Long before Amitabh Bachchan became Bollywood’s ‘Shahenshah’, his personal life reportedly included a serious relationship with a woman named Maya, who worked for British Airways. The romance is said to have begun during his struggling days in Kolkata and later continued after he moved to Mumbai to build a career in the Hindi film industry.
Unlike the actor’s later relationships that attracted public attention, his bond with Maya largely remained private. According to author Hanif Zaveri, the two were deeply involved and Maya was very committed to the relationship.
When Amitabh Bachchan moved to Mumbai in search of acting opportunities, he stayed at a bungalow in Juhu that belonged to a friend of his mother, Teji Bachchan. Since Maya frequently visited him there, Amitabh reportedly became worried that his mother would discover their relationship. As a result, he decided to move out of the house.
Reports also claim that Amitabh’s father, the celebrated poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, was fond of Maya. In his book AB: The Legend, Hanif Zaveri wrote that the Bachchan family had accepted her and believed she would eventually marry Amitabh.
As Amitabh Bachchan’s acting career took off in the early 1970s, the relationship reportedly came to an end due to growing differences and changing priorities, according to Hanif Zaveri. The breakup is said to have left Maya heartbroken but she stayed away from the public spotlight.
After the reported breakup, Amitabh Bachchan grew close to actress Jaya Bhaduri while they worked together in films. The couple got married on June 3, 1973, and later welcomed two children – Shweta Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan.
At present, Abhishek Bachchan is married to actress Aishwarya Rai and they have a daughter named Aaradhya. Shweta Bachchan is married to industrialist Nikhil Nanda and they have two children, daughter Navya Naveli Nanda and son Agastya Nanda.
Did you know about Maya earlier?
