Moushumi Chatterjee recalls her past rivalry with Jaya Bachchan: ' I came from a home where there was already a car and servants...'

Veteran actress Moushumi Chatterjee sparked a buzz last year when she boldly told photographers, “I am a much better person than Jaya Bachchan.” The comment came after someone casually compared her to the veteran actress in front of the shutterbugs. In a recent candid conversation with Nayandeep Rakshit, Moushumi opened up about that statement and gave rare insight into the simmering rivalry she’s had with Jaya Bachchan over the years.Moushumi on Her Controversial StatementWhen asked about her statement, Moushumi clarified that it was taken out of context. She expressed her dislike for being compared to others and said that everyone has their own perspective—what one person sees in Jaya Bachchan doesn’t define the whole picture. She also questioned the loss of humanity in making such judgments based on a single incident.Frustrations with Paparazzi She explained that dealing with the paparazzi can be frustrating since they often don’t listen and keep pushing for drama. Once you choose to stay away from the limelight, you can’t force everyone to like you. While she dislikes comparisons, Moushumi confidently said she considers herself a better person, adding that self-awareness is key to understanding others.A Tale of Rivalry and ReunionOn her past rivalry with Jaya Bachchan, Moushumi admitted there were definitely some tensions and she had heard a few stories over time. However, she remained indifferent because acting wasn’t her only goal in life. Coming from a privileged background—with a car and servants at home—she wasn’t working to earn those comforts, unlike others who had to struggle to achieve them.In the same interview, the veteran actress shared an eye-opening story about how Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya’s husband, once had her removed from a film. She recalled filmmaker Shakti Samanta calling her to ask if she had any conflict with Amitabh. Moushumi denied any fight, saying she was always cordial and well-liked. However, Shakti uncle explained that many leading men hesitated to work with her because they felt their “tuning” with her wasn’t right. Despite the past tensions, Moushumi and Amitabh eventually reunited on screen years later when she appeared briefly in the film Piku.Professionally, she is known for her work in both Hindi and Bengali films. She gained fame with movies like Anuraag, Roti Kapda Aur Makaan, and Manzil in the 1970s. Born on April 26, 1948, in Kolkata, she started her career as a child artist.