In the early 1970s, the Hindi film industry was undergoing a transformation, introducing content that was far ahead of its time. During this period, a young and rising star, Amitabh Bachchan, found himself captivated by a photograph of a girl in a magazine ad.
Little did he know that this chance encounter with her image would lead to one of the most iconic love stories in Indian cinema. The girl in the ad was none other than Jaya Bachchan, earlier known as Jaya Badhuri a talented actress whose presence would soon change Amitabh’s life forever.
Amitabh Bachchan, who was becoming a prominent name in Bollywood, was fascinated by Jaya’s photograph and wanted to know more about her. As fate would have it, he was soon to work with her on a film titled Guddi.
This marked the first time Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan met, a moment that would eventually lead to a lifelong bond. The Shehenshah actor shared this story in a throwback interview, revealing, “I enquired about her, and they gave me a lowdown on her. It came to pass that Hrishi da (Hrishikesh Mukherjee) had cast her for Guddi. It kind of got me excited about the prospect of working with her because she came with huge credentials. I went on the set (of Guddi) and that’s when I met her for the first time.”
In the same interview, Big B recalled how Jaya Bachchan had left a lasting impression on him. “When I saw her photograph, I liked her eyes. I saw that traditional-conservative blend that I thought that I would be searching for in my future wife. When I met her, I realised that along with that came several other Guddis, the pun is unintended! (laughs) I said fine, this is it.”
As their professional collaboration blossomed into a personal one, the chemistry between Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan became undeniable. The couple appeared together in a landmark interview with renowned host Simi Garewal, where Jaya offered her perspective on their initial meeting.
Reflecting on their first encounter, Jaya said, “When I first met him, I saw danger,” which, unsurprisingly, left her husband visibly surprised. She quickly elaborated, “I got frightened because he was the only one who, out of a lot of people that I’ve known, could dictate things to me and I allowed him to do that.”
Jaya’s honesty was both humorous and touching. She continued, “It’s not like he would dictate things to me, it’s just that even if he said something to me mildly, I’d do them. I’d want to please him. That’s something that does not come to me easily and naturally, to want to please people.” Big B, always the playful tease, responded with, “25 years later, it’s just the other way around. How beautiful!”
Despite their contrasting temperaments, Jaya’s feelings for Amitabh Bachchan were clear. She revealed, “Yes, it was [love at first sight], I think so!” For Jaya, it was an instantaneous connection that blossomed into deep affection. However, Amitabh wasn’t quite as convinced by the conventional idea of love at first sight.
He expressed his own views on the matter, stating, “Love at first sight is a connotation that has been so badly abused, in spoken word and written word that it’s lost its meaning. So, we don’t want to be put in that category. You know the beautiful thing about this is, we haven’t made a commitment yet. We’re still groping in the dark. It’s an alien area, it’s new to us. And what I think is, it just happened.”
What is perhaps most striking about their relationship is how organic and unplanned their love story seems to have been. It was a gradual process, filled with unexpected moments, rather than a fairytale narrative. Their bond grew stronger with time, built on respect, mutual understanding, and the ups and downs of life that they navigated together.
In the same interview, Simi Garewal pointed out the undeniable contrast between the couple, both physically and temperamentally. With a noticeable height difference and contrasting personalities, they were often seen as an “unexpected pair.” Yet, over the years, this very difference has become one of the many endearing qualities of their relationship.
Jaya and Amitabh both acknowledged this with smiles, fully aware of how their differences only added to the uniqueness of their bond.
Today, after over 51 years of marriage, Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan continue to be one of the most beloved couples in the film industry.
They are parents to Shweta Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan, both of whom have carved out their own places in the world of media and entertainment. Their love story, which started on the sets of Guddi, remains one of the most inspiring and enduring tales in Bollywood.
Their relationship is a beautiful testament to the fact that love doesn't always come in the way we expect.
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