Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

'Marry your best friend, love might not last', Jaya Bachchan tells granddaughter

What The Hell Navya, hosted by Jaya Bachchan’s granddaughter, Navya Naveli Nanda, delves into the intricate relationships of love and understanding between the families.

'Marry your best friend, love might not last', Jaya Bachchan tells granddaughter

In a recent episode of What The Hell Navya, Jaya Bachchan shares her belief with Navya Nanda that marrying one's best friend is advisable, implying that romance may lose its lustre post-marriage.

This sparks a conversation about the dynamics between friendship and romance in modern relationships. Navya questions whether it's appropriate to inject romance into a friendship, especially if both individuals are content with their platonic bond.


She seeks clarification from her grandmother, Jaya, who affirms her stance, suggesting that romance might diminish over time.

However, Navya persists, questioning the viability of marrying one's best friend. She wonders aloud if deep friendship necessarily leads to romantic involvement.

Shweta Bachchan Nanda, Navya's mother, intervenes, advocating for the pursuit of romantic feelings within friendships. She argues that even if romantic advances fail, the friendship can endure, enriched by the experience. Shweta delves into the complexities of romantic versus platonic relationships, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of romantic involvement.

Shweta highlights the layers of understanding gained in romantic relationships, contrasting them with platonic bonds. She acknowledges the potential risks involved but stresses the depth of connection that can emerge.

Jaya and Shweta ponder the longevity of romance, with Jaya expressing uncertainty about its duration. The conversation reflects a nuanced exploration of the intersection between friendship and romance, underscoring the complexities inherent in modern relationships.

As they delve into the intricacies of love and friendship, the trio navigates the blurred boundaries between the two, offering insights into the evolving landscape of romantic partnerships.

According to a 2015 New York Post report, 29 per cent of the 76 per cent who initiated a relationship with their best friend ultimately tied the knot.

A 2024 survey by Bravo Media reveals that one-third of those who pursued romantic love with their best friends did end up marrying. However, the study also reveals a downside: half of the unsuccessful relationships resulted in breakups, with half of those leading to the loss of friendship.

On February 23, 2024, Bravo Media surveyed over a thousand individuals aged 18 to 54 to assess the risk versus reward of dating one's best friend in the pursuit of true love. The findings show that a promising one-third of those who ventured into romance with their closest companion eventually exchanged vows, reflecting optimistic outcomes.

Yet, the uniqueness of each friendship underscores the varied potential outcomes, including the possibility of marriage. Ultimately, the trajectory of such relationships and the success of ensuing marriages hinge on the individuals' dynamic with their best friends.

Jaya Bachchan joined her granddaughter Navya Naveli Nanda's podcast, What the Hell Navya, and shared insights on dating and relationships. Reflecting on her own 50-year marriage to Amitabh Bachchan, she highlighted the importance of manners and respect in relationships and emphasised the need for boundaries and mutual respect for love to flourish.

Regarding love, she described it as compatibility, understanding, and adjustment, cautioning against mistaking relationships for genuine love among the younger generation.

The conversation also touched on self-love and finding happiness within oneself, with Jaya recalling advice from her mother-in-law, Teji Bachchan, about managing expectations to minimize disappointment. Ultimately, Jaya stressed the importance of deriving happiness from within rather than relying on others for fulfilment.

More For You

Shah Rukh Khan home

The crown for the most expensive celebrity-owned home in India has now passed on

Getty Images

Shah Rukh Khan doesn't own the swankiest Bollywood home, this couple now owns €27 million Mumbai home

For decades, Shah Rukh Khan’s ocean-facing mansion, Mannat, stood as the pinnacle of Bollywood royalty. Located in Mumbai’s upscale Bandra area, the house wasn’t just a home—it was a symbol. Fans from around the world still gather outside its gates, hoping for a glimpse of the man often called the “King of Bollywood.”

But the crown for the most expensive celebrity-owned home in India has now passed on.

Keep ReadingShow less
Brian Wilson music genres

Wilson built bridges between styles that rarely met

Getty Images

Brian Wilson: 6 genres that prove he was more than just a 'Beach Boy'

Brian Wilson, who died this week aged 82, is best remembered as the sonic architect of the Beach Boys and the laid-back "California sound" that swept the world in the 1960s. But to stop there would be to miss the scale of his ambition. Behind the striped shirts and sun-soaked harmonies was a composer and producer who transformed pop music, often by refusing to stay in one genre.

From symphonic pop to soul and psychedelia, Wilson built bridges between styles that rarely met. Here’s a look at six genres that define his legacy and show how much more there was to the man who gave us Good Vibrations.

Keep ReadingShow less
Harvey Weinstein

Weinstein is currently serving a 16-year prison sentence in California

Getty Images

Harvey Weinstein found guilty of assault in retrial, jury undecided on rape charge

Disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has been found guilty of committing a criminal sexual act against one woman in his New York retrial. The 73-year-old was acquitted of another count of the same charge relating to a second woman.

The jury did not reach a verdict on a third charge of rape involving a third woman. Weinstein had pleaded not guilty to all three charges, maintaining that all sexual encounters were consensual and denying any assault.

Keep ReadingShow less
top indie films 2025

Ten buzzworthy indie films that could shape the TIFF 2025 conversation

getty images

Top 10 indie films catching global attention before TIFF 2025

As the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2025 draws near, a wave of independently made films is already dominating conversations among critics, programmers, and distributors. These are not your typical star-studded blockbusters. In fact, they’re character-driven, stylistically bold, and often politically or emotionally charged stories. Many have already premiered at Cannes or Sundance, while a few are TIFF-bound discoveries. One Indian film, in particular, is catching the attention of international curators with its quiet force.

Here’s a look at 10 indie titles being talked about before the TIFF line-up is even announced.

Keep ReadingShow less
Arjun Rampal Rana Naidu

Arjun Rampal says Rauf is the darkest character he has portrayed

Instagram/rananaidunetflix

Arjun Rampal says Rauf in 'Rana Naidu' is the most ruthless role of his career

Arjun Rampal has stepped into a deeply unsettling place with his portrayal of Rauf in Netflix’s Rana Naidu season 2. The actor, known for playing intense characters, says this role was unlike anything he’s done before.

“He’s the most terrifyingly real character I’ve ever played,” Rampal said. Rauf is unpredictable, violent, and entirely devoid of empathy, yet not completely soulless. What sets him apart is a surprising emotional sliver: the fierce love he holds for his niece. “She’s the only one he protects without question,” he explained. “It’s the only time you see something human in him.”

Keep ReadingShow less