In the spring of 1948, a Bengali-speaking couple, Indira and Tarun Kumar Bhaduri, residing in Jabalpur, were overjoyed to welcome their first child, a little girl they named Jaya. This precious addition to their family was enrolled in the prestigious St. Joseph's Convent School in Bhopal, where she began her educational journey.
As Jaya grew older, she pursued her passion for acting, making her debut in the Bengali film industry at the tender age of 15 in the movie Mahanagar. Her talent and dedication eventually led her to become a prominent actress in Bollywood, starring in numerous Hindi films, including Jawani Diwani, Uphaar, Anamika, Abhimaan, Sholay, Bawarchi, Chupke Chupke, and Zanjeer, to name a few. Her illustrious acting career spanned from 1963 to 1981, and she also ventured into scriptwriting, penning the script for the film Shahenshah.
In her personal life, Jaya married the legendary actor Amitabh Srivastav, alias Bachchan, and the couple had two children, Shweta and Abhishek. Amitabh's parents, Teji and Harivansh Rai Srivastav, alias Bachchan, were of Sikh-Hindu descent.
After retiring from acting in 1981, Jaya's life was filled with challenges, particularly due to the highly publicized affair between her husband and Bollywood actress Rekha. The couple's life was further disrupted when Amitabh was seriously injured on the sets of the film Coolie, which almost took his life.
In 2005, the family faced another setback when Amitabh was hospitalized due to severe abdominal pains, which were later diagnosed as a result of his asthmatic condition. Fortunately, he made a full recovery, and the family continued to thrive in the Bollywood industry, with Abhishek and his new bride dominating the screen. Jaya has received numerous awards for her outstanding contributions to the film industry.
