Jaya Bachchan turns 77
Celebrating her 77th birthday today on 9 April, 2025 Jaya Bachchan remains one of Indian cinema’s most graceful and versatile stars. Wife of Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan, she has carved a strong identity for herself—as an actress, a mother, and a politician. Starting her journey as a teenage artist, she went on to become a powerhouse performer and a seasoned parliamentarian. Her life has been full of achievements, but there are also many surprising moments that most people don’t know about. Let’s look at five lesser-known facts about the original ‘Guddi’ of Hindi films that truly show the many sides of Jaya Bachchan.
Born into a family of writers and artists
Jaya Bachchan was born as Jaya Bhaduri on 9 April 1948 in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. Her father, Taroon Kumar Bhaduri, was a respected Bengali author, journalist, and poet, known for his thoughtful writings. Her mother, Indira Bhaduri, was the quiet strength of the family. From a young age, Jaya was surrounded by books, art, and culture. Her father’s creativity played a big role in shaping her interest in storytelling and cinema.
Led an NCC battalion and won a medal
Before entering films, Jaya was a star in her own right at school. She was part of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and showed excellent leadership skills. In 1966, she led her battalion at the Republic Day parade and was given the Best Cadet Award at the national level. This achievement showed her discipline, bravery, and leadership at a very young age—qualities that stayed with her all through her acting and political career.
Started acting with Satyajit Ray at age 15
Many people think Jaya Bachchan’s first film was ‘Guddi.’ But her actual film debut came much earlier. At just 15, she appeared in the 1963 Bengali film ‘Mahanagar,’ directed by the great Satyajit Ray. She played Bani, the young sister-in-law of the lead character. Working with Ray gave her early exposure to high-quality cinema and helped build her acting skills.
Became a star with Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s ‘Guddi’
While she had already acted in a film, Jaya’s big moment came with the 1971 Hindi film ‘Guddi.’ Directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, it was a charming story about a schoolgirl obsessed with a film star. Jaya played the lead role of Kusum, also known as Guddi, and won hearts with her natural performance. The film gently poked fun at the glamour of the film world. Interestingly, Amitabh Bachchan was first considered for the male role in the film, but it finally went to actor Samit Bhanja.
Left films to focus fully on her family
After starring in several successful films, Jaya Bachchan decided to step away from acting in 1981. Her last film before the break was ‘Silsila,’ also starring Amitabh Bachchan. At the time, she was already a mother to daughter Shweta and soon gave birth to son Abhishek in 1976. She said goodbye to the silver screen for 17 years to raise her children and support her husband. But her comeback was powerful—she returned in 1998 with the emotional drama ‘Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa,’ directed by Govind Nihalani. In the film, she played a mother whose son was killed for being a rebel, and her performance was praised widely.
Became a strong voice in Indian politics
In 2004, Jaya Bachchan took a new path—politics. She joined the Samajwadi Party on the advice of family and close friend Amar Singh. That same year, she was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh. Over the years, she has been re-elected four times and has served more than 18 years in Parliament. Known for her quick wit and strong opinions.