Gen Z watches Silsila: Came for Rekha-Amitabh chemistry, left questioning uncomfortable choices
In 2026, GenZ reporter embarked on a journey to understand the fascination surrounding Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, and Rekha's on-screen chemistry in the 1981 film Silsila. The Yash Chopra-directed movie delves into themes of love, social duty, sacrifice, and extramarital affairs, making it a 3-hour binge watch for the reporter.
The film explores the complicated relationship between Amit (Amitabh Bachchan), Shobha (Jaya Bachchan), and Chandni (Rekha), as Amit marries Shobha after her fiance and her brother's accidental death. Despite being in love with Chandni, Amit ultimately cheats on her with Rekha, causing a miscarriage and leading to Shobha's emotional turmoil.
The reporter found the awkward humor and questionable scenes difficult to accept, particularly statements like "Ladki toh paraye ghar ki amanat hai," which seem outdated and sexist by today's standards. While the film's music and visuals remain timeless, the reporter felt the climax was disappointing, as it seemed to encourage cheating and ignoring consequences, leaving the audience questioning the film's message.
Written by urgent.news from The Indian Express's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
