Jaya Bachchan | |
|---|---|
 Bachchan in 2024 | |
| Member of Parliament,Rajya Sabha | |
| Assumed office 5 July 2004 | |
| Preceded by | Lalit Suri |
| Constituency | Uttar Pradesh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jaya Bhaduri (1948-04-09)9 April 1948 (age 77) Jabalpur,Central Provinces and Berar,Dominion of India |
| Political party | Samajwadi Party |
| Spouse | |
| Children | |
| Relatives | Bachchan family |
| Alma mater | Film and Television Institute of India |
| Occupation |
|
| Awards | Padma Shri (1992) |
| Signature |  |
Jaya Bachchan (néeBhaduri; born 9 April 1948) is an Indian actress and politician. She is serving as member of the parliament in theRajya Sabha from theSamajwadi Party since 2004. Having worked inHindi films andBengali films, she is noted for reinforcing a natural style of acting in both mainstream and arthouse cinema.[1][2] A recipient of several accolades, she has won eightFilmfare Awards and thePadma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian honour awarded by theGovernment of India.[3]
Jaya Bachchan made her film debut as a teenager inSatyajit Ray'sMahanagar (1963), followed by her first screen role as an adult in the dramaGuddi (1971), directed byHrishikesh Mukherjee, in their first of several collaborations. She was noted for her performances in films likeUphaar (1971),Koshish (1972) andKora Kagaz (1974). She starred alongsideAmitabh Bachchan in several films, includingZanjeer (1973),Abhimaan (1973),Chupke Chupke (1975),Mili (1975) and thecult filmSholay (1975), which saw her playing the much-lauded role of a young widow. She won theFilmfare Award for Best Actress forAbhimaan,Kora Kagaz andNauker (1979).
Following her marriage to actorAmitabh Bachchan and the birth of their children, she restricted her work in films, notably starring inYash Chopra's musical romantic dramaSilsila (1981). After a 17-year sabbatical, she returned to acting withGovind Nihalani's independent dramaHazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa (1998). Bachchan won threeFilmfare Awards for Best Supporting Actress for playing emotionally-troubled mothers in the commercially successful dramasFiza (2000),Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001) andKal Ho Naa Ho (2003). After another hiatus, she made her comeback withKaran Johar's romantic comedy family-dramaRocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023).
Jaya Bhaduri was born in aBengali family on 9 April 1948.[4] She is the daughter of Tarun Kumar Bhaduri, a journalist, author, and poet and his wife, Indira. She studied atSt Joseph's Convent School, Bhopal and graduated fromFilm and Television Institute of India in Pune.[5]
Bachchan first starred inSatyajit Ray's Bengali film,Mahanagar (1963) at the age of 14, withAnil Chatterjee andMadhabi Mukherjee. She then appeared in two more Bengali films: a 13-minute shortSuman,[6] and the comedyDhanyee Meye (1971), where she played the role ofUttam Kumar's sister-in-law.[7]
Inspired by her experience with Ray, she joined theFilm and Television Institute of India (FTII),Pune and graduated with a gold medal.[8]Hrishikesh Mukherjee cast her inGuddi (1971), to play the eponymous role of a petite school-girl obsessed with film starDharmendra.[9]Guddi was a commercial success,[7] and created thegirl-next-door image for her, which she was often associated with through the rest of her career. While she did venture out to play glamorous roles as inJawani Diwani, (1972)[1] and a semi-negative character of an amnesia-faking heroine inAnamika (1973), she was most recognised for her roles epitomising middle-class sensibility, which she played amiably in films of "middle-cinema" directors such asGulzar,Basu Chatterjee and Mukherjee.[10] These films includeUphaar (1971),Piya Ka Ghar (1972),Parichay (1972),Koshish (1972) andBawarchi (1972).[9][11] They also made her a superstar.[7]
In Gulzar'sKoshish, Bhaduri andSanjeev Kumar played a deaf couple who struggle through their difficulties as disabled people. She described the film as "a learning experience" which motivated her to do social work in future.[12]
She first acted withAmitabh Bachchan inBansi Birju (1972), followed byB. R. Ishara'sEk Nazar also in the same year.[7] When Amitabh had faced a string of flops and most lead heroines refused to work with him in theSalim–Javed scriptedZanjeer (1973), she agreed to step in. The film turned out to be a big hit creating Bachchan's angry-young-man image.[13] All their successive films as a pair were huge hits –Abhimaan (1973),Chupke Chupke (1975),Mili (1975) andSholay (1975).
Her daughterShweta was born around the time Jaya and Amitabh were working onSholay. Following this, she retired from films and focused on raising her children, making an exception forYash Chopra'sSilsila (1981), once again opposite her husband. During the late 1980s, she wrote the story forShahenshah (1988), which starred her husband in the lead.
After a gap of 17 years, she returned to acting withGovind Nihalani'sHazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa (1998), a film about theNaxalite movement. Her performance in the film earned critical acclaim, and earned her a secondFilmfare Special Award.
