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GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA

Apart from parallel cinema, Rekha took on other increasingly serious, even adventurous roles; she was among the early actresses to play lead roles in heroine-oriented films, delivering films such as Khubsoorat, Khoon Bhari Maang and Mujhe Insaaf Chahiye. She won Filmfare trophies for her roles in Khubsoorat (1980) and Khoon Bhari Maang (1988). One critic wrote of her performance in Khoon Bhari Maang, "Rekha as Aarti is just flawless and this is one of her best performance ever! In the first half as the shy and not so sexy Aarti she is excellent and after the plastic surgery as the model and femme fatale she is excellent too. Some scenes show that we are watching an actress of a very high calibre here."

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GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA



The 1990s saw a drop in Rekha's success and she began gradually losing her stardom. She was part of several commercially and critically unsuccessful films, in spite of doing even more challenging roles. Critics, however, noted that unlike most of the actresses of her generation, like Hema Malini and Raakhee, who began playing supporting parts as the mother or the aunty in their films, Rekha was still playing leading roles, at the time when heroines such as Madhuri Dixit and Raveena Tandon rose to fame.

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GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA



Some of her most notable films during the decade include the foreign film Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love and the commercially successful Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi (1996) were . The former, which was directed by Mira Nair was known for its controversial topic and many felt it would damage Rekha's career, as Rekha played a Kama Sutra teacher in the film. On the other hand, the latter was a major grosser and earned her several awards, including the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award and the Star Screen Award for Best Villain for her role of a gangster woman.

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GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA

After 2000, she has appeared in relatively few movies, usually as a mother or a widow rather than a glamour queen. She was praised for several of her perofrmances. In 2001, she starred as Ramdulari, a simple village woman, in Rajkumar Santoshi's Lajja, along with an ensemble cast that included Manisha Koirala, Madhuri Dixit and Anil Kapoor. She received several nominations for her portrayal; critic, Taran Adarsh, wrote of her performance, "... it is Rekha who walks away with the glory, delivering one of the finest performances the Indian screen has seen in the recent times." In that same year she acted alongside Karisma Kapoor in Shyam Benegal's Zubeidaa. Upperstall.com wrote, "Rekha has a stunning screen presence exuding grace and comes up with an expertly adept performance leaving her stamp on the film." She next starred alongside Preity Zinta in Kundan Shah's Dil Hai Tumhaara, playing the role of Sarita, a betrayed woman who takes under her custody the extramarital daughter of her husband. In 2003, she played Hrithik Roshan's mother in Rakesh Roshan's Koi... Mil Gaya, a performance which won her the Bollywood Movie Award - Best Supporting Actress. The film was the biggest hit of that year.

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GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA

She next took part in a number of films, such as Parineeta. In 2006, she was seen in the sequel to Koi Mil Gaya, Krrish, one of the most successful films of the year. In 2007, she once again portrayed a courtesan in Gautam Ghose's Yatra. Unlike the initial success she experienced in playing such roles in the early stages of her career, this time the film failed to do well.

Was this the career end of the GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR????

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GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA

Also we will look into the chemistry between Amitabh/Rekha as the two was very evident on screen. Their love story began on the sets of Do Anjaane - the second film that they did together. The pair provided hit after hit together - Khoon Pasina, Ganga Ki Saugandh, Suhaag, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Ram Balram and Mr. Natwarlal amongst others. Yash Chopra's Silsila was their last film together and it captured the real life Rekha-Amit-Jaya infidelity triangle

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GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA

quote:
Originally posted by IK:
ASJ...nice write up and pics. on her...i really liked her and still do..did not know about all those guys..i was smiling when reading the part about the wedding of Neetu/Rishi and her..would be interesting to know what Amit thinks about her now...anyways carry on will input now and then Cool wavey


Hi IK, I think that Amit would take the secret to his grave, of course we have seen his reaction when they reach up face to face, what he is thinking now is anyone's guess, is he bitter about his decision about Jaya....I do not think so.......had the decision been different, I think that he would have lived to regret.......but this is only my specualtion.

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quote:
Originally posted by chameli:
Rekha is undeniably, if not the most beautiful indian actress of our time, then definitely among the top 3!

my thoughts on her and my BIG B is that, she had been with so many men by the time she met Amit that he may not have been sure that her relationship with him would last....
like a butterfly looking for nectar...she flittered from one to the otherdunno


Wonderfully put Dids, I like "like a butterfly looking for nectar...she flittered from one to the other"

And that might have forced Amitabh to make the decision that he did.

