In the warm glow of familial conversation, Bollywood’s celebrated actress Jaya Bachchan imparted sagacity on her granddaughter Navya Naveli Nanda on the popular vodcast, “What The Hell Navya,” a platform where three generations of the Bachchan women convene to voice their perspectives on an array of subjects. The latest episode unravelled cherished wisdom, where the matriarch, her daughter Shweta Bachchan Nanda, and granddaughter Navya delved deep into life’s trials and the lessons they carve into our being.
The heart-to-heart conversation among the trio cast light upon the youthful vigour with which Navya pursues women’s rights advocacy. Expressing her doubts about confronting the magnitude of complex challenges due to her relatively young age, Navya found a staunch supporter in her grandmother, Jaya Bachchan. The veteran actress underlined a critical life lesson by drawing a distinction between knowledge and experience, reassuring Navya that they do not always coincide.
Jaya Bachchan articulated that a passionate heart and an intelligent mind often outweigh years of experience when it comes to advocating for causes one believes in. Her words, both empowering and comforting, encouraged Navya to stand firm and continue along her chosen path with greater zeal. “To bear such thoughts within oneself and to act upon them does not require experience — that is a matter of the heart and the mind. And as for those who question your capability, tell them to keep quiet! Turn a deaf ear to these remarks. What you are doing is commendable, and you must carry on with even more vigor,” Jaya Bachchan urged.
Through that support, Jaya illuminated the inevitable: criticism accompanies action, yet it’s crucial to persevere in pursuit of one’s goals. Her gentle yet firm reminder echoed the age-old adage that society will always have something to say, but it is one’s own conviction that must guide their actions.
The episode also revealed reflections on parenthood. Jaya Bachchan admitted to having been a more protective parent owing to the knowledge and upbringing of her own time. Shweta, sharing her mother’s protective instincts, voiced a poignant reality. She suggested that true learning often demands firsthand experience, urging parents to grant their children the freedom to stumble and find their own footing. Shweta conveyed, with palpable emotion, that letting your children navigate their own journeys, despite the consequential heartache, is akin to placing one’s heart on the table — revealing, vulnerable, but necessary for genuine growth.
On her popular vodcast “What The Hell Navya,” which rallies the shared opinions of three dynamic Bachchan generations, Navya has emerged as a resonant voice among the youth. This particular episode with Jaya and Shweta Bachchan Nanda has illuminated the thought-provoking dialogue that arises from the trove of generational wisdom and youth’s firebrand zeal to reform society.
As viewers tune in to each episode of “What The Hell Navya,” they witness the melding of experience with the aspirations of new generations. Jaya Bachchan’s profound guidance on distinguishing between knowledge and experience is a testament to the depth of understanding that age and wisdom can bring. However, perhaps more pertinent is the encouragement it sends to the rising youth — an affirmation that with conviction in one’s heart and clarity in thought, age need not be a barrier to driving meaningful change in the world.
