Jaya CRIED while watching Rekha and Big B's romantic scenes

In the late 1970s, Bollywood was buzzing with whispers about one of the most talked-about on-screen pairings—Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha. Their sizzling chemistry lit up the silver screen and left fans wondering if there was more than just acting behind those intense looks. But while the rumour mill spun endlessly, Amitabh kept silent. Rekha, on the other hand, chose to speak her truth over the years.One of the most dramatic and emotional moments in this story came during the release of the 1978 blockbuster, ‘

Muqaddar Ka Sikandar

’. The film didn’t just make headlines for its story, it also reportedly left Amitabh’s wife and actress Jaya Bachchan, in tears.A Heartbreaking Trial ShowAccording to Rekha, the real-life drama unfolded during a private screening of ‘Muqaddar Ka Sikandar’. In an old interview with Stardust magazine, she revealed that she watched the Bachchan family during the trial show from a projection room.

She recalled, “Once, I was looking at the whole (Bachchan) family through the projection room when they came to see the trial show of 'Muqaddar Ka Sikandar'. Jaya was sitting in the front row and he (Amitabh) and his parents were in the row behind her. They couldn’t see her as clearly as I could. And during our love scenes, I could see tears pouring down her face.”

No More Movies TogetherJust a week after that emotional screening, Rekha said she began hearing whispers in the industry, whispers that Amitabh had made a big decision about his work. She told Stardust, “A week later, everybody in the industry was telling me that he had made it clear to his producers that he was not going to work with me.”This came as a shock to many. Amitabh and Rekha had given several hits together, and their pairing was loved by audiences. But after ‘Muqaddar Ka Sikandar’, they didn’t appear together again until 1981’s ‘Silsila’, a film that mirrored the rumours swirling around their personal lives.Rumours and RespectOver the years, there were constant reports that things were not well between Rekha and Jaya. But Rekha always spoke respectfully about Jaya, dismissing any stories of rivalry or bitterness.In an interview with Simi Garewal during the 1990s, Rekha made her feelings about Jaya very clear. “Didibhai (Jaya) is much more mature, much more together. I've yet to come across a woman who is so together. She's got so much dignity, so much class. She's got a lot of strength. I admire that woman.”In that same interview with Simi Garewal, Rekha was asked a direct question, was she in love with Amitabh Bachchan? Her response was honest, bold, and unforgettable, “Absolutely. Duh, that’s a dumb question. I have yet to come across a single man, woman, child who can help but fall completely, passionately, insanely, desperately, hopelessly in love with him. So why should I be singled out? What do I deny? I’m not in love with him? Of course I am. Duniya bhar ka love aap le lijiyega and add some more – I feel that for that person. Bottomline.”After ‘Silsila’ in 1981, Amitabh and Rekha never acted together again. It was the end of an era—not just for their on-screen pairing, but for one of the most intriguing love stories in Bollywood history.