Jaya Bachchan Sparks Debate: Calls Marriage ‘Outdated’, Says She Doesn’t Want Navya to Marry

| Published: Monday, December 1, 2025, 17:01 [IST]

Veteran actress and Member of Parliament Jaya Bachchan has once again stirred a nationwide conversation with her candid views–this time on marriage itself. Speaking at the We The Women event in Mumbai, she described the institution of marriage as “outdated” and openly stated that she does not want her granddaughter Navya Naveli Nanda to get married. Her remarks, laced with honesty, humour, and personal reflection, have ignited a fresh debate about evolving family structures, generational shifts, and the changing realities of relationships in modern India.

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Jaya Bachchan’s Bold Take on Marriage

Jaya Bachchan’s straight-from-the-heart speaking style has always drawn attention, and her latest remarks have sparked a nationwide conversation. During a public interaction at the We The Women event in Mumbai, she called marriage an “outdated institution” and revealed that she does not want her granddaughter, Navya Naveli Nanda, to get married. Her statement–honest, firm, and unfiltered–surprised the audience and immediately became the talk of the internet.

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I Don’t Want Navya to Get Married

When asked whether she would guide her granddaughter to make traditional life choices, Jaya Bachchan responded with unwavering clarity: “I don’t want Navya to get married.” She further added that today’s youth operate with a different mindset, one that values independence, compatibility, and emotional freedom more than societal expectations. According to her, she is “too old” to advise modern women on how to live their lives or raise their children.

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A Changing World, Smarter Children

Reflecting on how parenting, relationships, and societal norms have evolved, Jaya Bachchan admitted that the new generation is sharper and far more aware. “These little children today are so smart–they’ll outsmart you,” she said, noting how the world she raised her children in is dramatically different from the world Navya is growing up in. Her reflections highlighted the generational gap that shapes today’s conversations around marriage and companionship.

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‘Delhi Ka Ladoo’ and the Meaning of Modern Relationships

In true Jaya Bachchan style, she narrated her thoughts with humour. Comparing marriage to the classic phrase “Dilli ka ladoo–khao toh mushkil, na khao toh mushkil,” she suggested that legal validation does not define the strength or authenticity of a relationship. She even revealed that she and Amitabh Bachchan signed their marriage register years after their wedding ceremony, joking that they were “living illegally” without realizing it.

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Love, Compatibility, and Today’s Mindset

The actress, known for her progressive views in Navya’s podcast as well, has previously spoken about emotional, physical, and mental compatibility being essential for long-lasting relationships. She believes that younger generations should be allowed the freedom to explore and understand relationships before making life-long commitments. According to her, what matters most is love that lasts–not a certificate that binds two people.

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A Marriage of 52 Years, Yet a Modern Perspective

Despite her modern views, Jaya Bachchan also looked back fondly on her own love story with Amitabh Bachchan. Married for 52 years, she admitted it was “love at first sight.” Yet she emphasized that her personal journey should not define Navya’s future. Whether Amitabh Bachchan shares her views or not, she said she prefers not to ask. With a mix of wit and wisdom, Jaya Bachchan’s statements reiterate that even after five decades of marriage, she has embraced a modern perspective on what relationships mean today.

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