# Gharjamai

Across the Indian subcontinent, the term gharjamai refers to a resident son-in-law who lives in a house of his wife's family.

## Etymology

The word Gharjamai is a compound of two words : Ghar and Jamai. The word Ghar is derived from Sanskrit word Gr̥ha (गृह) meaning house and Jamai is derived from Sanskrit word jāmātr̥ (जामातृ) meaning son in law. Thus Gharjamai refers to resident son in law.

## Definition

A man who lives in a house of his wife is known as Gharjamai. He usually lives with his wife's family or depends on his wife's family for support. The term carries a social stigma in Indian society, as husband is traditionally considered responsible for running the household and depending on the wife's family for support is held in a negative view. In more modern usage, the overall financial position of the son-in-law is considered and taken into account when using this label; if, for example, the son-in-law possesses land or other property, he is not considered a Gharjamai. Varying definitions exist, however. Films and TV serials both with a serious and light hearted view have been made about this phenomenon.

## In popular culture
### Movies

| Year | Language | Movie | Actor |
| 1959 | Telugu | Illarikam | Akkineni Nageswara Rao |
| 1961 | Hindi | Sasural | Rajendra Kumar |
| 1965 | Tamil | Kuzhandaiyum Deivamum | Jaishankar |
| 1966 | Telugu | Leta Manasulu | Haranath |
| 1967 | Hindi | Ram Aur Shyam | Pran |
| 1968 | Hindi | Do Kaliyaan | Biswajit Chatterjee |
| 1968 | Hindi | Aashirwad | Ashok Kumar |
| 1968 | Hindi | Neel Kamal | Mehmood |
| 1969 | Hindi | Dharti Kahe Pukar Ke | Sanjeev Kumar |
| 1969 | Hindi | Paisa Ya Pyaar | Biswajit Chatterjee |
| 1973 | Hindi | Phagun | Dharmendra |
| 1974 | Malayalam | Sethubandhanam | Prem Nazir |
| 1974 | Hindi | Bidaai | Jeetendra |
| 1976 | Kannada | Makkala Bhagya | Vishnuvardhan |
| 1976 | Hindi | Tapasya | Asrani |
| 1981 | Hindi | Nakhuda | Raj Kiran |
| 1982 | Hindi | Dulha Bikta Hai | Raj Babbar |
| 1982 | Hindi | Khud-Daar | Vinod Mehra |
| 1982 | Hindi | Kaamchor | Suresh Oberoi |
| 1983 | Hindi | Rishta Kagaz Ka | Sudhir |
| 1983 | Hindi | Avtaar | Gulshan Grover |
| 1983 | Hindi | Mazdoor | Raj Babbar |
| 1986 | Hindi | Peechha Karro | Farooq Sheikh |
| 1987 | Hindi | Pyar Ke Kabil | Rishi Kapoor |
| 1988 | Hindi | Biwi Ho To Aisi | Kader Khan |
| 1989 | Telugu | Attaku Yamudu Ammayiki Mogudu | Chiranjeevi |
| 1989 | Hindi | Jaisi Karni Waisi Bharnii | Shakti Kapoor |
| 1989 | Hindi | Billoo Badshah | Sumeet Saigal |
| 1989 | Hindi | Chandni | Anupam Kher |
| 1989 | Tamil | Mappillai | Rajinikanth |
| 1990 | Hindi | Ghar Ho To Aisa | Kader Khan |
| 1990 | Hindi | Jamai Raja | Anil Kapoor |
| 1992 | Hindi | Ghar Jamai | Mithun Chakraborty |
| 1993 | Hindi | Aasoo Bane Angaarey | Anupam Kher |
| 1994 | Hindi | Laadla | Anil Kapoor |
| 1996 | Hindi | Sautela Bhai | Raj Babbar |
| 1996 | Hindi | Raja Ki Aayegi Baaraat | Mohnish Bahl |
| 1996 | Hindi | Namak | Preetam Oberoi & Gulshan Grover |
| 1997 | Hindi | Yes Boss | Aditya Pancholi |
| 1998 | Bengali | Jamai No. 1 | Ranjit Mallick |
| 2000 | Hindi | Beti No. 1 | Prem Chopra |
| 2001 | Hindi | Zubeidaa | Vinod Sharawat |
| 2001 | Hindi | Ek Rishtaa: The Bond of Love | Mohnish Bahl |
| 2001 | Hindi | Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega | Saif Ali Khan |
| 2001 | Hindi | Kyo Kii... Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta | Sharad Kapoor |
| 2008 | Bengali | Ghar Jamai | Prosenjit Chatterjee |
| 2009 | Hindi | Chal Chala Chal | Asrani & Manoj Joshi |
| 2009 | Hindi | Ek: The Power of One | Jaspal Bhatti & Sanjay Mishra |
| 2010 | Punjabi | Ik Kudi Punjab Di | Amrinder Gill |
| 2013 | Punjabi | Lucky Di Unlucky Story | Binnu Dhillon |
| 2016 | Hindi | Ki & Ka | Arjun Kapoor |
| 2019 | Punjabi | Munda Hi Chahida | Ravi Aneja |
| 2019 | Hindi | Jhootha Kahin Ka | Omkar Kapoor |
| 2019 | Hindi | Bala | Saurabh Shukla |
| 2020 | Punjabi | Jaan To Pyara | Deputy Raja |
| 2020 | Hindi | Gulabo Sitabo | Amitabh Bachchan |
| 2023 | Hindi | Shehzada | Ronit Roy |
| 2023 | Punjabi | Ji Wife Ji | Karamjit Anmol & Lucky Dhaliwal & Roshan Prince |
| 2023 | Hindi | Kathal | Dherendra Kumar Tiwari |
| 2023 | Punjabi | Carry on Jatta 3 | Binnu Dhillon |
| 2023 | Punjabi | Kade Dade Diyan Kade Pote Diyan | Sukhwinder Chahal |
| 2023 | Hindi | Dry Day | Juned |
| 2024 | Hindi | Sarfira | Saurabh Goyal |

### TV Series

| Year | TV series | Actor |
| 1997-98 | Ghar Jamai | R. Madhavan |
| 1999–2009 | Yes Boss | Rakesh Bedi |
| 1995–2006 | Hum Paanch | Ali Asgar |
| 2001–04 | Khichdi | Kamlesh Oza |
| 2005 | Instant Khichdi | Kamlesh Oza |
| 2005–09 | Saat Phere: Saloni Ka Safar | Ashish Kapoor |
| 2010–11 | Baat Hamari Pakki Hai | Vivek Mushran |
| 2012–13 | Jhilmil Sitaaron Ka Aangan Hoga | Jitendra Trehan/Saurabh Dubey |
| 2012–13 | Jhilmil Sitaaron Ka Aangan Hoga | Rakesh Paul |
| 2012–13 | Jhilmil Sitaaron Ka Aangan Hoga | Praveen Hingonia |
| 2012–13 | Jhilmil Sitaaron Ka Aangan Hoga | Pankaj Tiwari |
| 2014–17 | Jamai Raja | Ravi Dubey |
| 2015 | Dil Ki Baatein Dil Hi Jaane | Sailesh Gulabani |

### Books

| Year | Book | Author |
| 1961 | A House for Mr. Biswas | V. S. Naipaul |