Journalism of Courage
Jaya Bachchan, who celebrates her 67th birthday today, was recently seen at the Padma Awards ceremony where her husband and megastar Amitabh Bachchan was conferred with the Padma Vibhushan. Accompanying them were their son Abhishek, daughter-in-law Aishwarya, daughter Shweta and her kids. (Source: Express Photo by Renuka Puri)
With films like 'Guddi', 'Abhimaan', 'Chupke Chupke', 'Mili', among others Bollywood actress Jaya Bachchan is known as one of the finest Hindi film actresses of her time. But for Jaya Bachchan it was family first. Known as the 'First Lady of Bollywood', she once said in an interview that she is more of a home person and being a mother means everything to her. As Jaya Bachchan celebrates her 66th birthday today, we take a look at her family album with husband Amitabh Bachchan, children Abhishek and Shweta. (Express archive photo)
Jaya Bachchan was born to journalist Taroon Kumar Bhaduri and Indira in Jabalpur. She did her schooling from St. Joseph's Convent school, Bhopal. She is an alumni of the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune.
Jaya Bachchan tied the knot with her Zanjeer and Abhimaan co-star Amitabh Bachchan on On June 3, 1973. (Express archive photo)
Jaya Bachchan gave up her acting career when she was at the peak only for her children Shweta and Abhishek. She once famously said: "I come from a home where my mother was always around. Just her presence gave me a lot of strength. I became the person that I am because of her." (Express archive photo)
Jaya Bachchan also said that the pause in her career to look after the children was not a sacrifice. (Express archive photo)
“I don't think I'm an extraordinary mother. I come from a decent middle class family. I've just behaved normally with my children,” Jaya Bachchan said in an interview.
Jaya and Amitabh Bachchan pose with their children Shweta and Abhishek when they were in their teens. (Express archive photo)
Jaya Bachchan, who is a self confessed strict mother, has always doted on Abhishek and Shewta. (Express archive photo)
Jaya Bachchan once said she doesn't care what the world thinks of her as long as her children have faith in her. “My children are more important to me than even my husband (Amitabh Bachchan)."
Big B holds the hand of his kids while Jaya follows them. (Express archive photo)
Jaya and Amitabh Bachchan's eldest child and daughter Shweta married industrialist Nikhil Nanda in 1997. She lives in Delhi with her children Navya Naveli and Agastya. (Express archive photo)
Jaya Bachchan with Amitabh Bachchan, daughter Shweta and her kids Navya and Agastya and son Abhishek and daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai at a family wedding. (Express archive photo)
A new entrant came into the family when her son Abhishek tied the knot with his 'Guru' co-star and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. (Express archive photo)
Heavily pregnant Aishwarya Rai with her mother-in-law Jaya Bachchan at Ramkrishna Mission for Durga Puja in 2011. (Express archive photo)
Recently there were reports that Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai have decided to separate from the family due to Jaya Bachchan's alleged overbearing presence. It was also said that Jaya and Aishwarya did not even acknowledge each other at Nita Ambani's birthday bash last year, held in Udaipur. However the rumours soon faded away when Jaya Bachchcan and Aishwarya Rai made a few public appearances including the recent being Rajiinikanth's Kochadaiiyaan trailer launch. (Express archive photo)
In a recent interview to BBC, Jaya Bachchan had confessed that Aishwarya is a hands-on mom to granddaughter Aaradhya. She revealed in an interview that she teases Aishwarya saying: "Aaradhya is a very lucky girl because can you imagine having a nurse like Miss World Aishwarya."
Jaya bachchan calls her one-and-half-year-old daughter Aaradhya 'Strawberry' because 'when she was born she reminded me of a strawberry. (IE Photo)
Jaya Bachchan chides her granddaughter Aaradhya at a wedding in Bhopal.
Family album: Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan with daughter Shweta Nanda, son-in-law Nikhil Nanda, grandson Agastye along with son Abhishek Bachchan and daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai on the 70th birthday bash of Big B on October 11. (Express archive photo)
Perfect Family Photo: Jaya, Amitabh share a sweet moment with Shweta, Abhishek. (Express archive photo)
Jaya Bachchan celebrated her 66th birthday last year with a cozy dinner with family members. The entire Bachchan and Nanda family - son Abhishek, daughter-in-law Aishwarya, daughter Shweta, son-in-law Nikhil Nanda and grandchildren Aaradhya, Navya Naveli and Agastya- hosted a dinner for Jaya.
Abhishek Bachchan posted a picture from the dinner party on his Instagram.
