New Delhi: Two feminine ends of what was once India's most poignant love triangle saga, finally find themselves under one roof; that of the Indian Parliament. The smoldering-forever Rekha Ganesan and the once-bubbly-now-dogged Jaya Bachchan, both renowned actresses of Indian cinema, shared space under the grand dome of the Indian Parliament's Upper House, the Rajya Sabha for the first time on Tuesday. As Rekha Ganesan was sworn in as a member of the Rajya Sabha, Jaya Bachchan, a Samajwadi Party MP for sometime now, we presume watched on. Scope for presumption however ended, when it was obvious that the two did not exchange pleasantries in parliament. Colleagues in filmdom, the two have also acted in Yash Chopra's 1981 blockbuster film ‘Silsila', where the chemistry between the two actresses, sent the entire nation into a phase of sparking static. Why? Here's where one brings in the third and the masculine end of the love triangle. Married to Jaya Bachchan, India's greatest filmstar Amitabh Bachchan's much speculated affair with Rekha was stuff legends are made of. The kind of a story which has been whispered, reported, analyzed, commented on, decoded, through the decades since the late 1970s. What perhaps added to the aura and a weighted sense of suspense that the triumvirate exuded was a masterly coup by Yash Chopra to make a film on adultery using the three actors to play characters, which perhaps loosely resembled their real life roles and dilemmas. Amitabh as Amit, living through an obligatory marriage with Jaya as Shobha. And Chandni, Amit's former flame, who re-enters his life and has a longish fling with him. The Indian Parliament in recent times has been extremely accommodating to film stars who add the glamour quotient to the parliamentary proceedings, if not anything else. Amitabh Bachchan, among many other Bollywood actors, has already had a parliamentary stint in the Lok Sabha, after he won the Allahabad parliamentary seat in 1984. The presence of Rekha and Jaya in the House of Elders, will further that tradition some more. A seat shuffle at the request of Jaya Bachchan, has perhaps put paid to hopes of those salacious few, or perhaps many, who would have loved to see the two actress-parliamentarians sit in close proximity. Originally allotted seat number 91, Jaya Bachchan has moved to seat number 143, once it became clear that Rekha, nominated by the central government had been allotted seat number 99. Rekha's entry into Parliament has triggered a kind of ‘Bigg Boss' inspired voyeuristic interest in the proceedings India's house of democracy, even if for a day. And guess, what Member of Parliament Sachin Tendulkar is still to make his debut. On Twitter, micro-blogger Tania Ameer Khan says @tania85khan: As Rekha walks into parl & takes oath. Jaya Bachchan's expression – Priceless! Noted political commentator Rajdeep Sardesi predicts in his tweet, that he expected the attendance to rise. @sardesairajdeep: Rekha to take oath in parliament tomorrow. Expect attendance to rise!
