As Amitabh Bachchan celebrated his 83rd birthday on October 11, the megastar revisited one of the most memorable and amusing episodes from his iconic career. Amitabh Bachchan and wife Jaya Bachchan are surely one of the most loved couples in Bollywood and here let’s take an interesting throwback revelation that Big B once made.During a special episode of ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati 17’, where he was joined by Farhan Akhtar and Javed Akhtar, Big B opened up 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 of his that Jaya dislikes, he responded with a mix of humour and nostalgia. “It doesn’t matter what the story, actress or film is 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 trial screening of ‘Laawaris’, Jaya’s reaction was swift and strong. “When the song started playing, Devi ji uth ke nikal gayi — she stormed out of the theatre. She didn’t like the song at all and mujhe bahut daanti (she scolded me a lot),” he laughed.In the song, Amitabh famously dressed up as various types of women “short, plump, petite, tall” each representing a humorous take on beauty standards. While the audience loved the performance, Jaya didn’t share the enthusiasm. “She said, ‘How could you ever do a song like this?’” Big B recounted with a chuckle.
The “Typical wife trait” moment that followed years later
Years later, when Amitabh performed Mere Angne Mein at award functions, he found a way to turn the episode into a moment of affection. “We would invite women representing 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 one,” he teased, referring to Jaya.He then lifted her in his arms, singing, “Godh mein utha lo, bachche ka kya kaam hai.” Expecting a witty comeback, Amitabh looked to Jaya — but she was instead busy wiping lipstick marks from his cheek. “That’s very typical of all wives,” he smiled. “She didn’t care about anything else — just the lipstick marks!”
Their love story: From Pune to forever
The couple’s journey began at the Pune Film Institute, where Amitabh, then a struggling actor, met Jaya, an established star. Their bond deepened on the sets of Guddi, under director Hrishikesh Mukherjee. Amitabh was instantly drawn to Jaya’s expressive eyes and grace, while she admired his quiet strength and intellect.