As great an actress as she is, getting married to her, would have been a disaster, but then again........it was rumoured that although Amitabh was married to Jaya, he was still sleeping with Rekha...and for a quite a while.

In Guyanese parlance one would have said that she gave him the "jeera"

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GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA

Rekha under Farzana's spell

Rekha flew down to Delhi on Tuesday to inaugurate good friend and former Miss India Naina Balsaver-Ahmed's new boutique of exquisite jewellery and designer outfits, N&M, which she has launched in collaboration with Mandira.

As the diva put in a brief half-hour appearance in a bursting-at-the-seams shop in south Delhi, crowds went berserk trying to steal a close glimpse of this ageless star.
Immaculately dressed in a black satin suit, Rekha smiled and did the honours amidst a motley crowd of men, women and school girls. A round of applause later when shutterbugs and mediamen went about clicking her, little did they realise that the shots would be called by her secretary Farzana, a diminutive middle aged woman who invariably dresses up in male attire.

An unselfconscious Rekha was willing to answer off-hand queries on beauty and body regimen when Farzana intervened with all her might to shoo away unwanted lensmen. A fixed gaze from her constant companion was enough to make Rekha squirm. Leaving her sentences unfinished, she dropped everything and rushed off to follow 'unspoken' orders from her trustworthy employee.

An articulate person, this lady, who virtually holds the key to the country's most 'desired lady,' could whisk her 'ma'm away within a matter of a few seconds.

It's perfectly understandable for a confidant to manage and control clients but where was the need to be at your secretary's beck and call, Rekha, disappearing half way through the launch? A socialite present aptly bitched later,"Who was whose secretary?"
source: hindustantimes.com

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GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA



The enigmatic Rekha, who turns 54, is still mesmerising filmgoers and the industry alike with her pout and expressive eyes. Director Pradeep Sarkar, who cast her for a song in Parineeta , describes her as a perfect blend of beauty and glamour.

“I could not think of any other actress except Rekha for the song Kaisi Paheli Zindagaani as the song had a nostalgic feel and was, at the same time, sensuous. The way Rekha carried herself in the song can only be done by an actress of her calibre. She is a perfect blend of beauty, glamour and talent,” says Sarkar.

At a time when a new Bollywood awaits recognition every Friday, Rekha’s admirers cut across generations. Shweta Joshi, a BCom first year student, says, “I saw her film Khoon Bhari Maang on DVD. I was awestruck by her performance. The way she carried herself as a simple wife and a glamourous model was something I cannot but without appreciate. Also, her performance in the song Kaisi Paheli Zindagaani in Parineeta was marvellous.”
Rekha gave memorable performances in Ghar, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Khubsoorat, Silsila, Utsav, Khoon Bhari Maang, Zubeida, and Krrish.

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GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA


What happened when Jaya and Rekha met at Screen Awards?

A source from the event tells us, "Rekha and her secretary came backstage as they had to present the Best Popular Choice Actor award. After she presented the award, she went and sat with the rest of the stars."

Meanwhile, Jaya Bachchan and Amar Singh came backstage as they had to present an award for the Best Actress. They were watching the event on TV backstage.

Sajid Khan was his usual entertaining self and was making a joke out of the recession and asking people for money. He went to Akshay Kumar, Hrithik Roshan and Rekha and asked her to give him something. "I don't have films or anyone else," replied Rekha. Jayaji who was watching this very intently backstage maintained a smiling and dignified ex-pression although the camera was panned to her.

When it came for Rekha to present an award, she went backstage and stood near the entrance of the stage, close to where Jaya Bachchan and Amar Singh were viewing the event. A dignified silence was maintained by both parties.

And while many thought that this could get ugly with one cold shouldering the other, Bollywood formality was at its best.

“When it was time for Jaya to go up to present her away, she walked past Rekha when she was going to the stage and the two smiled at each other,” signs off the source.

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GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA



The reclusive sex goddess of Hindi cinema, Rekha, has always stayed
away from journalists but she can't stop somebody writing her
"unauthorized" biography. This is what veteran film journalist Mohan
Deep has done and his book on Rekha, titled Eurekha, has her life told
in a no-holds-barred manner. Whatever info we have got so far about
this "bare-all" book promises that this isn't going to be any ordinary
biography but will be a sensational revelation of the mysterious
Rekha's life and times. The book reveals the fact Rekha was allegedly
physically abused by her longtime beau super star Amitabh Bachchan and
husband, the late Mukesh Aggarwal. There is another fact, which may
shock fans of this sex-goddess, that she is allegedly a bisexual and
has had a relationship with her long time secretary Farzana. It may be
recalled that it was alleged that Farzana was one of the reasons her
husband's suicide. The book tells us that Rekha has always craved for
love but love has eluded the actress who ruled millions of Indian
hearts.

