Veteran actress Jaya Bachchan has stirred a fresh public debate with her blunt views on marriage. Speaking at the We The Women Mumbai session in a conversation with senior journalist Barkha Dutt, the veteran actor and parliamentarian called marriage an outdated institution and said she does not want her granddaughter, Navya Nanda, to marry at all.
When Barkha Dutt asked whether she would encourage Navya to follow the same life choices she once made, Jaya Bachchan responded without hesitation: “I don’t want Navya to get married.”
On being asked if she believes the institution of marriage has become outdated, she doubled down. “Yes, absolutely,” she said.
Her comments arrived in a larger discussion about how social norms around relationships, independence, and parenting are shifting. Jaya Bachchan acknowledged that much of what shaped her generation no longer applies to young women today. She added that the pace of change itself makes it harder for older generations to offer guidance.
“I’m a grandmother now. Navya turns 28 in another few days. I’m too old to advise young girls today on how to bring up children. Things have changed so much. These little children today are so smart. They’ll outsmart you,” she said, hinting at how parenting dynamics have transformed.
Jaya Bachchan also questioned the relevance of a legal stamp in defining commitment, suggesting that companionship matters more than ceremony or paperwork.
Slipping into a familiar sense of humour, she compared the dilemma around marriage to the old saying: “Woh Dilli ka ladoo—khao toh mushkil, na khao toh mushkil.” Her advice instead was simple: “Just enjoy life.”
Her remarks have sparked lively reactions online. Many younger users agreed with her take, calling marriage increasingly incompatible with modern expectations of freedom, career ambitions, and partnership. Others argued that dismissing the institution entirely overlooks its emotional and social value.
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