MUMBAI: He is quite tall. She is quite short. Yet they make the most lovable pair onscreen and off screen. Who can forget that iconic scene in Karan Johar’s ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’ when a tall Amitabh Bachchan, pulls across a stool for wife Jaya Bachchan only because she can apply ‘tilak’ on his forehead and set his tie right. How romantic that moment was.
While it was a part of reel life for the actors, it was nothing short of a real life moment for both Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan who, for 40 years now, have been the perfect couple. Yes, they like any other husband-wife have had their share of ups and downs, but they have never let it go loose. Their unconditional love for their kids Shweta Nanda and Abhishek Bachchan, their grandkids is as much as their grand undying love for each other.
For many, it is the most filmy love story one will ever get to see. You meet on the set of a film, fall in love and live happily ever after. But, with Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan it’s more than just being a filmy couple. It’s about being together and share that respect and both have achieved it relentlessly for 40 years now and not complaining.
It all began with Jaya Bachchan’s ‘Guddi’. Amitabh Bachchan, who made a guest appearance in the film instantly, fell for the actress on the sets of the film. Two years later, on 3 June 1973 they got married.
From then, the actor couple appeared in several hit films like ‘Chupke Chupke’, ‘Mili’, ‘Abhimaan’, ‘Zanjeer’ and the iconic ‘Sholay.’ And in all these films they charmed audiences with their romantic pairing. Each of these films gave a crux of their relationship. Whether it was their zany comic timing in ‘Chupke Chupke’, which set chairs in cinema halls rolling or their serious ego issues in ‘Abhimaan’. However Amitabh and Jaya never let their ego clash from ‘Abhimaan’ affect their real life.
There did come a moment when questions over Amitabh Bachchan’s relationship with Rekha surfaced during ‘Silsila’, which eventually also was Jaya Bachchan’s last film before she took a sabbatical, but never did the couple let their relationship sour because of those unsavory rumours. They embraced each other like hard rock.
And who could forget Amitabh Bachchan’s injury on the sets of ‘Coolie’? The actor battling life-death situation, had his wife stay beside him day and night. With prayers from fans and the undying love from wife Jaya Bachchan, it just made things stronger for the couple.
While fans wanted to eagerly see the magical couple back on screen, they had to wait for 18 long years. It was Karan Johar who brought them back on screen with ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’ where, they once again proved that they have always been the best couple. Off screen and on screen does not matter anymore.
Like Laurel and Hardy combination, they were an odd (only because of the height though) but an even combination, the perfect, eternal ageless couple who till date have remained one.
40 years and counting, it cannot get better than this.
And straight on their 40th Anniversary, goes out a line of a song from ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’ to the couple – ‘Na Juda Honge Hum Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’. Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan, you have truly proved the worth of this line.
Happy Anniversary!!! Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan.
