Jaya Bachchan is an Indian actress and politician. Known primarily for her work in Hindi and Bengali cinema, she is noted for reinforcing a natural style of acting in both mainstream and "middle-of-the-road" cinema. She has received several accolades, including nine Filmfare Awards and the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian honour awarded by the Government of India.
Making her film debut as a teenager in Satyajit Ray's Mahanagar, Bachchan's first screen role as an adult was in Guddi, directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, with whom she collaborated in several films thereafter. She was noted for her refreshing performances in films like Uphaar, Koshish and Kora Kagaz, among others. She starred alongside her husband Amitabh Bachchan in several films, including Zanjeer, Abhimaan, Chupke Chupke, Mili. The cult film Sholay saw her playing the lauded role of a young widow.
Following her marriage to actor Amitabh Bachchan and the birth of their children, she restricted her work in films, notably appearing in Nauker and Silsila. After a 17-year sabbatical, she returned to acting with Govind Nihalani's Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa.