Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan wedding anniversary: 5 fascinating things to know about their marriage

On 3 June 1973, Bollywood’s legendary duo Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bhaduri tied the knot. Their wedding may have been a low-key affair, but their relationship has become one of the most talked-about in the film world. As they celebrate 52 years of marriage, it’s clear their bond has survived fame, family duties, and even a few tabloid headlines. From quick decisions to shy silences, their love story is far from the usual Bollywood drama. Here are five surprising things you probably didn’t know about their journey together.

Yes, their love story began on film sets—but the spark started even earlier. Jaya Bachchan was already a star, while Amitabh was still trying to find his place in the industry. Their story goes back to 1970, when Jaya first noticed him at the Pune Film Institute. He had come along with filmmaker K.A. Abbas and a few others.

Though he didn’t get the lead in 'Guddi' (1971), fate brought them together in 'Ek Nazar' (1972). What most people don’t know is that Amitabh was already smitten long before that. He had seen Jaya on a magazine cover and was taken by her traditional Indian beauty. She was exactly the kind of woman he had pictured as his ideal life partner.

Their wedding wasn’t planned months in advance—it all happened in a matter of days! Before the release of 'Zanjeer' in 1973, the couple and their friends had made a casual plan: if the film was a hit, they would travel to London together.

When 'Zanjeer' did become a success, Amitabh’s parents laid down a condition—he could only go to London with Jaya if they were married. So, he quickly popped the question, and Jaya said yes. Just like that, they were married in a private ceremony. The same evening, they flew off to London as husband and wife.

Their wedding may have looked perfect from the outside, but behind the scenes, there was a moment of drama. Jaya’s father, journalist Taroon Coomar Bhaduri, once wrote about it in The Illustrated Weekly of India. He revealed that the priest almost refused to officiate the marriage because of caste differences.

Taroon recalled, “The Bengali priest (who was located with great difficulty) at first protested against having to preside over a marriage between a Bengali Brahmin (Jaya) and a non-Bengali non-Brahmin (Amit). After a lot of hassle, this was sorted out. Amit went through all the rituals, offending no one, and the ceremony went on until early the next morning.” Despite this initial objection, the couple’s wedding went ahead and has since become one of Bollywood’s most iconic unions.

Despite being one of Bollywood’s most loved couples, Amitabh and Jaya’s real-life romance is very different from what you see on screen. On the show ‘Rendezvous with Simi Garewal’ in 1998, Jaya shared that Amitabh is not romantic. When asked if Amitabh was romantic, he quickly said “no,” and Jaya added, “Not with me.” She explained that romance means surprises like flowers and wine, which Amitabh never did. Amitabh said he was shy and had never done those things. Jaya joked, “maybe Amitabh would have been romantic if he had a girlfriend.” This shows their love is based on more than just romantic gestures.

While both have had massive careers, family was always their top priority—especially for Jaya. After their marriage, she made the decision to step away from films to raise their two children, Shweta and Abhishek.

Amitabh continued to stay active in the film industry while Jaya focused on their home and children. Their shared values and clear roles helped them build a strong foundation. Even now, they are often seen enjoying time with their grandchildren and celebrating family moments. Jaya’s quiet decision to put family first spoke louder than any public display of affection.