Emotions were running high for Amitabh Bachchan in October last year, as he celebrated his 80th on the sets of Kaun Banega Crorepati, of which he has been a longtime host. The legendary superstar was joined by his son Abhishek Bachchan — who took over hosting duties — and wife Jaya Bachchan.
The rest of the Bachchan family participated in the celebration virtually and wished the actor on his birthday, including daughter Shweta Bachchan Nanda, daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, grandkids, brother Ajitabh and even Jaya’s mother.
During the show, as the trio looked back on the octogenarian’s journey — through his films and personal anecdotes from childhood — Jaya revealed some lesser-known facts about her husband, like how he is a melophile (someone who loves music) and his cultural and artistic connection with West Bengal.
At one point, she presented a little silver bowl with a sweet dish in it, and fed it to her husband, who smacked his lips with childlike enthusiasm. Jaya shared that it is a popular sweet in Uttar Pradesh from where the Paa actor hails.
Team KBC then proceeded to play an old video, in which a much-younger Amitabh was seen joking with his late father, poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, about a dish called Laapsi, stating that a person who turns ‘assi‘ (80) eats laapsi.
Not just in Uttar Pradesh, laapsi is also extremely popular in states like Rajasthan and Gujarat. It is traditionally made during Navratri; it is also known as broken wheat pudding that is made with jaggery. Here’s how you can make it at home.
Ingredients
1 cup broken wheat (dalia)
1 cup jaggery, grated
4 cups water
¼th cup grated coconut
2 tsp green cardamoms powder
2 tbsps ghee
7-8 almonds, slivered
Method
1) Heat ghee in a kadhai and add broken wheat. Fry on medium heat, with regular stirring, till the wheat turns golden brown.
2) In a separate pan, boil water with jaggery till the jaggery melts.
3) Slowly, add the jaggery water to the roasted broken wheat. Make sure to add it from a distance, as there would be a lot of sputtering.
4) Add half of the cardamom powder and grated coconut. Mix well.
5) Reduce the heat to low and cook covered till the water is all soaked up and the dalia is well cooked. This should take about 20-25 minutes.
6) Take it out in a serving dish and garnish with remaining grated coconut, cardamom powder and almonds.
7) Serve hot and enjoy!
