Age as nothing to do with knowing abt old and new actresses. I've seen many old films, and also from what my parents, and other friends say, I can gather that Jaya was certainly not where Rani is today. In people's choice awards also, Rani has won many awards. Maybe Jaya was a good actress, but she surely didn't have the fan following that Rani does. Era doesn't have anything to do with fans, even then they had fans, even now there are fans. For example, my dad and his friends are big Amitabh fans and were crazy abt his movies. And Rajesh Khanna's as well, they used to watch their movies like 25 times, and when I asked him abt who was the actress everybody was most crazy abt he said that Jaya, even though she was a good actress, noone was really that crazy abt her like they were with Hema, Zeenat Aman, Parveen Bhabhi...
And Rani will never be forgotten, she is an amazing actress and most of all she has won the hearts of millions, and she has reached the heights she has today only because of herself and her own talent, not because of a big name behind her.
its funny b/c my parents and friends say the exact opposite as yours. they said that jaya bachchan was at the top.......difference of opinion, thats all it is.
and jaya was a big star before she even married Big B. so she had become what she had all due to her hard work and not some backing by a big name too.
and if we go by awards then dharmendra must be the worst actor out there b/c with the exception of the recent lifetime awards he has never won anything! awards prove nothing!
popularity has nothing to do with being a good actress. you cannot compare the likes of zeenat aman and parveen babi (sexy sirens) with jaya bachchan. they worked in different genres of films.
and only time will tell if rani is forgotten or not....she has a looooooong way to go.