Nirahua Opens Up About Being Hit by Jaya Bachchan on Ganga Devi Set

When Jaya Bachchan Hit Nirahua With a Stick: Actor Recalls Big B’s Warmth on Ganga Devi Set

Working alongside Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan is a dream for many actors — and Bhojpuri superstar Dinesh Lal Yadav, better known as Nirahua, got that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in the 2012 Bhojpuri film Ganga Devi. But while the experience was magical in many ways, it also left him with an unusual memory: being actually hit with a stick by Jaya Bachchan during a scene.

Amitabh Bachchan’s Warmth on Set

Nirahua, recalling his first day with the legendary couple, admitted he was overwhelmed. “I was blank when I heard I’d be sharing the screen with them. For me, they are like god. The moment I saw them in front of me, I didn’t know how to react,” he told host Siddharth Kannan on his podcast.

But Amitabh Bachchan, known as the Shehanshah of Bollywood, quickly eased the tension. “Amit ji sensed my nervousness and immediately cracked jokes, laughed, and spoke about my songs to make me feel comfortable. He has a very warm and humorous personality,” Nirahua said.

The superstar even gave Nirahua a light-hearted piece of advice on politics. “He once told me, ‘The way you’re singing in your songs, you want to be a politician. I too told my father once that I wanted to enter politics. He advised me against it, but I didn’t listen — that turned out to be the biggest blunder of my life. Now, I am telling you — don’t do it!’”

The Scene With Jaya Bachchan That Turned Real

While Amitabh kept things light, Nirahua’s interaction with Jaya Bachchan took a more intense turn. In one scene, his character had to slap his on-screen wife, after which Jaya, playing his mother, was supposed to scold him and beat him with a stick.

“But instead of pretending, Jaya ji actually hit me — and she hit me hard!” Nirahua laughed. “She’s very short-tempered (unhe gussa bahut aata hai). She beat me up a couple of times, and I said, ‘You’re hitting me for real!’ She replied, ‘Then why did you beat up my daughter-in-law?’ I told her, ‘That was just acting — but you’re really hitting me!’”

Although the blows left him hurt, Nirahua chose to see it positively: “Maybe it was accidental, but I considered it as prasad (a blessing). After all, how many people get the chance to work with both Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan together?”

A Special Film With Special Memories

Ganga Devi was produced by Amitabh Bachchan’s longtime make-up artist Deepak Sawant, who had earlier cast Big B in the Bhojpuri film Ganga (2006). The 2012 release also marked Amitabh and Jaya’s rare on-screen appearance together after Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001).

Amitabh himself acknowledged the personal bond behind the project in his blog at the time: “Tomorrow I shoot for my make-up man’s production of his Bhojpuri film. Jaya and I together for a day’s work. Deepak has been with me for 35 years, never once missing a day on set. This is the least I can do for someone who has looked after my face for so long.”

A Memory That Stays Forever

For Nirahua, the film wasn’t just another role — it was a cherished chapter in his career. Between Amitabh Bachchan’s warmth, wisdom, and humor, and Jaya Bachchan’s fiery authenticity, the actor walked away with memories that still make him smile.

“It was truly a dream come true,” he said, “and I will always remember that even the pain from Jaya ji’s stick was a blessing.”