Jaya Bachchan, renowned for her candid nature, has long been celebrated for her forthrightness. Her affection for her husband, Amitabh Bachchan, is a recurring theme in her public discourse, reflecting a deep and enduring bond. Their love story, which began during the production of the iconic film Zanjeer, eventually blossomed into marriage, marking a significant chapter in both their lives.
Despite her profound love for Amitabh, Jaya has been candid about her past admiration for another Bollywood luminary. In the second season of Karan Johar’s talk show Koffee with Karan, where she appeared alongside Hema Malini, Jaya opened up about her past infatuation with Dharmendra. She confessed a deep admiration for him, revealing that she had once harboured a crush on the actor. Jaya expressed a nostalgic yearning to have played the role of Basanti in the legendary film Sholay, attributing her desire to Dharmendra’s undeniable charisma. She recounted, "I should have played Basanti because I was in love with Dharmendra. When I first met him, I was incredibly nervous and unsure of what to do. He was stunningly handsome, and I still remember his outfit—a white dress, white pants, and a white shirt. He looked like a Greek God."
In Sholay, Jaya Bachchan was cast as Radha, sharing the screen with Amitabh Bachchan, while Hema Malini was paired with Dharmendra. This classic pairing cemented their place in cinematic history. More recently, Jaya Bachchan and Dharmendra reconnected on screen in the film Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani, further testament to their enduring legacy in Indian cinema.
