What Sonia Gandhi says and doesn't say about the Bachchan family in her book

Sonia Gandhi's memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, takes readers back to a time when the Gandhi and Bachchan families shared a close personal bond. Long before Amitabh Bachchan became one of India's biggest film stars and Sonia Gandhi entered politics, the two families were connected through friendship, affection and years of shared history.

Interestingly, some of Sonia's warmest recollections in the book are not about Amitabh himself but his parents, poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan and his wife, Teji Bachchan. She remembers them as the people who helped her find her feet in India when she arrived from Italy in January 1968 to marry Rajiv Gandhi.

At the time, Sonia was a young woman entering an unfamiliar country, struggling with the language, customs and expectations of a new family. It was Indira Gandhi who arranged for her to stay with the Bachchans at their Delhi residence, 13 Willingdon Crescent, before her wedding.

The Bachchans were old family friends of the Nehru-Gandhis from Allahabad. Their home became Sonia's first place of comfort in India. Amitabh Bachchan, who was already friends with Rajiv, was also among those who welcomed her when she arrived at the airport.

Sonia remembers Teji Bachchan with particular affection. She describes her as a maternal figure who helped her understand Indian customs and made her feel at home. Teji looked after her when she fell ill and remained attentive to her needs. The relationship went beyond the initial hospitality. Sonia also recalls receiving gifts from her over the years, including a puppy after the death of her firstborn son, who lived for only a few hours.

In her memoir, Sonia describes Teji as someone who was always willing to help and guide her. Harivansh Rai Bachchan, meanwhile, helped her with Hindi and offered advice that stayed with her long after those early days.

Recalling her arrival in Delhi, Sonia writes: "Tiny Mrs. Bachchan, clad in a jacket and slacks, head covered in a French-style scarf, welcomed me in the porch with the sweetest of smiles and a warm embrace. I felt at once relieved and reassured."

She also remembers how Harivansh Rai Bachchan would occasionally teach her Hindi. Despite having studied English for years, she found it difficult to communicate fluently and understand Indian accents. The poet would use their brief conversations to offer her advice about navigating life in India.

One particular observation stayed with her: "You must know, Sonia beti, child, that in this country it is not what you are that counts, it is what people think you to be."

At the time, the young Sonia struggled to understand what he meant. She wondered whether his advice meant she could never truly be herself. She admits that she would often cry quietly on her way home after being dropped back by Rajiv, missing her family and the life she had left behind in Italy.

Looking back, however, she understood the wisdom in his words. In the book, she writes:

"This warning invariably left me wondering—does he mean that I can never be myself? I was I, and that's the way I was; how could I possibly show myself differently? So it was that on many occasions, after being dropped back by Rajiv, I'd shed some quiet tears and long for my home and my family. Rajiv tried to reassure me. But in later years I remembered Uncle Bachchan's words. How right he'd been - a poet and a sensitive man, having himself experienced the fickleness of the public." Amitabh Bachchan with Rajiv Gandhi (Photo: India Today Archive) From family friends to a relationship that turned distant

The warmth of these memories becomes particularly interesting when placed against the later history of the two families.

Amitabh Bachchan and Rajiv Gandhi's friendship went back to their childhood. Their families had known each other for decades, with the connection beginning in Allahabad through Harivansh Rai Bachchan's friendship with the Nehru family. The two boys grew up around each other and remained close as adults.

Rajiv was also present during some of Amitabh's most difficult moments. When the actor met with a near-fatal accident while shooting Coolie in 1982, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv were among those who stood by the Bachchan family.

Amitabh eventually entered politics in 1984, contesting the Lok Sabha election from Allahabad as a Congress candidate. He won by a massive margin, defeating former Uttar Pradesh chief minister HN Bahuguna.

However, his political journey did not last long. The Bofors controversy, which erupted in 1987 over allegations of kickbacks in the purchase of Swedish artillery guns, brought considerable political pressure on the Congress government led by Rajiv. Amitabh's name also became embroiled in the controversy, although he denied any wrongdoing. He resigned from Parliament in 1987 and later fought legal battles to clear his name.

The relationship between the two families reportedly became strained over the years. The reasons have been discussed in various accounts, with disagreements, political developments and personal differences all featuring in the history of their falling out. The distance became more apparent after Rajiv Gandhi's assassination in 1991.

There were also public indications of the strained relationship in later years. In 2004, Amitabh's wife Jaya Bachchan, by then associated with the Samajwadi Party, and Rahul Gandhi were involved in a public exchange of remarks over the relationship between the two families.

Despite this complicated history, Sonia's memoir does not dwell on the differences or offer an explanation for what went wrong. Amitabh Bachchan and Rajiv Gandhi during an event (Photo: India Today Archives) What Sonia Gandhi leaves unsaid about Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan

Perhaps the most striking aspect of the memoir is how little space it gives to Amitabh Bachchan, considering his long association with Rajiv Gandhi and the Gandhi family.

According to a count in the book, Amitabh's name appears only three times. Jaya Bachchan, meanwhile, does not find a mention at all.

Sonia does recall Amitabh's presence during her early days in India and his friendship with Rajiv. But there is no substantial account of their relationship in the years that followed, his entry into politics, the Bofors controversy or the differences between the two families.

There is also no discussion of the relationship between the younger members of the two families or the public disagreements that emerged years later.- EndsRead more | Sonia Gandhi's autobiography to become a Telugu film? Here's what we know

Vineeta Kumar is a journalist and TEDx speaker with over 12 years of experience decoding cinema, streaming, and pop culture with emotional precision. Her writing often peels back the celebrity gloss and spectacle to explore the deeper gender, social, and emotional truths. Whether it's a viral Bollywood moment or a quiet scene in a forgotten film on Netflix, she brings a sharp, empathetic eye that invites readers to think, feel, and often see things differently.

Previously the Entertainment & Lifestyle Head at Zee Media, Vineeta has contributed to The Indian Express, Catch News, and India TV News, among others. Her stories are about balance of cultural critique and lyrical honesty, often asking tough questions, but never without heart.

A Delhi girl through and through, she finds comfort in regency-era romances and the heartbreak of World War II literature. If she’s not writing, she’s likely rewatching Bridgerton, re-reading a Jane Austen masterpiece or imagining what unsaid stories lie behind a red-carpet smile.

She writes to report, but also to reflect on what we celebrate, what we ignore, and why it all matters.