Formerly Jaya Bhaduri, the actress' first film was directed by Satyajit Ray, when she was 15. Considered a powerhouse of talent, Jaya won great approval for her acting and ability to maintain her clean, girl-next-door image both on and off screen.

She took a long break from cinema following her marriage to Amitabh Bachchan, when her children Abhishek and Shweta were born, but returned to cinema in the early 1980s to star as one of the leading ladies in Yash Chopra's iconic film Silsila. She later moved on to playing "mother" roles in mainstream and independent cinema.

She is also a member of the Indian parliament and represents the Samajwadi Party. Jaya has two children. Abhishek Bachchan is an actor and married to Aishwarya Rai. Her daughter Shweta Nanda is married and lives in Delhi.