Mum’s the word for Abhishek Bachchan

We asked Abhishek Bachchan to give us a list of his dad Amitabh’s seven best films, but the actor found it a strain to come up with any kind of shortlist. So Abhishek Bachchan picked seven films featuring Jaya Bachchan that he could watch on loop.

We asked Abhishek Bachchan to give us a list of his dad Amitabh’s seven best films, but the actor found it a strain to come up with any kind of shortlist. “I have
seen all his films, and love every bit of every film he has starred in. I am dad’s biggest fan in the universe,” he says.

However, he was happy to list his mom Jaya’s seven best films, and here they are in random order.

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Guddi (1971)
Though she made her debut as a teenager in Satyajit Ray’s Mahanagar (1963), her first screen role as an adult was Guddi. At a time when the glam factor was high in Hindi cinema, Maa, with her petite looks, created the girl-next-door image. It redefined the role of a heroine and set a trend for realistic and non-glamorous actresses.

Mili (1975)
There’s so much dignity and grace in her performance! She is funny, charming and yet you sense the underlying fear in her character, a person who’s suffering from cancer. Her characterisation makes the film one of the most lovable in Hindi cinema.

Kora Kagaz (1974)
It’s a lovely film that explores the depth of a relationship- and the lack of it, between two people. It was a performance to reckon with! Maa delivered one of the best performances of her career.

Jawani Diwani (1972)
I love this film because she went totally against her image, breaking out of the mould of a realistic actress and portraying a spunky, modern girl with so much panache.

Abhimaan (1973)
My favourite film obviously because Maa and Pa star in it. It’s so brilliant in its concept, essence and music, and it is marked by brilliant performances by both.

Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001)
My all-time favourite film and it’s only because of her. When it comes to mom, I cannot disconnect from real to reel, unlike dad, who I can view as an actor.

Shor (1972)
It’s a lovely movie and she has done a fantastic job in it opposite Manoj Kumar.