In 2000, she starred alongsideKarisma Kapoor andHrithik Roshan in the crime dramaFiza as a mother longing for her son's return who goes missing during the 1993Bombay riots. The film received critical acclaim upon release, with particular praise directed towards Bachchan's performance. Sanjeev Bariana ofThe Tribune opined that "Bachchan delivers a commendable performance, displaying mixed emotions through trying times delicately.", whileScreen film critic Chaya Unnikrishnan noted that "Bachchan looks every bit a Muslim woman and etches out her character superbly."[14][15] Moreover, it emerged as a commercial success at the box-office, grossing₹322 million (US$7.17 million) worldwide.[16]Fiza earned Bachchan her firstFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.
She then starred inKaran Johar's ensemble family dramaKabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001) with her husband and inNikhil Advani's romanticcomedy dramaKal Ho Naa Ho (2003), playingPreity Zinta's mother, Jennifer Kapur, both of which also earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.[17] She starred with her sonAbhishek inLaaga Chunari Mein Daag (2007) andDrona (2008).
In 2011, she appeared in the Bangladeshi filmMeherjaan starringVictor Banerjee andHumayun Faridi. The film is based on a Bangladesh-Pakistan love story in the backdrop of the1971 Bangladesh atrocities.[18] In 2023, she starred alongside Dharmendra andShabana Azmi in Karan Johar's romantic comedy family dramaRocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, which emerged as thethird highest-grossing Hindi film of the year.[19]Taran Adarsh ofBollywood Hungama noted, "Bachchan is electrifying. Her commanding presence, authoritative attitude and cold stares – this is a stand-out act that's sure to be talked about by moviegoers."[20] Her performance in the film earned her a fourth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Jaya married actorAmitabh Bachchan, on 3 June 1973.[21] The couple has two children:Shweta Bachchan andAbhishek Bachchan, who is also an actor. Shweta is married to industrialistNikhil Nanda, grandson ofRaj Kapoor, and has two children, Navya Naveli Nanda andAgastya Nanda,[22] while Abhishek is married to actress andMiss World 1994Aishwarya Rai with whom he has a daughter, Aaradhya Bachchan.[23]
Bachchan's speech during the musical launch ofDrona in 2008 was criticised by some sections of politicians inMaharashtra. In response to the film's director,Goldie Behl, making his introductory speech in English, she said inHindi, "HumUP ke log hain, isliyeHindi mein baat karenge, Maharashtra ke log maaf kijiye". (Translation: "We are people from UP, so we will speak in Hindi. People of Maharashtra, please forgive us.") Subsequently, she encouraged actressPriyanka Chopra to speak in Hindi.[24]
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) presidentRaj Thackeray commented that she had no business referring to all the people of Maharashtra in her statement. He threatened to ban all of her films unless she apologised in a public forum for hurting the sentiments of Maharashtrians. MNS workers began to attack theatres screeningThe Last Lear, which starred her husband.Shiv SenaMP Sanjay Raut also criticised her statement, "After making all your success and fortune in Mumbai, if you feel like saying that we are from UP, it's very unfortunate". Amitabh tendered an apology for her statement on her behalf.[25]
Bachchan was first elected in 2004 as the Member of Parliament from theSamajwadi Party, representingUttar Pradesh in theRajya Sabha till March 2006.[26] She was disqualified in 2006 for holding an office of profit.[27][28] Subsequently, she got a second term from June 2006[29] till July 2010 and in February 2010 she stated her intent to complete her term.[30][clarification needed] She was re-elected in 2012 for the third term and again in 2018 for her fourth term in theRajya Sabha fromSamajwadi Party. Also, she campaigned forAll India Trinamool Congress during2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election.
Jaya Bachchan has been elected 5 times asRajya Sabha MP.
