Jaya Bachchan, also known as Jaya Bhaduri Bachchan, is a prominent Indian film personality who made her mark in Hindi cinema. Besides her association with Amitabh Bachchan, she was also a renowned actress in her own right before her marriage. Both as a lead actress and in supporting roles, Jaya Bachchan has shown great skill and dedication to the art, and remains a crucial part of the Hindi film industry.

Although she was born in Calcutta, she completed her schooling from many cities including Shillong and Bhopal. Bhaduri also studied at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune, where she was a gold medallist. She appeared in Satyajit Ray’s Mahanagar (1963) when she was just fifteen, which inspired her to join FTII and pursue a career in film. She then made her official debut in Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Guddi (1971). The film was a hit and made Bhaduri move to Bombay to embark on a film career. She became famous for her girl-next-door image and that became her unique selling point throughout her film career. She did break away from that mould with films like Jawani Diwani (1972) where she played a glamorous role, and then in Anamika (1973) where she played a negative role. Some of Bhaduri’s most popular works include Uphaar(1971), Piya Ka Ghar (1972), Parichay (1972), Koshish (1972) and Bawarchi (1972). 

After this, she got married to fellow actor and superstar of the era, Amitabh Bachchan in 1973, and adopted the name Jaya Bachchan. This was followed by hits like Abhimaan (1973), Zanjeer (1973) and Sholay (1975). She won the Filmfare Award for the Best Actress multiple times, for films that inculded Abhimaan (1973), Kora Kagaz (1974), and Nauker (1980). Silsila (1981) was her last film for a brief period of time, as she retired from films to take care of her children. Her daughter Shweta Bachchan was born in 1974 and her son Abhishek Bachchan, who is also a popular contemporary film actor, was born in 1976.

Jaya Bachchan wrote the script for Shahenshah (1981) which starred Amitabh Bachchan. She made a comeback after a hiatus of nearly two decades with the film Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa (1999). This was followed by Fiza (2000). She worked with Amitabh Bachchan again in the popular blockbuster Kabhi Khushi Kabhie  Gham (2001) and then again in Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003). All these performance won her rave reviews and also awards. She worked with her son Abhishek Bachchan in Laga Chunari Main Daag (2007).

She was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1992. She also won the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007. In her capacity as a politician, Bachchan was also re-elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2012, from the Samajwadi Party. She had earlier served a term in 2010.