Jaya Bachchan reveals she was a strict mother to Abhishek and Shweta, says 'kabhi kabhi bacche badtameezi karte hain toh ek dhar dena chahiye'

Jaya Bachchan has never shied away from speaking plainly, and her latest conversation does exactly that. During an interaction with Barkha Dutt on her show, the veteran actor and politician opened up about her relationship with Amitabh Bachchan, her parenting style, and the discipline she believes shaped her family.

The chat brought back old memories, clarified earlier remarks, and offered a rare glimpse into how the Bachchan household functioned through the years.

She has mentioned before that she was a strict mother while raising Abhishek Bachchan and Shweta Bachchan-Nanda. This time, she went deeper into what that meant. Jaya recalled how, as a young parent, she was firm about values and behaviour. “I was a very strict mother,” she said. When asked if her children were scared of her during their early years, she responded with characteristic honesty: “Of course. Abhi bhi mujhe lagta hai, shayad yeh kehna aaj ke zamane mein galat hoga, magar kabhi kabhi chhote bache badtameezi karte hain toh ek aadh dhar dena chahiye. Then they know humne jo kiya woh galat kiya, iss wajah se padhi hai. I’m not saying it ki bohot zyaada.”
Jaya explained that discipline wasn’t simply about punishment, but about correcting behaviour at the right moment. She spoke about watching children in public spaces and feeling an instinct to guide them. “But kids have to be taught, because I have seen children… specially when you go to public places, sometimes I feel, ‘Idhar aao, baitho.’ Aisa nahi karna. I feel like doing it. I have been that kind of a mother.” Her point was simple: children don’t automatically know right from wrong, and it’s the parent’s job to teach them, even if it makes you the stern one.

The conversation then shifted to Amitabh Bachchan, to whom she has been married for more than five decades. What stood out most, she said, was a trait she continues to admire. “The best thing I like about him is discipline.” Amitabh Bachchan's punctuality, his commitment to work and his almost military approach to routine are well-known in the industry. Jaya’s comment underlined that these weren’t just professional habits, but values that shaped their home as well. She suggested that this shared belief in discipline created stability during years when both were navigating demanding careers.
She also clarified that she was never strict with her daughter-in-law, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Earlier interviews had hinted at a softer dynamic there, and she reaffirmed it. The strictness, she said, was reserved for the formative years of her own children.