Farida Jalal Says Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Fought A Lot During Courtship: 'Jaya Roti Thi, Woh Manate The'

Veteran actor Farida Jalal has had a long and illustrious career, with memorable roles in films like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. She was recently seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. Farida often talks fondly about working with old-time stars and the friendships she made. She starred in several films with Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan (then Jaya Bhaduri) and became close friends with them. Farida knew the couple during their courtship and often joined them on coffee dates.

In a recent interview with Bollywood Bubble, Farida Jalal shared that she often went for coffee and long drives with Amitabh and Jaya. She remembered seeing them argue. “Mai Pali Hill mein rehti thi aur Amitji Juhu mein. Unki shaadi hone wali thi hui nahi thi. Dono mein courtship chal raha tha aur jhagde jaise couple ke hote hai aapas mein waise hote the. Amitji raat ke waqt khud gaadi chalate the aur Jaya bagal mein baithti aur main peeche. Mai unko bolti mujhe ‘Kebab mein haddi banake kyu late ho aaplog’. (I used to stay in Pali Hill and Amitabh resided in Juhu. They were not married at that time. They were in a courtship period and used to fight as every couple does. Amitji used to drive, Jaya sat beside him and I would be in the backseat. I used to tell them, ‘I feel like I am third wheel but they insisted me to join them’).”

Farida remembered how Amitabh and Jaya would often convince her to join their late-night coffee outings, even though she preferred going to bed early. She said that they would still call her, and she would see them argue. “I was someone who used to go to bed early but they would still call me. And they kept on fighting and I witnessed it. Jaya roti thi, woh manate the (Jaya used to cry and he used to pacify her.) I used to love those moments. My friendship with Jaya goes a long way. I lovingly called her Jiya. While returning from those coffee dates, they used to talk about films. They then dropped me off and went home. All I can say is they are lovely people. They called me and Gulzar saab to their wedding. No one else from the industry was there,” she shared.