Amitabh Bachchan’s father slipped into deep depression after his first wife’s death, Big B reveals how he found love again with mother Teji

Besides performing his duties as a host on the quiz show Kaun Banega Crorepati, Amitabh Bachchan often shares personal anecdotes from his life. In a recent episode, he reminisced about his father, the late poet Harivanshrai Bachchan, and shared the story of how his parents first met.

On the show, Big B recalled how his father fell into a deep depression after his first wife passed away. The megastar explained that during this difficult period, Harivanshrai Bachchan’s poetry reflected his sorrow. He said, “My father’s first wife passed away. Uske baad wo gambhir sthitti mein chale gaye, bahut depressed state mein the aur jitni bhi kavita unhone likhi, uss zamaane mein, bahut dark thi. Bahut dukh ke saath bhari hui thi. Kuch varsho ke baad, wo kavi samelan karte the thaaki kuch paise mil jaate the (He slipped into a serious, depressive state of mind after his first wife passed away. He wrote many poems that were sad and dark in nature. After a few years, he began participating in poetry gatherings).”

During this time, Amitabh shared, his father met his mother, Teji, at a friend’s house, and it was love at first sight. “He had a friend in Bareilly and got an invite to meet him. My father went to meet him. During the dinner, he was requested to narrate a poem. But before my father could begin, his friend asked his wife to call in Teji.”

Big B recalled how his father described Teji as a beautiful woman and remembered the clothes she wore that day. He said, “My mother quietly listened to his poem as he read, ‘Kya Karu Samvedna Lekar Tumhari.’ She was in tears on hearing it and this friend left them alone in the room. A while later, this friend came out with a garland and asked him to place it on her.”

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Big B shared that this was the moment his father decided Teji would be his life partner. They married in 1941 and later welcomed two sons, Amitabh and Ajitabh Bachchan.