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News India Live, Digital Desk: With a simple face, sharp eyes and a performance that brought life to every character – Jaya Bachchan made her mark at a time when glamor was all the rage in Bollywood, but she ruled millions of hearts with her ‘girl next door’ image. Today, on the occasion of her 77th birthday on April 8, 2026, Jaya Bachchan is once again in the headlines due to her films which established her as ‘the first female superstar of Hindi cinema’.
1. Guddi (1971): The Magic of Innocence
This film of Hrishikesh Mukherjee made Jaya Bhaduri a star overnight. The innocence with which Jaya portrayed the difference between reel and real life in the role of ‘Kusum’, a schoolgirl, made her a favorite of every household. This film was not only a superhit, but it also laid a strong foundation for Jaya’s career.
2. Zanjeer (1973): The greatest strength of the ‘Angry Young Man’
While ‘Zanjeer’ made Amitabh Bachchan an ‘angry young man’, Jaya added a different color to the film by playing the character of ‘Chaaku wali’ (Mala). This film was one of the biggest blockbusters of that era and after this film, the pair of Amitabh and Jaya became the most powerful pair of Bollywood.
3. Abhimaan (1973): The battle of self-respect and music
This film starring Amitabh and Jaya was the story of a singer whose success hurts her husband’s ego. The songs of this film and Jaya’s serious acting made it a classic. It is said that during this film, a new chapter in the personal life of both of them also started.
4. Try (1972): The loudest echo of silence
Jaya Bachchan played the role of a deaf-mute woman in ‘Koshish’ directed by Gulzar. The acting he did without speaking a word, just with his eyes and body language, astonished everyone. This film is considered to be the pinnacle of Jaya’s acting skills.
5. Sholay (1975): ‘Radha’s’ quiet rebellion
Jaya Bachchan played the character of a widow named ‘Radha’ in Indian cinema’s biggest blockbuster ‘Sholay’. Her silence in white saree and her image with a lamp in her hand is still fresh in the minds of cinema lovers. This film made her the undisputed queen of the box office.
6. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001): Memorable comeback as a mother
After decades, Jaya Bachchan’s comeback as ‘Nandini Raichand’ in Karan Johar’s multi-starrer film made even the new generation admire her. Even today, her emotional scenes with Shahrukh Khan go viral on OTT and social media.
Voice is also loud in politics: Jaya Bachchan was not limited to just the film screen; Even today, as a member of the Samajwadi Party, she expresses her views in the Rajya Sabha with the same frankness as was seen in her films. Even at the age of 77, she is inspiring everyone with her fitness and activism.