Ramola Bachchan, the sister-in-law of Amitabh Bachchan, has mostly kept away from the limelight even though she belongs to one of Bollywood’s best-known families. She is now making headlines after reportedly questioning a 1993 gift deed that handed the ownership of the actor’s Juhu bungalow, Jalsa, to his wife Jaya Bachchan.
Ramola Bachchan claims Jalsa was first registered in her name
Ramola has stated that the property was originally recorded under her name and that it was moved to Jaya without her knowledge or permission.
Who is Ramola Bachchan?
Ramola is a fashion designer and businesswoman, and the former wife of Amitabh’s younger brother, Ajitabh Bachchan. Her bond with the family dates back to the 1960s, when Amitabh worked at a shipping firm in Kolkata before entering films. Both moved in the same social circle, and he later introduced her to Ajitabh.The couple tied the knot in 1973, the same year Amitabh married Jaya. They have four children: Bhim, Namrata, Naina and Nilima. Naina is married to actor Kunal Kapoor.
Ramola Bachchan’s education and career
Born in Calcutta in 1947, Ramola studied English Literature and Politics, then took up Business Management in the US. She also trained as a solicitor in London and once worked as an air hostess.Her career later moved across fashion, television, events and hospitality. In London, she presented for TV Asia and interviewed names such as Tony Blair, Imran Khan and Ravi Shankar. Back in India, she started a resort-wear label, First Resort, and later ran an events company, RBC Events.She is also linked to Delhi’s food scene, having founded The Accidental Chef in 2020. “A bespoke home-dining service that brings restaurant-quality cooking directly to your table,” read her website.
What the legal dispute is about
As per Mumbai Mirror, Ramola has filed several complaints with registration authorities over the last seven months. The case is now before the Deputy Registrar of Co-operative Societies in Andheri, where a hearing is going on. Records of the Kapol Housing Society reportedly name Jaya as the owner, but the Maharashtra government’s Property Card still shows Ramola’s name.She has also raised doubts over how the gift deed was made. She alleges that it was written on plain paper, without stamp duty or witness signatures, and was regularised later under the state’s Abhay Yojana scheme.
What happens next
The authorities have not yet ruled on the ownership claims or on the validity of the document. Neither Amitabh nor Jaya has reportedly responded to the dispute.Despite her varied career, Ramola has maintained a fairly low public profile. The Jalsa row has now brought her long association with the Bachchan family, and a career built far from the film industry’s glare, back into focus.
