Throwback to the time when Amitabh Bachchan lost his cool and yelled at Jaya Bachchan, after denying his affair with Rekha in an interview.
Tagged as the power couple of Bollywood, Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan have seen many successes and failures together. Making it to the list of long-lasting couples who have swum together against the tides to make it to the shore, Amitabh Bachchan first met Jaya Bhaduri at the Pune Film Institute in 1970. Jaya was already a star, and Amitabh was trying to make a career in Bollywood. On the sets of Ek Nazar, Cupid struck both of them, and they fell for each other.
In 1973, when the 'Angry Man of Bollywood', Amitabh broke the hearts of millions of girls and married his ladylove, Jaya Bhaduri, in chat mangni, pat vyaah. They have been living their 'happily ever after' with their daughter and son, Shweta Bachchan Nanda and Abhishek Bachchan, son-in-law and daughter-in-law, Nikhil Nanda and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and grandchildren, Navya Naveli Nanda, Agastya Nanda and Aaradhya Bachchan.
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Throughout, Amitabh’s name was linked with many actresses, but the most prominent name that still lingers around him is Rekha. According to reports, Amitabh fell in love with Rekha on the sets of their film, Do Anjaane, and soon, their affair became the most talked-about subject in the industry. While Rekha made bold statements about her love for Mr. Bachchan, he, on the other hand, refrained from commenting on the same.
Then Yash Chopra did the unthinkable. He cast Amitabh Bachchan, Rekha, and Jaya Bachchan in his film, Silsila, which dealt with the subject of love and extramarital affairs. It was also alleged that their real-life love triangle was portrayed on-screen. Amitabh’s rumoured affair with Rekha was no longer rumoured, and he faced questions related to the same in multiple interviews.
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A similar incident happened during an interview when veteran journalist, Karan Thapar asked Amitabh Bachchan about his affair with Rekha. However, for the first time, the journalist saw Mr Bachchan lose his temper. Karan Thapar revealed the episode in his book Devil’s Advocate: The Untold Story and also shared how, after the interview, Mr Bachchan lost his cool on his wife, Jaya Bachchan.
Recalling his 1992 interview with Mr and Mrs Bachchan at his place, Pratiksha, to mark Amitabh’s fiftieth birthday, Karan revealed that everything was going smoothly until the interviewer asked him about the women in his life. When Karan Thapar had asked Amitabh Bachchan:
“So, let me do to you what that interviewer did to Warren Beatty. There have been a lot of stories of your alleged love affairs with actresses. After your marriage, have you had an affair with any other woman?”
With an unperturbed face, Big B replied, “No. never.” Karan probed him further, “They say you’ve had an affair with Parveen Babi. Is there any truth to that story?” Mr Bachchan retorted, “No. I too have read such stories. They’re not true. But I can’t stop magazines writing this sort of stuff.” When Karan asked, “What about Rekha?” he replied, “No, not even with her.” Big B didn’t say more.
After questioning Amitabh, Karan turned to Jaya and asked if she believed Amitabh Bachchan. Taken aback, Mrs Bachchan had said, “I always believe my husband.” On being probed further, “Do you really mean that, or are you only saying it because he’s sitting beside you?” she smiled and answered, “Of course I mean it. Why should I not?”
After the interview was over, Mr Bachchan asked Karan Thapar and his team to stay back for lunch. However, something had changed in Mr Bachchan after the interview, as he looked visibly upset. Soon, at the dining table, when Jaya Bachchan asked Mr Bachchan whether he would like to eat rice as there was a delay in the rotis, he asked why she was offering him something he never eats.
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In the same breath, Jaya further told Mr Bachchan that while she checked the status of the rotis, he would like to take some rice in the meantime. Listening to Jaya, Mr Bachchan lost his cool and yelled at her:
“Stop it. Just stop it, I’ve said I don’t want rice and I’m happy to wait for the rotis. Can’t you understand that? What’s the matter with you? Why can’t you just listen to what I’m saying?”
It was evident that Amitabh Bachchan was building his anger inside, and poor Jaya Bachchan had to bear the brunt of it. Later, Karan Thapar received a call from politician, Amar Singh, who had arranged the interview. He asked Mr Thapar to drop all the questions related to Amitabh and Rekha’s affair, and eventually, the interview was aired the way Mr Bachchan wanted.
Despite aeons of alleged affair rumours and speculations, Jaya Bachchan and Amitabh Bachchan’s relationship remained strong, and her faith in him kept their marriage solid.
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