Jaya Bachchan

Jaya Bachchan (née Bhaduri; born 9 April 1948) is an Indian actress and politician. She has served as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha from the Samajwadi Party since 2004. Known for her work in Hindi films, she is noted for reinforcing a natural style of acting in both mainstream and "middle-of-the-road" cinema. Bachchan has received several accolades, including ten Filmfare Awards and the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian honour awarded by the Government of India. Bachchan made her film debut as a teenager in Satyajit Ray's Mahanagar (1963), and her first screen role as an adult was in Guddi (1971), directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, with whom she collaborated in several films thereafter. She was noted for her performances in films like Uphaar (1971), Koshish (1972) and Kora Kagaz (1974). Throughout the decade, she formed a successful screen partnership with her husband Amitabh Bachchan, opposite whom she starred in films such as Zanjeer (1973), Abhimaan (1973), Chupke Chupke (1975) and Mili (1975), as well as the cult film Sholay (1975). She won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for Abhimaan, Kora Kagaz and Nauker (1979). Following her marriage and the birth of their children, she restricted her work in films, notably starring in Silsila (1981) before quitting acting for an extended 17-year sabbatical. She returned to acting with Govind Nihalani's independent drama Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa (1998). Bachchan revived her career with a number of character parts following her comeback. She won three Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for playing emotionally troubled mothers in the commercially successful dramas Fiza (2000), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001) and Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003). After another hiatus, she appeared in Karan Johar's Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023).