Jaya Bachchan, born Jaya Bhaduri on April 9, 1948, in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, is a prominent Indian actress and politician. She hails from a Bengali family; her father, Tarun Kumar Bhaduri, was a journalist and poet. Jaya completed her education at St. Joseph's Convent School in Bhopal and graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune. She began her acting career at the age of 15 with Satyajit Ray's Bengali film "Mahanagar" (1963) and gained fame with her role in the Hindi film "Guddi" (1971). Jaya married fellow actor Amitabh Bachchan on June 3, 1973, and they have two children, Shweta and Abhishek Bachchan. She has been an influential figure in Indian cinema, known for her natural acting style and has received numerous accolades, including the Padma Shri award. In addition to her film career, Jaya Bachchan has been active in politics since 2004 as a member of the Rajya Sabha representing the Samajwadi Party.