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GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA



I don't think that was the reason her husband committed suicide. I think she left him ... and Farzana was not the reason. In India a women needs a long time secretary cum companion. How many stars do you see by themseleves or living on their own, none. And you require someone you can trust.

And maybe Farzana is someone Rekha has learned to trust and live with, does not mean that they are lesbains.......or does it????????

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GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA



As we continue our date with Rekha, we have to remember that the road that Rekha has travelled, has been a long and arduous one. Yet she has managed to make a name for herself in the fickle film industry - which is no mean feat. In an industry that worships only beauty and youth, Rekha portrays the triumph of mind over circumstances. And the fact that she has retained a measure of dignity and peace in the process speaks for her grit and resilience. Recently, when asked to comment on the absence of a man in her life today, she said, "I think I have yet to meet a man who I feel completely one with, someone with whom I'd want to have a relationship with. I won't say a lover or a husband, but the ideal soul mate or a spiritual partner, a humsafar so to speak... someone you want to share every moment with, someone you admire and can learn from. Someone you can have a trusting and sharing relationship with."

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GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA



For a woman who has given so much to all her relationships, it's not too much to ask for. But is there such a man for Rekha out there, I wonder. And even if there were, would he have the courage and strength to envisage a lifetime with Rekha? A woman who is a self created masterpiece, one who has never lived life on anyone else's terms except her own. Only time can tell. For now, Rekha remains the mystery, the enigma that attracts thousands to its riddle.

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GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA



Q: Has there been any moment of regret ever?

A: Never in my life have I regretted anything. As far as I can remember, I have always been very mature and I have been very aware of the fact that I am very special. We all are special. But I realized this at a very early age. So I have always put my best foot forward and made the best of every situation given to me.

Now people might think that I am not married and I have no children -- the conventional lifestyle, you know -- but I see it this way: As long as you are alive, you have a chance to have a future. At least there is hope. Not that I see what I see around me and feel happy about it. But I have hope.

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GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA



Q: What has been your single biggest achievement?

A: I think to be able to win the hearts of millions and millions of people over the years. As far as I can remember I have always been bestowed with love and admiration. It's not just the outer beauty that people admire in me; it's really gratifying to know that people relate to me as a person too.

It's amazing. It's like a tussle between what is being created, a myth, and how much negativity it generates. It's like sour grapes. How much people talk of this Rekha and they make these bridges of thorns that never reach up to her. Every human being who has got in touch with me has always gone back with a very warm feeling, very positive feelings about me.

You included, I am so confident. You might be the media, but this interview is really about one human being relating to another. Whichever way I can inspire you or touch you as a human being, is all that matters. I might sound like a saint that I certainly am not and I am not a spiritual person either. But I am trying to be what I am meant to be, which is a part of God.

I know for sure that we all are a part of God and so am I. Some value that and some don't. So the sooner you value that the sooner you realize that it's best for all of us. I realized that at a very early age.

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GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA



Q: You must hurt with the way people behave at times...

A person who doesn't understand another person's predicament will get hurt. Only a person who is so full of herself, is selfish, has expectations from other people gets hurt. I don't expect. I have been alone for so long in my life that there is no need for expecting anything from anybody. Also, I am not judgmental.

I have certain norms in my life. I don't want anybody to judge me because I have had too many people doing that from the very beginning. And without really knowing me they have passed judgments. So I have learned never to judge people. I have learnt always to keep an open mind and to give the benefit of doubt and to always look at the plus points of people.

It is important to appreciate little things in life, to be able to share as much as you can, to be able to have fun instead of criticizing, sulking and brooding. There is no time to think about why that man did not say hello to me or why haven't I been treated in a particular way. There is no time for all these things. Life is too beautiful to think of these things.

So unless you don't think and practice these things on a daily basis, you cannot be Rekha. You cannot look the way she looks, you cannot think the way she thinks and you cannot function the way she functions.

After 42 years, people say, aren't you tired of this work? I tell them that this is not the be-all and end-all for me. If I am here, then it's just a part of what I am doing. What I am really doing is living life. People think in very superficial terms. I am really living life and my career is a huge part of that creative side of life.

