Jaya Bachchan on Changing Her Name: ‘Proud of My Husband’s Achievements’

The Rajya Sabha experienced some light-hearted moments on Monday when Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan playfully questioned Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar about the meaning of the middle word in her official name, “Jaya Amitabh Bachchan.” She also humorously suggested that Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who is unmarried, should add “the name of his wife” to his name.

The origins of this exchange trace back to July 29 when Jaya Bachchan raised objections after Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh referred to her using her full official name. She remarked, “this something new that women will be recognised by the name of their husbands.”

During Monday’s session, Chairman Dhankhar prompted Bachchan to ask her supplementary question to Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, using her full official name. She quipped, “Sir, aapko Amitabh ka matlab pata hai na (Sir, do you know the meaning of Amitabh)?”

Dhankhar, explaining the procedure for name changes, responded, “Ma’am aap badal dijiye, main badalwa dunga (Ma’am, you change it, I will get it changed).” He noted that members could officially change their names as per procedure.

Bachchan, however, expressed pride in her husband’s achievements. “No sir, I am very proud, I am very proud of my name and my husband and his achievements. It signifies abha, jo mit nahi sakti (the shine that cannot be wiped away). Don’t worry, this drama you have started new, this was not there earlier,” she said.

Dhankhar shared an anecdote about seeing Amitabh Bachchan’s photograph among global icons in a French hotel, affirming the nation’s pride in him.

When Jaya Bachchan asked her supplementary question from Khattar, she jested, “Sir, put his wife’s name in front of his name.” Dhankhar humorously added that he sometimes refers to himself as “Sudeshpati,” noting his wife’s name, Mrs. Sudesh.

Manohar Lal Khattar, referring to his unmarried status, quipped that he cannot fulfil Bachchan’s suggestion in this life, adding, “For this, there will be a need to wait for the next life.”

Amid laughter, Dhankhar remarked that Khattar has given an assurance, humorously binding himself to parliamentary tradition in his next life.

On July 29, when Harivansh referred to her as Jaya Amitabh Bachchan, she had seemingly taken exception, asserting that recognizing women solely by their husbands’ names undermines their individual existence and achievements.

Jaya Bachchan, an influential figure in both cinema and politics, married megastar Amitabh Bachchan on June 3, 1973. The couple has two children, Shweta Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan, and has acted together in several films, including “Zanjeer,” “Sholay,” “Abhimaan,” “Mili,” “Chupke Chupke,” “Silsila,” and “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.”