As Amitabh Bachchan Celebrating his 83rd birthday today (October 11), it is worth visiting an old conversation that he inspired years ago. In an interview 2002 with Hindustan Times, Jaya Bachchan Reflected her husband’s remarkable career, discussed the films that made her proud, the shades she admired in his performances and the book she once planned to gift him, entitled “to be or not to be.“
Jaya Bachchan liked Amitabh Bachchan in Gray Roller
When Jaya listed her favorite Amitabh Bachchan movies, an ordinary thread stood out: she admired him most when playing morally complex characters. “Jyoti Swaroops Parwana, where he plays a man who kills the father of the woman who rejects him; Sudhendu Roy’s Saudagar, where he lurks Nutan’s character for money; and Mukul Anands Agneepath, where his character wears distinct gray shades, is my favorites,” she shared.Jaya believed that these roles produced a depth and honesty that more easily shares often did not allow. She also expressed frustration on how filmmakers under -utilized his talent. “He can do so much more and so much better,” she said. “But it is not he who sets the boundaries; it is the creators who limit him with their narrow vision.”
Jaya Bachchan said that Amitabh Bachhan’s performances were dependent on the director
In the same interview, Jaya reflected on how Amitabh’s depictions varied based on the directors he worked with. “He has every quality that makes a good actor,” she said, “but his performances have always been dependent on who leads him. Amitabh Bachchan in a Hrishikesh Mukherje film is completely different from the manmohan desai film.”She noted that while some directors pushed him to explore his emotional range, others relied strongly on his superstar. “There were movies where he simply played up to his screen staff instead of getting into the character,” Jaya noted. “Unfortunately, there has been a lack of truly challenging roles for him.”Jaya and Amitabh, who married on June 3, 1973, have shared both life and screen space in classics such as Abhiman, Kora Kagaz, Chupke Chupke and Sholay. When the mega pastor turns 83, Jaya’s words remain from over two decades ago as relevant and acts as a reminder of her urgent eye for performance and her deep understanding of the artist behind the icon.
