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Teji Bachchan Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 14, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth12 August 1914

Age93 (at time of death)

BirthplaceLyallpur, Punjab, British India (present-day Faisalabad, Pakistan)

ProfessionSocial Activist

NationalityIndian

Marital statusWidow (at time of death)

SpouseHarivansh Rai Bachchan

FamilyChildren: Amitabh Bachchan (son), Ajitabh Bachchan (son); Parents: Khazan Singh Suri (father)

Teji Bachchan Biography

Teji Bachchan (born Tejwant Kaur Suri; 12 August 1914 – 21 December 2007) was an Indian social activist and cultural figure, known for her involvement in —

Early life and background
Teji Bachchan was born Tejwant Kaur Suri on 12 August 1914 in Lyallpur, Punjab, then part of British India (now Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan). She grew up in an affluent Punjabi Khatri family; her father, Khazan Singh Suri, practiced as a barrister. Raised in a home where literature and the arts were valued, she developed an early interest in poetry and music that stayed with her throughout her life.

Career
Teji pursued work in education before marriage, teaching psychology at Khoob Chand Degree College in Lahore. After marrying the poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan in 1941, she relocated to Allahabad and became an active participant in the city’s cultural circles. She sang and performed with her husband at social gatherings and developed a reputation as an accomplished amateur theatre artist and singer.

In theatre, Teji performed with troupes in Allahabad and Delhi, taking on roles in Hindi adaptations of Shakespeare plays translated by her husband. She played Lady Macbeth in his Hindi version of Macbeth and appeared in productions such as Othello. The couple also made a cameo appearance in Yash Chopra’s 1976 film Kabhie Kabhie.

Beyond performance, Teji’s engagement with the arts extended to institutional roles: in 1973 she was appointed as a director of the Film Finance Corporation, the body later known as the National Film Development Corporation of India.

Public profile
Teji and Harivansh Rai established a household in Allahabad that became a recognized social hub. Their home drew prominent figures from political and literary life; contemporaries remembered Harivansh Rai as a poet and Teji as his poetic companion. During the late 1950s, while the family lived in Delhi, Teji developed friendships with political figures, including Indira Gandhi, and played a mentoring role for Sonia Gandhi after Sonia arrived in India. Teji was known for sharing Indian customs and for hosting members of the Gandhi family at the Bachchan residence.

Teji was a formative influence on her children’s cultural education. She introduced her elder son to theatre, music and dance, encouraged his interest in the performing arts, and remained closely involved in his early career choices. She would also engage with filmmakers about creative decisions concerning her son’s roles.

Family
Teji married Harivansh Rai Bachchan in 1941. The couple had two sons: Amitabh Bachchan, who became a prominent film actor, and Ajitabh Bachchan, who pursued business. The family raised their children with an emphasis on discipline and cultural roots; Teji ensured that traditional Indian customs were taught and observed in the household. She was known to address Amitabh by his childhood nickname and maintained a close emotional bond with her sons throughout her life.

Personal life and beliefs
A Sikh by faith, Teji balanced an Anglicized upbringing with an active engagement in Indian culture. She retained an interest in poetry and music into later years, and was remembered by family members for reciting and singing religious hymns. Her social circle included notable literary and political personalities, and she navigated public life with a reputation for warmth and cultural grace.

Later years and death
After a prolonged illness, Teji Bachchan passed away on 21 December 2007 at Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai at the age of 93. Her funeral drew many public figures and members of the cultural community. Throughout her life she remained closely identified with the arts, social engagement and the cultural upbringing of her family.

Latest updates
Posthumous remembrances of Teji Bachchan have appeared in family recollections and public programs. Her son has shared memories and anecdotes about her influence on their household and his early exposure to music, theatre and public life.
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Recent Work

Kabhie Kabhie (cameo)

Cameo appearance in Yash Chopra’s 1976 film.

1976
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Career Highlights

  1. Amateur theatre performer in Hindi adaptations of Shakespeare plays
  2. Director at the Film Finance Corporation (1973)
  3. Cultural hostess and social figure in Allahabad and Delhi
  4. Cameo appearance in the film Kabhie Kabhie (1976)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Teji Bachchan born?

12 August 1914

What is Teji Bachchan known for?

Social Activist

What is Teji Bachchan’s marital status?

Widow (at time of death)

Who is Teji Bachchan married to?

Harivansh Rai Bachchan