Jaya Bachchan calls marriage ‘outdated institution’, says she doesn’t want granddaughter Navya to marry
PTC Web Desk: Veteran actor and Rajya Sabha MP Jaya Bachchan has sparked a lively public debate after calling marriage an “outdated institution” during a conversation at an event in Mumbai.
She made it clear that she would not want her granddaughter, Navya Naveli Nanda, to follow traditional expectations when it comes to marriage.
When asked if she would advise young women today, including Navya, to make life choices similar to her own, Jaya Bachchan responded bluntly, “I don’t want Navya to get married.” When asked whether she believes the concept of marriage is losing relevance in modern times, to which the senior actor agreed without hesitation: “Yes, absolutely.”
Reflecting on the generational shift in social norms and parenting, Jaya Bachchan admitted that the world has changed far faster than earlier generations anticipated. She said she feels too old to dictate how young women should raise children today. “Navya is turning 28 soon. I’m a grandmother now, and I think these kids are far sharper than we ever were. They’ll outsmart you in seconds,” she said with a laugh.
Jaya Bachchan also hinted that emotional commitment holds more value than a legal stamp in contemporary relationships. Adding humour to the discussion, she compared marriage to the famous saying about Delhi’s laddoo,“khao toh mushkil, na khao toh bhi mushkil”, suggesting that either path comes with its own challenges.
- With inputs from agencies
