Jaya Bachchan’s marriage to Amitabh Bachchan on June 3, 1973 remains one of Bollywood’s most celebrated unions. However, their journey to the altar was not without its share of challenges, particularly from Jaya’s own family. Her father openly opposed the match, and his words on the wedding day left a lasting impression.
In his autobiography In the Afternoon of Time, poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan—Amitabh Bachchan’s father recounted a striking moment from that day.
“Before we left, I embraced the father of my new daughter-in-law and congratulated him on getting a son-in-law like Amit, expecting him to say the same in respect of Jaya. But he said, ‘My family is utterly ruined,’” Harivansh Rai wrote.
This blunt reaction contrasted sharply with the love and commitment Jaya and Amitabh Bachchan shared. The couple had faced hurdles long before the wedding, including strict conditions laid down by Amitabh’s father. Jaya later spoke about these challenges on the podcast What The Hell Navya.
Amitabh Bachchan, despite the societal norms of the time, encouraged Jaya’s professional ambitions. She recalled him telling her, “I definitely don’t want a wife who will be 9-5. Please work. You must work but not every day.” This mutual respect for each other’s careers became a defining aspect of their marriage.
Jaya’s father’s disapproval, however, was rooted in his broader philosophy about his daughters’ futures.
She once quoted him as saying, “I have not brought you into this world to just educate yourself, get married and settle down and have children. I want you all to do something in life.” His resistance was not directed at Amitabh personally, but at the idea that marriage might limit his daughter’s opportunities.
Ultimately, it was Amitabh Bachchan himself who approached Jaya’s father to discuss the matter directly. His persistence, along with the couple’s unwavering commitment to each other, eventually convinced him to agree to the marriage. The wedding, though intimate, was attended by both sets of parents and marked the beginning of a partnership that has lasted for more than five decades.
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