Teji Bachchan

Trivia

• Teji Bachchan was suffering from liver problems and also dementia, a disorder which leads to gradual memory loss. It is said that in her last few months she was unable to recognise even her family members. The Bachchans decided to get her admitted to the hospital to ensure she could get top-class medical attention round-the-clock.
• Sadly, the warm relationship between the Gandhis and Bachchans soured after Rajiv Gandhi became prime minister upon Indira's death. To her credit, Teji Bachchan consistently maintained a dignified silence over the Rajiv-Amitabh controversy. Even the Bachchans have chosen never to comment about it.
• When the Rajiv-Sonia marriage was finally fixed in 1969, Sonia and her family had nowhere to stay in New Delhi. As per Hindu customs, a betrothed girl cannot enter her in-laws' house before marriage. Once again, Teji Bachchan came to the family's help. Sonia and her family moved in briefly and stayed at the Bachchan's New Delhi residence all through the wedding. After the wedding, Indira's elder daughter-in-law moved into the Gandhi household.
• It was Teji Bachchan who acted as a gentle mediator when her friend, the powerful Indira, was reluctant about her pilot son's wedding to the Italian girl from a middle-class family.
• She had earned fame as an indefatigable social activist and caught the attention of Indira Gandhi. A bond developed between them and they became close friends. The relationship remained strong till Indira's assassination in October 1984.
• Teji Bachchan was also appointed as one of the Directors of the Film Finance Corporation in 1973. The Film Finance Corporation of India (and its successor National Film Development Corporation of India), a Government of India undertaking's main objective was to finance the production of purposeful films of good quality with a view to improving the general standards of the medium.
• Besides her commitment drew fillas social service, Teji Bachchan even displayed her skills as a stage actor—she played Lady Macbeth in her husband’s Hindi adaptation of Macbeth.
• Dr Bachchan and Teji Bachchan won wide acclaim during their younger days as a singing duo at literary meets. Their mellifluous voices and a fine sense of rhythm brought out the true lyrical beauty of Dr Bachchan’s poetry.
• She was also considered an inspiration behind several works of Harivansh Rai Bachchan.
• Teji Bachchan was a great home maker and lover of stage.