Amitabh Bachchan on his 1973 wedding: 'Don't know what Jaya told her parents'
Synopsis
On KBC 18, Amitabh Bachchan revealed that his 1973 marriage to Jaya was decided between the two of them in a single conversation — no elaborate rituals, no prior family consultation. He still doesn't know what Jaya told her parents. They married the next day. Over five decades later, the story reads like the punchline to every overwrought Bollywood wedding film.
Key Takeaways
Amitabh Bachchan revealed details of his marriage to Jaya Bachchan on Kaun Banega Crorepati 18 .
The couple decided to marry in a single spontaneous conversation, without consulting their families beforehand.
Jaya informed her parents after the decision was made; Amitabh says he still does not know what she told them.
They wed on 3 June 1973 , days before a planned trip to London , and moved the date forward from the originally planned October wedding.
Poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan reportedly advised his son to marry Jaya before travelling with her.
The couple have worked together in films including Zanjeer , Abhimaan , Sholay , and others, and are parents to Shweta Bachchan Nanda and Abhishek Bachchan .
Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan has shared a rare and candid account of his whirlwind marriage to actress and politician Jaya Bachchan, revealing on Kaun Banega Crorepati 18 that their wedding was decided almost on a whim — with little family consultation and no elaborate planning. The disclosure came on 24 September 2026 when a contestant prompted the megastar to revisit one of Bollywood's most enduring love stories.
How the conversation started
The moment was sparked by contestant Aheli Roy from Kolkata, who asked Amitabh how he had managed to win over Jaya's family before the wedding. His answer surprised the audience: he hadn't.
Amitabh recalled that the two simply looked at each other one day and agreed it was time. 'Humne bas Jaya ji ko ek din bola ki shaadi kar leni chahiye. Toh unhone kaha, haan kar leni chahiye aur bas tay ho gaya. Humne kisi se bhi baat nahi ki,' he said — loosely translating to: 'I simply told Jaya ji that we should get married. She said yes, and that was it. We didn't speak to anyone.'
Jaya informed her parents — and they simply agreed
According to Amitabh, after the decision was made between the two of them, Jaya went and informed her parents on her own. What exactly she told them, he admits he still does not know. 'Shaadi tay hone ke baad Jaya ji gayi, apne mata-pita ko bataya hoga. Humein yeh bhi maloom nahi unhone kya bola hoga, lekin woh log maan gaye aur aa gaye. Phir thodi baatein hui aur agle din shaadi kar li,' he said.
The translation: 'After the marriage was decided, Jaya ji must have gone and told her parents. We don't even know what she told them, but they agreed and came over. Then there was a little conversation, and we got married the next day.'
Amitabh's take on elaborate weddings
The veteran actor did not hold back his views on the contrast between their simple union and the grand productions that modern weddings have become. 'Kaun uss jhamela mein jaaye ki yeh taarikh hogi, yeh kapde pehnenge, idhar jaayenge, udhar jaayenge, yeh sab karenge, band-vand bajega. Iska kuch faayda nahi,' he said. In his words: 'Who wants to get into all that hassle of deciding a date, choosing clothes, going here and there, having the band play? What is the point of all that?'
He added that simply accepting Jaya as his wife meant more to him than any ceremony could. 'Humne maan liya ki woh humari patni hain. Isse bada mann kuch nahi' — 'We simply accepted that she was my wife. There was nothing greater than that for me.'
The backstory: Zanjeer, a London trip, and a father's advice
The couple married on 3 June 1973, shortly after the runaway success of Zanjeer, which was a watershed moment in both their careers. The wedding was originally planned for October of that year, but was moved forward, reportedly because the couple had planned a trip to London with friends. Amitabh has previously recalled that his father, the celebrated poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, advised him that if he intended to travel with Jaya, he should marry her first. The wedding took place just days before the London trip.
The two had already shared the screen in several films before tying the knot, and continued to collaborate afterwards — in Zanjeer, Abhimaan, Chupke Chupke, Mili, and the iconic Sholay. They are parents to daughter Shweta Bachchan Nanda and son Abhishek Bachchan, and their marriage of over five decades remains one of the most talked-about in Indian cinema.
The candid KBC moment is likely to keep the nostalgia cycle around the Bachchan family alive well beyond the episode's air date.
Point of View
But it also quietly reframes one of Bollywood's model marriages as something built on instinct rather than institution. In an era where celebrity unions are managed down to the press release, this kind of unscripted candour — admitting he still doesn't know what his wife said to her own parents — carries more authenticity than a hundred curated anniversary posts. The detail about Harivansh Rai Bachchan's quiet counsel also adds a generational texture that mainstream coverage tends to flatten into romance. What emerges is a picture of a marriage formed at the speed of conviction, which may be precisely why it has lasted.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan get married?
Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan married on 3 June 1973, just days before a planned trip to London. The wedding was originally scheduled for October that year but was moved forward.
What did Amitabh Bachchan say about his wedding on KBC 18?
On Kaun Banega Crorepati 18, Amitabh revealed that he and Jaya decided to marry in a single spontaneous conversation, without seeking prior approval from either family. He said he still does not know what Jaya told her parents to convince them, adding that her parents simply agreed and came over.
Why did Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan move their wedding forward?
The couple had originally planned to marry in October 1973, but moved the date forward because they had planned a group trip to London. Amitabh has previously recalled that his father, poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, advised him to marry Jaya before travelling with her.
Which films did Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan do together?
The couple collaborated on several films including Zanjeer, Abhimaan, Chupke Chupke, Mili, and Sholay. Their marriage followed closely on the heels of Zanjeer's success, which was a defining moment in both their careers.
Who are Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan's children?
Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan are parents to two children — daughter Shweta Bachchan Nanda and son Abhishek Bachchan, who is also a prominent Bollywood actor.
