Jaya Bachchan, known for her strong on-screen presence and occasional stern demeanor with the paparazzi, is, according to her son Abhishek Bachchan, a deeply sensitive person. Abhishek shared a personal anecdote about his mother's dedication to her craft and the emotional toll it can take on an actor.
In a recent interview, Abhishek recounted an incident during the filming of Govind Nihalani's "Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa" (1998), a film that marked Jaya's return to acting after an 18-year hiatus. Abhishek was working as an assistant director on the film at the time. He recalled that his mother came home one day looking very disturbed. When he inquired about her distress, she explained that she had to film a scene where she had to identify the body of her son.
To help Jaya Bachchan access the raw emotions needed for the scene, director Govind Nihalani gave her a specific direction: "Imagine that's Abhishek lying over there". Abhishek acknowledged that this direction sounded harsh, but emphasized that it reflects the kind of emotional depths actors often have to explore. He added that even without such explicit direction, Jaya would have likely drawn upon her personal feelings to make the emotion real. Actors often bring personal experiences and emotions to their roles to create authentic portrayals.
"Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa" tells the story of a mother's struggle to come to terms with the death of her son, a Naxalite revolutionary. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi. The cast included Anupam Kher, Milind Gunaji, Seema Biswas, Joy Sengupta, and Nandita Das.
Abhishek described actors as "well-paid, pampered puppets," emphasizing the director's crucial role as the "grand master puppeteer". He highlighted the extent to which an actor's performance depends on the director's vision and guidance.
Abhishek Bachchan's recent film, "I Want to Talk," directed by Shoojit Sircar, was released in theaters on November 22, 2024. The film explores the relationship between a father and daughter and stars Johny Lever, Ahilya Bamroo, Banita Sandhu, and Pearle Maaney. Jaya Bachchan was last seen in "Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani" in 2023 and is set to appear in "Dil Ka Darwaaza Khol Na Darling" in 2025.
