Jaya Bachchan’ recent reaction to being called Jaya Amitabh Bachchan during the Budget Session is drawing attention.
This is so because of recent speculation following the absence of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and her daughter, Aaradhya Bachchan, from public appearances with the Bachchan family, which has led to rumours being floated about a possible rift in the marriage.
Harivansh Narayan Singh, the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman, had addressed Jaya Bachchan by using her husband’s name as a middle name, which did not sit well with the Samajwadi Party MP. She expressed that simply addressing her as “Jaya Bachchan” would have been sufficient.
In response, Singh pointed out that her name is officially recorded as Jaya Amitabh Bachchan. Jaya Bachchan argued that this practice reflects a mindset that diminishes women’s individual identities and achievements.
Jaya Bachchan has been outspoken against misogynistic attitudes and insisted on being recognised for her own identity rather than as someone’s spouse. This incident has sparked mixed reactions from the people on social media. Some support her stance, while others argue that since her name is officially listed as Jaya Amitabh Bachchan, the Deputy Chairman was not at fault.
One commenter noted, “We may have disagreements with Jaya Bachchan, but she was Jaya Bhaduri before becoming a Bachchan. She established a strong identity on her own and was once more renowned than her husband. If she wanted to enter Parliament, it could have been done using her own name.” Another user stated in her favour, “She makes sense.”
Jaya Bachchan and Amitabh Bachchan were married on June 3, 1973, in a private ceremony. They have two children: one is a columnist and author, and the other a Bollywood actor. Jaya Bachchan has been serving as a Rajya Sabha MP for the past 10 years and is currently in her fifth term.