- News>
- In The Hot Seat...
Jaya Bachchan: Suited for comic and serious roles
It is not easy being the First Lady of Hindi cinema. Marriage to the legend called Amitabh Bachchan has its share of disadvantages. But Jaya Bachchan is not complaining. She hasn`t complained in nearly three decades. Then again, why should she? After all, it was not as if she was a nobody who came to limelight by virtue of her marriage. She had carved her own place in the film industry and decided to wed Amitabh Bachchan much before he became the king of cinema.
It is not easy being the First Lady of Hindi cinema. Marriage to the legend called Amitabh Bachchan has its share of disadvantages. But Jaya Bachchan is not complaining. She hasn’t complained in nearly three decades. Then again, why should she? After all, it was not as if she was a nobody who came to limelight by virtue of her marriage. She had carved her own place in the film industry and decided to wed Amitabh Bachchan much before he became the king of cinema.
But does she feel overshadowed by his persona? “Anybody would, look at his size,” Jaya Bachchan recently giggled, making light of the oft-asked question. Jaya and Amitabh are starring together in a film again, after a gap of more than two decades. The man who has pulled off this coup is young director Karan Johar whose second film Kabhi Kushi Kabhie Gham stars the first couple of Hindi cinema along with the likes of Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Hrithik Roshan and Karreina Kapoor.
At 53, Jaya Bachchan is going strong, bagging meaty roles in films and on stage. Luck has been on her side but as also bundles of talent and energy. This West Bengal-born actress started her film career with the doyen of Indian cinema, Satyajit Ray. Jaya’s first film happened when she was barely 15, in Ray’s Bengali film, Mahanagar. The film was just her launch pad into an illustrious career. Her second film, Dhonni Meye, wherein she played Uttam Kumar’s sister was a success. Jaya chose to try her luck in Hindi cinema instead of restricting herself to Bengali films. The success of Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Guddi gave Jaya the superstardom. Decades after the film hit the big screen, Jaya Bachchan’s girl-next-door role in the film remains etched in public memory. Jaya’s uniqueness was her ability to enact both comic and serious roles. Jawani Diwani, Anamika, Bawarchi, Chupke Chupke, Zanjeer etc showcased the comic streak of Jaya, while Abhimaan, Kora Kagaz, Koshish, Mili, Sholay etc brought out the serious actress in her. Some of her other films are Aahat, Abhi To Jee Lein, Annadata, Naukar, Parichay, Piya Ka Ghar, Samadhi, Shor and Uphaar. At the peak of her career, Jaya decided to marry the then upcoming actor Amitabh Bachchan and settle down into domestic life. She was strictly off films while Amitabh went on from strength to strength and became the legend of Hindi cinema. The only time she came out of the self-imposed exile was with Yash Chopra’s Silsila, a film which, many thought, had real-life undertones.
Two years ago, Jaya Bachchan the grandmother returned to the arc lights, with Hazar Churasi Ki Maa. She also dabbled with theatre, with the play, Maa Retire Hoti Hai. In Khalid Mohamed’s Fiza, Jaya played a pivotal role as Karisma and Hrithik’s mother. As vice-chairman of Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited (ABCL), Jaya Bachchan produced the hit television serial Dekh Bhai Dekh. However, the first film production Tere Mere Sapne did not get an enthusiastic response from the audiences. Jaya was also appointed as the president of the jury of the Alexandria International Film Festival of Egypt.
At 53, Jaya Bachchan is going strong, bagging meaty roles in films and on stage. Luck has been on her side but as also bundles of talent and energy. This West Bengal-born actress started her film career with the doyen of Indian cinema, Satyajit Ray. Jaya’s first film happened when she was barely 15, in Ray’s Bengali film, Mahanagar. The film was just her launch pad into an illustrious career. Her second film, Dhonni Meye, wherein she played Uttam Kumar’s sister was a success. Jaya chose to try her luck in Hindi cinema instead of restricting herself to Bengali films. The success of Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Guddi gave Jaya the superstardom. Decades after the film hit the big screen, Jaya Bachchan’s girl-next-door role in the film remains etched in public memory. Jaya’s uniqueness was her ability to enact both comic and serious roles. Jawani Diwani, Anamika, Bawarchi, Chupke Chupke, Zanjeer etc showcased the comic streak of Jaya, while Abhimaan, Kora Kagaz, Koshish, Mili, Sholay etc brought out the serious actress in her. Some of her other films are Aahat, Abhi To Jee Lein, Annadata, Naukar, Parichay, Piya Ka Ghar, Samadhi, Shor and Uphaar. At the peak of her career, Jaya decided to marry the then upcoming actor Amitabh Bachchan and settle down into domestic life. She was strictly off films while Amitabh went on from strength to strength and became the legend of Hindi cinema. The only time she came out of the self-imposed exile was with Yash Chopra’s Silsila, a film which, many thought, had real-life undertones.
Two years ago, Jaya Bachchan the grandmother returned to the arc lights, with Hazar Churasi Ki Maa. She also dabbled with theatre, with the play, Maa Retire Hoti Hai. In Khalid Mohamed’s Fiza, Jaya played a pivotal role as Karisma and Hrithik’s mother. As vice-chairman of Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited (ABCL), Jaya Bachchan produced the hit television serial Dekh Bhai Dekh. However, the first film production Tere Mere Sapne did not get an enthusiastic response from the audiences. Jaya was also appointed as the president of the jury of the Alexandria International Film Festival of Egypt.