Throwback: The unforgettable on-screen chemistry of Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan created some cinema classics | Hindi Movie News – Times of India

Jaya Bhaduri first met Amitabh Bachchan at the FTII (Film & Television Institute Of India) when he visited with the renowned writer-director Khwaja Ahmed Abbas. She immediately noticed his height and voice and had a hunch he would one day conquer Indian cinema. Years later she noticed the same brooding intensity in Ajay Devgn. And predicted stardom for him.
The first film that Amitabh-Jaya did together was Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Guddi. Mr B was cast as the boy chosen to marry Jaya’s Guddi. But after a few days of shooting Hrishikesh Mukherjee changed his mind. He cast another actor, Samit Bhanja in Mr Bachchan’s role and cast Mr Bachchan in Anand as the second lead.
Thereafter Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan did two films together Ek Nazar and Bansi Birju, both miserable flops. Their first hit together was Prakash Mehra’s Zanjeer which Jaya did only because no other leading lady was willing to do the role.
Hrishikesh Mukherjee cast the pair together in Abhimaan (which was originally titled Raag Ragini) and Mili, both hits. Hrishida then cast Jaya in a minuscule role as Amitabh’s love interest in Chupke Chupke. Both agreed to do what was predominantly a Dharmendra-Sharmila Tagore project for the love of their ‘Hrishi Kaku’.
Several years later Jaya came out of retirement to be cast as Mr Bachchan’s wife in Yash Chopra’s Silsila. The role was to be originally played by Smita Patil. Smita and Parveen Babi (who played the Other Woman) were flown to Kashmir by Yash Chopra. They were flown back. Apparently it was Mr Bachchan’s idea to replace Smita and Parveen with Jaya and Rekha.
When the golden couple did Sholay together Jaya was pregnant with Abhishek.
Jaya and Amitabh were last seen together in Karan Johar’s Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.
Says Karan, “It was my ultimate dream to direct Amit Uncle and Jaya Aunty together. When they agreed, I was over the moon.”
Incidentally, Amitabh Bachchan’s favourite Jaya performance is in Uphaar. Jaya’s favourite Amitabh performance is Agneepath.