Veteran actor and parliamentarian Jaya Bachchan has described marriage as an “outdated institution” and revealed she does not want her granddaughter, Navya Naveli Nanda, to get married.

Speaking at the We the Women session in Mumbai with journalist Barkha Dutt, Bachchan was asked whether she would encourage her granddaughter or young women today to make the same choices she once did. She replied simply, “I don’t want Navya to get married.”

Pressed on whether she believed marriage as an institution has become outdated, Bachchan responded, “Yes, absolutely.”

The actor and politician also reflected on the rapid changes in social norms and parenting. She admitted she might be too old to give advice to today’s young women, noting that children today are “so smart” they could easily outwit their elders.

“I'm a grandmother now. Navya turns 28 in a few days. I’m too old to advise young girls today on how to bring up children. Things have changed so much. These little children today are so smart. They’ll outsmart you,” she said.

Bachchan also suggested that a legal stamp is no longer essential to define a relationship. In a lighter moment, she added: “I really don’t know. Woh Dilli ka ladoo—khao toh mushkil, na khao toh mushkil. Just enjoy life.”