As Amitabh Bachchan celebrated his 83rd birthday on October 11, the megastar recalled one of the most memorable and funny episodes of his iconic career. Amitabh Bachchan and wife Jaya Bachchan are undoubtedly one of the most loved couples in Bollywood and here let’s take a look at an interesting revelation that Big B once made.
During the special episode of ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati 17’ where he was joined by Farhan Akhtar and Javed AkhtarBig B spoke about his song ‘Mere Angne Mein’ from the 1981 film ‘Laawaris’ and how it once led to a dramatic reaction from his wife Jaya Bachchan.When Farhan asked Amitabh to name one quality about him that Jaya doesn’t like, Amitabh responded with a mix of humor and nostalgia. “It doesn’t matter what the story is, the actress or the movie, if she doesn’t like something, she says it directly,” he said. And that honesty was on full display when Jaya saw Mere Angne Mein for the first time.
“Devi Ji uth ke nikal gayi”
Amitabh recalled that during the test screening of ‘Laawaris’, Jai’s reaction was swift and strong. “When the song came on, Devi ji uth ke nikal gayi — she ran out of the theater. She didn’t like the song at all and mujhe bahut daanti (she was cursing me a lot),” he laughed.In the song, Amitabh famously dressed up as different types of women “short, plump, petite, tall”, each representing a humorous take on beauty standards. Although the audience enjoyed the performance, Jaya did not share the enthusiasm. “She said, ‘How could you do a song like that?'” Big B smiled.
A “typical wife trait” moment that happened years later
Years later, when Amitabh performed Mere Angne Mein at an award show, he found a way to turn the episode into a moment of endearment. “We would invite women who represent the types mentioned in the lyrics to dance with me,” he said. “When it came to the ‘short’ part, I told them not to call anyone – I already had,” he teased, referring to Jaya.He then picked her up in his arms singing, “Godh mein utha lo, bachche ka kya kaam hai”. Expecting a witty comeback, Amitabh looked at Jaya — but instead she was busy wiping the lipstick off his cheek. “That’s very typical of all wives,” he smiled. “She didn’t care about anything anymore – just lipstick marks!”
Their Love Story: From Pune Forever
The couple’s journey began at the Pune Institute of Film Arts, where Amitabh, then a struggling actor, met Jaya, an established star. Their bond deepened on the sets of Guddi directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee. Amitabh was immediately drawn to Jaya’s expressive eyes and grace, while she admired his quiet strength and intelligence.
