Jaya [Bachchan] Rekha, Hema and Kangana.. Sabki Pasand Nirma ya Drama

Once upon a time, an ad jingle had the whole country chanting: “Jaya, Rekha, Hema aur Sushma… aur sabki pasand Nirma!” Decades later, the lyrics have aged, but the names still sparkle in headlines. Swap out Sushma for Kangna, and what do we have? A brand-new blockbuster: “Jaya, Rekha, Hema… aur sabki pasand — Media Masala!”

In Bollywood, some stars shine on-screen, others off it — and then there are the few who ensure the headlines never forget them. Jaya Bachchan, who can turn a simple scowl into prime-time news; Rekha, the eternal Umrao Jaan in a heavily embellished silk sari who has journalists guessing for decades; Hema Malini, the Dream Girl whose non-ageing grace still manages to trend more than her public work ahem speeches; and Kangana Ranaut, the industry’s one-woman news cycle, who tweets faster than haters can type. Together, they prove that in India, the media doesn’t just report on celebrities — it practically worships the chaos they bring, repeatedly and unabashedly. 

Jaya, Jaya Jaya Bachchan

A presence both graceful and formidable, Jaya Bachchan on-screen has always embodied the quiet power of a woman who doesn’t need to raise her voice to be heard. Today, she angrily expresses her disagreement over Paparazzi's way, yet every frown, every quip—Jaya Bachchan turns even her disapproval into headlines, making her the media’s reluctant darling. And if you let the masala slide, you actually feel empathetic for her stand. 

Forget Guddi or Abhimaan, Jaya’s greatest performances now happen at airports and red carpets. She doesn’t smile; she scolds. She doesn’t pose; she protests. And the media laps it up, because nothing sells like a celebrity with zero tolerance for flashbulbs. In a world obsessed with curated Instagram smiles, Jaya’s “death stare” is refreshingly authentic… and endlessly meme-worthy. It aided many careers on Instagram. Jaya and her social media trials are never-ending, and you have to give her endurance. Whether it is her controversial relationship with Aishwarya Rai or her husband's smouldering admirer, the lady endures all, without explanation, owing to her portrayals on-screen as well. Rocky Steady. 

O' Rekha O Rekhaji

Rekha is cinema’s eternal enigma—draped in mystique and gold, her eyes holding more stories than any script ever written. Rekha’s mystique keeps the media endlessly enchanted, largely due to her notorious obsession with Jaya's husband. A legendary tale of unrequited love today sounds like an old, choked VHS tape, which allegedly changed track in between to play new-gen songs. She is on the favourite list of every actor, old and new, but her object of affection remains the one and only, the last superstar before Shah Rukh Khan. It takes guts to pine for a father of 3 grown-up children, and our feisty lady has it all. Hope she finds a new script soon, for the scoop-devoid media that is recycling the same old "Tera Pati Sirf Mera Hai" soap. 

Hey ma, Hema Malini

While the media keeps recycling the same old scoop on Rekha, Hema Malini, the iconic Dream Girl, has reinvented herself as a Parliamentarian.  Hema Malini doesn't chase headlines, but the headlines chase her. The family entertainer charmed her way into power and then took a nap. She is a timeless charmer who turned Mathura's potholes into national headlines, a PR genius or not. She is a classic entertainer- whether it is her dance recitals, Yoga poses, or promoting Kent RO on perpetuity, she stays in circulation, timelessly. 

Kangana Ranaut

She was not in the original jingle, but it's not just the "London Thumakda"; Indian media also loves dancing on her tunes. Hence, she gate-crashed with full speed, full Dolby volume. Kangana's statements make headlines even before Hema Malini's traffic plans go viral. She is fearless, fiery, and unapologetically unfiltered. Others are stars; she is her own Franchise. Stars give interviews; Kangana gives battle cries. Whether it is Bollywood mafia, Nepo kids, or politics, Kangana feeds the media with the drama it craves, with utmost candour. Probably, she is the reason behind Twitter turning into X. Love her or loathe her, you cannot ignore her. 

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Together, Jaya, Rekha, Hema and Kangana prove why they are more popular than their films. Their shorts have more views than the big male star's film at the box office. They are the MECE-iah! for the media. Mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive. Jaya scolds, Rekha muses, Hema drifts, and Kangana combusts. Together, they are breaking news ki Queens and a soap opera on the playlist.  The public takes it all up with a pinch of sugar and spice, and star-struck eyes. 

So, who is your favourite newsmaker among the four? :) 

Numerounity

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