She said his personality made him difficult to understand and left her uncertain about his behaviour. Jaya recalled seeing Amitabh for the first time while studying at the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune. Their paths later crossed again during filmmaker Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s movie Guddi.
Amitabh was initially cast in the film alongside Jaya but was later removed from the project. Jaya said she found his habit of staring at people unusual and wondered why he looked at others so intensely. She later realised that Amitabh did not deliberately make people uncomfortable.
According to Jaya, he often remained unaware of how his behaviour affected those around him. Jaya also revealed that Amitabh was the only person who could influence her decisions. She said he never directly ordered her to do anything, but she willingly listened when he expressed his views gently.
The actress described Amitabh as a difficult friend and admitted that she sometimes struggled to understand his feelings. She said he never formally proposed marriage, leaving her uncertain about his intentions for a long time.
However, some of his gestures left a lasting impression on her. Jaya recalled that Amitabh once drove from Mumbai to Pune for five hours to attend her graduation ceremony. She also shared that Amitabh often gifted her Kanjeevaram sarees because he believed they suited her.
These thoughtful gestures helped shape her memories of their early relationship. Jaya Bachchan and Amitabh Bachchan married in 1973. Their relationship has remained a subject of public interest for decades, with the couple becoming one of Bollywood’s most recognised families.
