On June 3 1973, actor Amitabh Bachchan tied the knot with actor Jaya Bhaduri, with who he had co-starred in the hit Zanjeer (1973). As Bollywood’s favourite couple celebrate 44 years of togetherness today, we take a look at their love story that was definitely the stuff that dreams are made of.
It was in the year 1970 when Jaya Bhaduri (then) saw Amitabh Bachchan at the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune. Bachchan senior was part of the young group of actors who accompanied Khwaja A Abbas to the institute.
Bachchan noticed Bhadhuri on the cover of a glossy and couldn’t take his eyes off her. Somehow, he felt she had everything he wanted in his woman. Later, when Hrishikesh Mukherjee cast the couple in their first film together, Guddi (1971), it kind of acted as their meeting ground.
While for Bhaduri it was love at first sight, for Big B, cupid struck when he was filming Ek Nazar (1972). “I was introduced to him on the sets of Guddi. I was impressed by him and somewhat in awe as he was Harivanshrai Bachchan’s son. I fell in love with him very soon,” Jaya Bachchan said in an interview.
At that time Bhaduri was an established actor, while Bachchan had started to find a foothold in the industry. Interestingly, actor Rajesh Khanna, Bhaduri’s close friend, didn’t approve of the match and even communicated it to her. So, every time Bachchan visited her on the set of their film Bawarchi (1972), Khanna used to ignore him.
London played an important role in the life of the couple. In 1973, they actually planned a trip to London to celebrate the success of Bachchan’s Zanjeer (1973). But Bachchan’s parents weren’t ready to send them together as they weren’t married then. So, the couple decided to get married and travel to London together.
On March 17, 1974 Shweta was born. Three years later on February 5, Abhishek came to the world. And the family was complete.
Like every relationship, the Amitabh and Jaya saga also had their share of ups and downs. Three years after their marriage, Bachchan grew close to Rekha on the set of Do Anjaane (1976). Rekha was also spotted wearing sindoor during Rishi Kapoor’s wedding with Neetu Kapooor.
The three actors even worked together in 1981 hit film Silsila. But soon, Bachchan chose Jaya and decided to end his rendezvous with Rekha.
T 2439 - .. the Sunday well wishers .. and an introduction to the little one .. she confessed later : 'I was a little afraid'!! .. pic.twitter.com/85era6zQZL
— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) May 29, 2017
The couple is now grandparents to Aaradhya, daughter of Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and Navya Naveli Nanda and Agstya Nanda, from Shweta Bachchan Nanda and Nikhil Nanda.
