Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan, one of Bollywood’s most iconic couples, have been married for over 50 years. Their love story began on the sets of the film ‘Guddi‘, which was released in 1971. However,
many may not be aware that Jaya was not Amitabh’s first love.
Recently, celebrity biographer Hanif Zaveri revealed in an interview that Amitabh’s first love predated his arrival in Mumbai. However, this relationship ended before the release of Amitabh’s debut film Saat Hindustani.
Zaveri disclosed that Amitabh fell in love with a girl named Maya while he was working in Kolkata, earning a monthly salary of around Rs 250-300. Zaveri said, “She was working at British Airways at the time. Amitabh Bachchan loved her deeply, and she loved him just as much.”
After his job in Kolkata, Amitabh moved to Mumbai to pursue a career in films. Initially, he stayed in a bungalow in Juhu, which belonged to a friend of his mother, Teji Bachchan. Maya frequently visited him there, but Amitabh feared his mother might discover their relationship. Consequently, he decided to leave that house.
At the time, Amitabh was working on his first film ‘Saat Hindustani‘, alongside Mehmood’s brother Anwar Ali. Zaveri said, “He shared his problems with Anwar, who understood his concerns and offered him a place to stay at his house.” Anwar had received the flat from Mehmood, and Amitabh resided there for a while.
Zaveri said, “He (Amitabh Bachchan) and Maya lived together for some time and might have gotten married, but Amitabh’s career was unstable then. In those days, Amitabh was very shy, while Maya was confident and outspoken. She would speak her mind regardless of who was present, sometimes even scolding Amitabh. Anwar Ali and Amitabh’s other friends didn’t like this, and eventually, it began to trouble Amitabh himself.”
Zaveri said that Anwar had discussed the matter with Amitabh Bachchan. “Anwar told me that while shooting for Saat Hindustani in Goa, he advised Amitabh to end his relationship with Maya. He felt she would not fit into the Bachchan family and that, if Amitabh wanted to progress in films, this relationship could become an obstacle. Amitabh too began to feel something was missing between them. Gradually, he distanced himself from Maya, and eventually, they parted ways.”
Amitabh’s first film, ‘Saat Hindustani‘, was released in 1969. He later married Jaya Bachchan in 1973.
