When Jaya Bachchan Spoke About Taking Amitabh Bachchan's Approval For Comeback: 'He's Not My Guardian...'

Jaya Bachchan took a long break from acting after she married Amitabh Bachchan. After starring in Silsila, alongside Amitabh and Rekha in 1981, Jaya took a step back from acting to focus on her personal life and raising Shweta and Abhishek Bachchan. It wasn’t until 1998 that Jaya made a return to the screen in Ek Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Ma.

When asked if the actress needed Amitabh Bachchan’s approval before making a comeback, she said, “He is my husband, not my guardian, for God’s sake.” Jaya made this statement in a chat on Rediff in 1997. The actress added that it was not really a comeback as she was always working in some capacity.

Jaya Bachchan said, “I was backstage all the time. There is no question of a comeback because I have been involved in various other activities in the film industry.” She was the vice-chairperson of Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Ltd and chairperson of The Children’s Film Society at the time. However, Jaya’s sabbatical from films remained in the news for quite a while.

In a piece for the Illustrated Weekly of India, Jaya’s father, journalist Taroon Coomar Bhaduri, wrote about her choice to leave acting long before her comeback. He stressed that Amitabh was not responsible for Jaya’s decision. He wrote, “When Jaya decided to quit films, we said nothing. In my family, we have never thrust our decisions on the children. When Jaya said she wanted to join films, we said all right, go ahead. When she decided to quit, I felt, of course, that her talent was being wasted. But it was purely her decision. I don’t think she’s ever regretted it.”

Despite her absence from films, Jaya’s allure never faded, and Bhaduri even mentioned that she might return to acting if the right project came along. “Jaya’s mystique remains intact. In the ephemeral world of razzmatazz, her appeal and magic have withstood the test of time,” he observed, also defending his son-in-law against any criticism. “I don’t think Amitabh can be blamed for Jaya’s decision to quit. But he has been blamed for so many things, poor fellow,” he added.

Although Jaya doesn’t act as frequently now, she has appeared in notable films such as Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani, both directed by Karan Johar, continuing to leave her mark on Indian cinema.