Before Jaya, there was Maya: Who was Amitabh Bachchan's first love? Biographer says, ‘They could have married but…'

Time of India

a day ago

Amitabh Bachchan
, one of Indian cinema's most legendary icons, has shared a celebrated partnership with actress
Jaya Bachchan
for more than five decades. Their story began on the sets of the 1971 film Guddi, eventually leading to a wedding in 1973. However, as biographer Hanif Zaveri recently disclosed in an interview with the YouTube channel
Meri Saheli,
the actor's first experience with love predates not only his marriage but even his entry into Bollywood.
Before moving to Mumbai to chase his film dreams, Amitabh spent his early working years in Calcutta (now Kolkata), where he was employed and earned a modest salary of around ₹250 to ₹300 each month. During this period, he fell deeply in love with a woman named
Maya
, who worked for British Airways. According to Hanif, their relationship blossomed in the simplicity of those early days, long before stardom complicated life.
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A Secret Affair in Mumbai
Once Amitabh decided to move to Bombay (now Mumbai) in pursuit of an acting career, he initially stayed at a bungalow in Juhu. The residence was offered to him by a family friend of his mother, Teji Bachchan. Maya often visited him there, but because the woman who owned the house was close to his mother, Amitabh feared word might reach his family about the romance. Worried and anxious, he eventually made the decision to move out for the sake of privacy.
At that point, he was preparing for his first movie,
Saat Hindustani
, and shared screen space with Anwar Ali, the brother of actor Mehmood. As per Zaveri, Amitabh confided in Anwar about his concerns. Understanding the situation, Anwar offered him a place to stay. This apartment had originally been arranged by Mehmood for his brother, and Amitabh stayed there temporarily.
Relationship Challenges and Growing Doubts
Amitabh and Maya continued their relationship for a while. There were even murmurs among their friends that marriage could have been a possibility. But Amitabh's film career had just begun and wasn't yet stable. Additionally, his shy personality often clashed with Maya's assertiveness. Zaveri noted that Maya would speak to Amitabh freely—even harshly at times—without considering who else was present. This behavior didn't sit well with his friends, especially Anwar Ali, who believed that Maya's dominant nature would not align well with Amitabh's reserved demeanor or fit into the Bachchan household.
"He and Maya were together for a while, and perhaps they could have gotten married also, but Amitabh wasn't stable in his career at the time," said Zaveri and added, "In those days, Amitabh was a very shy man, and Maya was quite cunning."
As the relationship became strained, Anwar advised Amitabh during a shoot in Goa to end things with Maya. He felt that Maya might become a hurdle in both Amitabh's personal and professional life. This conversation planted seeds of doubt in the actor's mind. Eventually, Amitabh grew distant, and soon after, the couple separated.
New Beginnings
Amitabh's debut film, Saat Hindustani, was released in 1969, officially launching his journey into cinema. A few years later, in 1973, he tied the knot with Jaya Bhaduri, beginning a lifelong partnership that would stand the test of time and fame.