As per the Election affidavit of 2018 (Rajya Sabha), Jaya Bachchan has assets worth₹1,001.63crores and liabilities worth₹105.64crores.[32]
| # | From | To | Position | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 2004 | 2006 | MP (1st term) inRajya Sabha fromUttar Pradesh (by-poll) | SP |
| 2. | 2006 | 2012 | MP (2nd term) in Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh | SP |
| 3. | 2012 | 2018 | MP (3rd term) in Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh | SP |
| 4. | 2018 | 2024 | MP (4th term) in Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh | SP |
| 5. | 2024 | Present | MP (5th term) in Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh | SP |
Bachchan is regarded as one of the greatest actors ofIndian cinema.[33] One of the highest paid actress of the 1970s, in 2022, she was placed inOutlook India's "75 Best Bollywood Actresses" list.[34]Filmfare included Bachchan's performances inAbhimaan in its Bollywood's "80 Iconic Performances" list.[35]
Writing forTimes of India,Subhash K. Jha termed her an "exceptional talent" and noted, "During her brief innings of superstardom she was a far bigger star than her husband."[36] Samriddhi Patwa ofFilmfare noted, "The Bengali actress who had long hair, a sweet smile, and significant roles conquered the silver screen."[37] Dinesh Raheja ofRediff.com termed her an "outspoken actress" and noted, "Diminutive she may be, but Jaya Bhaduri has managed to cast a long shadow over the world of Hindi films."[38]Indian Express said that her filmography is "full of gems" and added, "The Bengali beauty ruled the silver screen with meaningful roles."[39] Kanika Katyal ofFirstpost noted, "Full of vigour and idealism, Jaya found herself at home in the "middle cinema" of the 1970s", and added, "Each time she emoted, the camera was firmly in her grip."[40]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Mahanagar | Bani Mazumdar | Bengali film | |
| 1971 | Guddi | Kusum (Guddi) | [41] | |
| Uphaar | Mrinmayee (Minoo) | |||
| Jai Jawan Jai Makan | ||||
| Dhanyee Meye | Mansa | Bengali film | [42] | |
| Atattor Din Porey | Bengali film | |||
| Janani | Bengali film | |||
| 1972 | Jawani Diwani | Neeta Thakur | ||
| Bawarchi | Krishna Harinath Sharma | [43] | ||
| Parichay | Rama Roy | |||
| Bansi Birju | Bansi | |||
| Piya Ka Ghar | Malti Shankar | |||
| Annadata | Aarti | |||
| Ek Nazar | Shabnam | |||
| Samadhi | Rekha | |||
| Koshish | Aarti Mathur | |||
| Shor | Rani (Raat Ki Rani) | |||
| 1973 | Gaai Aur Gori | Vijaya | [44] | |
| Anamika | Anamika/Kanchan/Archana | |||
| Phagun | Santosh (Toshi) | |||
| Zanjeer | Mala | [45] | ||
| Abhimaan | Uma Kumar | [46] | ||
| 1974 | Dil Diwana | Neeta | ||
| Kora Kagaz | Archana Gupta | |||
| Naya Din Nai Raat | Sushma | |||
| Doosri Sita | Seeta Wagle | |||
| Sadhu Judhisthirer Korcha | Bengali film | |||
| 1975 | Mili | Mili Khanna | [47] | |
| Chupke Chupke | Vasudha Kumar | |||
| Sholay | Radha Singh | [48] | ||
| 1977 | Abhi To Jee Lein | Jaya | Delayed | |
| 1978 | Ek Baap Chhe Bete | Cameo | ||
| 1979 | Nauker | Geeta | ||
| 1981 | Silsila | Shobha Malhotra | [49] | |
| 1995 | Akka | Marathi film | ||
| 1998 | Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa | Sujata Chatterjee | ||
| 2000 | Fiza | Nishatbi Ikramullah | [50] | |
| 2001 | Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... | Nandini Raichand | [51] | |
| Daughters of This Century | Abhagi | |||
| 2002 | Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe | Mansi Devi | ||
| Desh | Suprabha Chowdhury | Bengali film | ||
| 2003 | Kal Ho Naa Ho | Jennifer Kapur | [52] | |
| 2007 | Laaga Chunari Mein Daag | Savitri Sahay | ||
| 2008 | Love Songs : Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow | Mridula Chatterjee | ||
| Drona | Queen Jayanti | [53] | ||
| 2009 | Paa | Narrator | ||
| 2010 | Aap Ke Liye Hum | Adoptive mother | ||
| Aahat – Ek Ajib Kahani | Jaya | Delayed release | ||
| 2011 | Meherjaan | Meher | Bangladeshi film | |
| 2012 | Ganga Devi | Bhojpuri film | [54] | |
| 2013 | Sunglass | Chitra's mother | Bilingual film | |
| 2016 | Ki & Ka | Cameo | ||
| 2017 | The Great Leader | N/A | Bhojpuri film | |
| 2023 | Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani | Dhanalakshmi Randhawa | [55] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Shahenshah | Writer (Story) | [56] | |
| 1993–1994 | Dekh Bhai Dekh | Producer | UnderAmitabh Bachchan Corporation | [57] |
| 2005 | Antarmahal | Producer | Bengali film | [58] |
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Filmfare Awards | Special Award | Uphaar | Won | |
| Best Actress | Nominated | [17] | |||
| Guddi | [17] | ||||
| 1974 | Koshish | [17] | |||
| Abhimaan | Won | [17] | |||
| 1975 | Kora Kagaz | [17] | |||
| 1976 | Mili | Nominated | [17] | ||
| 1980 | Nauker | Won | [17] | ||
| 1982 | Silsila | Nominated | [17] | ||
| 1998 | Special Award | Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa | Won | ||
| 2001 | Best Supporting Actress | Fiza | [17] | ||
| 2002 | Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... | [17] | |||
| 2004 | Kal Ho Naa Ho | [17] | |||
| 2007 | Lifetime Achievement Award | — | Won | [17] | |
| 2024 | Best Supporting Actress | Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani | Nominated | ||
| 2001 | International Indian Film Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Fiza | Won | [17] |
| 2002 | Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... | [17] | |||
| 2004 | Kal Ho Naa Ho | [17] |
Won
Probably the only actress to make a virtue out of simplicity, Jaya was the first whiff of realistic acting in an era when showbiz was bursting with mannequins
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