look, Amitabh was mine, is mine, and will always be mine.’).”