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Hanif Zaveri reveals how Rekha came into Amitabh Bachchan’s life, how Jaya Bachchan stood firm, and what happened after.
Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan and Rekha worked in Silsila.
Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha’s rumoured love story remains one of Bollywood’s most talked-about gossip sagas. Even after Amitabh tied the knot with Jaya Bhaduri in 1973, buzz about his growing closeness with Rekha only intensified. Their sizzling chemistry in films, especially Silsila, added more fuel to the fire, with many believing it mirrored their real-life love triangle. But to this day, no one really knows whether there was any truth to the rumours.
In an episode of the Meri Saheli podcast, not long back, writer and film expert Hanif Zaveri spoke about how Rekha came into Amitabh Bachchan’s life, how Jaya stood her ground, and how things eventually settled.
According to Zaveri, Amitabh and Rekha’s bond deepened during the filming of Do Anjaane. He recalled, “Yeh unka jo lagav tha, jo bonding thi, woh film Do Anjaane ki shooting ke dauraan bani thi. Woh log bahut kareeb aa gaye aur pata nahin kaise ek doosre ke pyaar mein pad gaye. Lekin yeh 100% tha ki dono ek doosre ko chahne lage the.”
However, according to him, the trajectory of their relationship shifted dramatically after Amitabh’s near-fatal accident on the set of Coolie in 1982. Jaya’s unwavering support during his recovery played a big role in rekindling their bond. Zaveri noted, “Uske baad jab Amitabh Bachchan ka accident hua Coolie ke set par, toh Jaya Bachchan ne usmein bahut achha role nibhaya — 24 ghante hospital mein unke paas rehna, unki dekhbhaal karna, doctors se milna…Jab yeh cheezein Amitabh Bachchan ne dekhi, toh automatically kuch cheezein aisi hoti chali gayi ki woh Rekha se khinchte chali gaye.“
As tensions escalated, Jaya took a decisive step to address the situation. Zaveri recounted, “Kaha jaata hai ki, Jaya Bachchan ne apne ghar par Rekha ko lunch pe invite kiya tha. Us waqt Amitabh Bachchan ghar mein the nahi. Unko achhe se khana-wana khilaya gaya, wahaan ki bahut saari gupshup hui. Aur gupshup karne ke baad, jab last mein jab jaane ka time aaya toh Jaya Bachchan ne Rekha se kaha: ‘Dekho, Amitabh mera tha, mera hai, aur mera hi rahega’.”
Amitabh Bachchan is married to Jaya Bachchan and have two children – Abhishek Bachchan and Shweta Bachchan. Rekha was briefly married to industrialist Mukesh Agarwal in 1990, the marriage ended tragically with his death the following year.
Shreyanka Mazumdar is Chief Sub Editor of the entertainment team at News18. With an unbridled passion for all things Bollywood, she loves deep-diving into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment world, bring…Read More
Shreyanka Mazumdar is Chief Sub Editor of the entertainment team at News18. With an unbridled passion for all things Bollywood, she loves deep-diving into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment world, bring… Read More
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