Did you know Rekha was friends and neighbours with Jaya Bachchan before her affair with Amitab Bachchan?

In the history of Bollywood’s real-life love triangles, the complicated relationship between Rekha, Amitabh Bachchan, and Jaya Bachchan has always been the center of attention. Allegedly, Amitabh Bachan and Rekh grew fond of each other and fell in love during the 70s. Back then, Amitabh was already married to Jaya Bachchan, but as they say, the heart wants what the heart wants. Rekha and Amitabh’s on-screen romance reportedly translated into a real-life love story, which reached its peak with ‘Silsila’ (1981). Starring Rekha, Jaya, and Amitab, the movie eerily mirrored their real-life situation. In the movie, Amitabh played the conflicted husband, while Jaya and Rekha essayed the character of the wife and the other woman, respectively.
Though the rumoour mills had so much to say, Amitabh never publicly addressed his bond with Rekha. On the other hand, Rekha dropped hints and has been vocal to date about her love for a man she couldn’t have. Amid all this, Jaya took a firm stand to ensure that Rekha didn’t pose a threat to her marriage. She made sure that Amitab maintained his distance and prioritised their marriage and family above all else.
Now, these are the things that people are aware of. However, did you know that long before Rekha, Jaya, and Amitabh got entangled in such controversial and complicated relationships, there was a warm friendship shared between the two actresses? Yes, you read that right! Rekha and Jaya Bachchan were neighbours and friends before the love triangle with Amitabh Bachchan was formed.
According to the excerpts from Yasser Usman’s ‘Rekha: The Untold Story,’ Rekha and Jaya enjoyed a friendship in the early 70s. They were neighbours who enjoyed indulging in each other’s company and discussing their lives.
“After the success of her first few films, Rekha bought her own flat in Bombay in 1972. Leaving Hotel Ajanta, she shifted to Juhu’s Beach Apartments at age eighteen. In the same apartment building lived the actress Jaya Bhaduri, who had then firmly established herself as an actress par excellence,” reads the excerpt from ‘Rekha: The Untold Story.’
Back then, Jaya had already established herself. Her work was lauded both for her creative efforts and commercial success.
Call it fate or something else, but the book says Rekha met Amitabh for the first time at Jaya Bachchan’s house. “At Beach Apartments, Rekha and Jaya would often meet. Rekha affectionately called Jaya Didibhai, and frequently went over to Jaya’s flat to spend time with her. The latter would advise her on life and career. It was there that Rekha first met Jaya’s boyfriend, Amitabh Bachchan,” read the book.
Their friendship went beyond just casual encounters; they formed a tight-knit group that frequently enjoyed each other's company.