When Yash Chopra opened up about the real-life drama behind ‘Silsila’: ‘Jaya is his wife, Rekha his GF’

Few films in Indian cinema have blurred the lines between reel and reality, quite like Yash Chopra’s Silsila (1981). The film, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, and Rekha, was not only a cinematic love triangle—it was a mirror reflecting one of Bollywood’s most talked-about off-screen relationships. Rumours only intensified after an interview with the BBC in 2010, when the late Yash Chopra openly referred to Rekha as Amitabh’s “girlfriend” and Jaya as his wife—both on and off screen.

Yash Chopra on Shooting Silsila
Chopra candidly admitted that making Silsila felt like walking a tightrope. “I was always on tenterhooks and scared because it was real life coming into reel life,” he said. With Amitabh married to Jaya in real life and linked romantically to Rekha, the film’s casting was as controversial as it was bold. The filmmaker acknowledged that anything could have happened during the shoot, adding, “They are working together… Jaya is his wife and Rekha is his girlfriend—the same story is going on in real life.”


Reel Romance, Real Reactions
Following the BBC interview’s broadcast, speculations erupted that Bachchan was upset by Chopra’s revelations. However, the BBC Asian Network denied any complaints from the actor’s side. The story of Silsila—both on-screen and behind the scenes—has since become part of Bollywood lore. Though the film may not have been a blockbuster in 1981, it enjoys cult status today, celebrated for its soulful music, emotional complexity, and the unforgettable pairing of Rekha and Amitabh—for the last time.