Amitabh Bachchan says father Harivanshrai was depressed after first wife’s death

Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan spoke about his father, Harivanshrai Bachchan’s grief after the death of his first wife, Shyama. He noted that his father was depressed until he eventually met Teji Bachchan, Amitabh’s mother, whom he married later.
“My father’s first wife passed away. Uske baad wo gambhir sitti mein chale gaye, bahut depressed state mein the aur jitni bhi kavita unhone likhi, uss zamaane mein, bahut dark thi. Bahut dukh ke saath bhari hui thi. Kuch varshon ke baad, wo kavi samelan karte the thaaki kuch paise mil jaate the (After that, he fell into a serious state and was very depressed. The poems he wrote during that time were very dark and filled with sorrow. A few years later, he used to hold poetry gatherings to earn some money),” Amitabh told Aamir Khan on the quiz show Kaun Banega Crorepati 16.
The actor then mentioned how Harivanshrai Bachchan met Teji Bachchan at his friend’s home. “He had a friend in Bareilly and got an invite to meet him. My father went to meet him. During the dinner, he was requested to narrate a poem. But before my father could begin, his friend asked his wife to call in Teji. That’s where he met her,” said Big B.

A young Amitabh Bachchan with his mother Teji Bachchan. (Photo: X/Amitabh Bachchan)

Teji sat in the room quietly while Harivanshrai narrated a poem titled ‘Kya Karu Samvedna Lekar Tumhari.’ As he finished narrating the poem, she was in tears. Even Amitabh’s father had tears in his eyes, and their friend left both of them alone in the room.
A while later, Harivanshrai Bachchan’s friend returned to the room with a garland and asked the poet to place it around Teji’s neck. “That was the day he decided she was his life partner,” recalled Amitabh.
Harivanshrai Bachchan married Teji Bachchan in 1941. They became parents to two sons, Amitabh, who recently turned 82, and Ajitabh Bachchan, who is five years younger than the actor.