Jaya Bachchan : Always The Angry ‘Aunt’

On-screen she was seen as a very docile, soft, and ever-smiling actress, but off-screen she is always angry, blasting people irrespective of their stature. The former actor and Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan has had several unpleasant interactions with the media, resulting in severe backlash. The most recent in the news being when a fan tried to take a selfie with Jaya at the Constitution Club in Delhi. The Sholay actor lost her cool and angrily pushed him away.

The video went viral putting Jaya Bachchan in the limelight once again, but for all the wrong reasons. Soon after this incident occurred, fellow politician and actor Kangana Ranaut had slammed Jaya Bachchan on social media. Kangana had shared, “Most spoilt and privileged woman. People put up with her tantrums/non sense just because she is @amitabhbachchan ji’s wife.”

On yet another occasion, Jaya told a paparazzi that she hopes he ‘doubles and falls’ because he was trying to click her. Well, the list of angry altercations is endless.

A few months ago at Manoj Kumar’s prayer meet, the film veteran got irritated at an elderly fan, asking for a picture. In the video, Jaya is seen talking to a group of women. Meanwhile, an elderly woman taps on Jaya’s shoulder, leaving her in surprise. When Jaya turns back, a man – likely accompanying the elderly woman – tries to capture the two on his camera-phone. When the woman extends her hand to handshake, Jaya pushes the woman’s hand aside and calls out the man for clicking photo on such occasion.

Least to be forgotten is her infamous altercation with the ex-Rajya Sabha Chairperson and former Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankar when Jaya objected to the latter’s “tone is not acceptable”. A furious Dhankhar hit back sharply, declaring “I don’t want a schooling!” and told Jaya, “You may be a celebrity (but) you have to understand the decorum…”

There have been several instances where she was seen scolding and being blunt to people for intruding on her space. In a podcast with her granddaughter and entrepreneur, Navya Naveli Nanda, Jaya revealed the reason behind her behaviour. “I despise the people who interfere in your personal life,” she said. “I hate it. I despise it. I despise the people who interfere in your personal life and fill their stomachs by selling those products. I hate it. I am disgusted with such people. I always tell them, I say, ‘Aapko sharam nahi aati hai (Don’t you feel ashamed)?”

The 77-year-old MP has also been the target of trolling for her blunt responses. However, in the episode of the podcast, ‘What The Hell Navya?’, she said that kind of criticism doesn’t affect her.

Sadly, in contrast to her behaviour, Indian Parliament has had women MP’s like late Sushma Swaraj, an epitome of humbleness, polite and dignified leader who is well remembered till date for her leadership qualities. Others being Priyanka Gandhi, Smriti Irani, Priyanka Chaturvedi to name a few have been discharging their duties in well dignified ways. After all it is the people of this country who have elected and sent you to the Parliament