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GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA



Q: Have you had an opportunity to display your talents 100 per cent?

A: I hope not. Because I think if you feel that you have already achieved everything that you want, then either you are vain or you don't have the will to live.

I think if you don't want to live life till the day comes when it's all over, then you are killing yourself prematurely. In my case this won't be possible because I don't think it would be over even when I am dead and gone.

I feel that I still have lot to learn. I do feel that I have given my 100 per cent to my roles but I cannot say that they have been flawless performances. I always feel that I wish I could have done better or I could have done it differently. Sometimes you fall prey to your weaker side and I try not to do that, but most of the times it happens.

Some elements play a major part in it and it is for the better. Like you feel that you really have given a great performance when it is an emotional scene or something like that. Your frustrations can be diverted or converted into positive things like that. Sometimes it happens that everything is hunky dory and you take things for granted and then you give a cliched performance. It happens like that too. So I have never felt that I have achieved everything that I had to.

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GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA



Don't you want to have kids?

Billions of people have asked me this question. Would you have a baby out of wedlock? The answer to that question is as I've said before I wouldn't. I don't have the guts, and it's not right anyway.

Isn't your need to have a baby more important?

I'm not that selfish. I think about the baby. What about the father? How can I have a baby out of wedlock? I was deprived of a father all my life and I know what it is like. I can have a baby by adopting. But right now I don't have the time or the resources. First and foremost I want to set up an institute for spastics, only then will I have my babies.

But you will have babies.

If a woman in Italy could have a child when she was 60, menopause, the works and she did have twins, I still have a chance. If not biologically, I will adopt. At least 20.

Do you think Indian men are unable to relate to women who are successful?

I can only talk for myself. My man related to me beautifully. I am a product of whatever understanding or whatever sharing or whatever ideas.... I think it was a beautiful communication, a beautiful understanding.

Who are you talking about?

When I was in love, with this man. It was fabulous. So you can't say that men don't understand Indian woman. No. It was fabulous. At least my man was perfect. He is perfect.


NB Is Rekhaji talking about Amitabh? her lover. Hhhmmmmm

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GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA



Will you write an autobiography?

No.

So you'll take your secrets to the grave.

What secrets? I have no secrets. Yes, I have my private side. But private sides are not secrets. My private side should be respected by people.

Are you in favour of marriage?

I don't believe in marriage because I've yet to come across a single couple who fits the ideal image that I have. My images of marriage as a child was very different, it was that typical dulhan banna (becoming a bride) and getting a wonderful man who will love you to death. It doesn't work that way. Also I was brought up to believe that your husband, or your man or your lover would be your best friend, your ardhangani, and you will really feel lost without him. I believed this till I was 16. Then it changed.

But your parents didn't have that kind of marriage.

But my mother had that kind of image in her mind. She was a complete romantic. I'm a lot like her. She was so magnanimous, she accepted the second wife and the third and the fourth wife. Till today I have not seen an ideal marriage. But there's hope. I'm still not married to the ultimate man and hopefully I will make my own kind of marriage in my life in the future.

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GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA



You seem to be have a distrust towards the Press.

Not really. You were earlier talking of pain and we went off subject. I gave you reasons as to how you perceive things in present circumstances. Or what a person said or what is happening to you. Like somebody might lose a child or something drastic might happen.

In that situation you want to abuse the creator or you want to give it all up and lose meaning in life. Like Hrithik (Roshan) very rightly said he wanted to give up before all this began. Why must his innocent father go through all that? What kind of a system are we in? He is still a child. For him to think like this is fine.

I, at an early age, realized that there is nothing in this world you cannot control if you put your mind to it. I am not saying that you can bring back my dead baby, but I can control how I perceive it. I can control what I need to do with the situation. There are so many things that have been taken away from me, I have been deprived of many things. But a million other doors open for me only if I choose that path. I can't let just this one episode dominate my entire life or I will become bitter, then I will die any moment.

And I will be deprived of life where I can do so much for mankind. Because that is what we are all here for. To make this world a better place, to be able to contribute to our fellow beings, to be able to make mankind the species of the world. We don't do that. We tend to take shortcuts. We go on a self-pity trip and criticize people. We behave naively. Any intelligent person, that I hope I am, will think how am I going to solve the problem? If I can't solve it then I look for what is in my control that I can solve.

I have a choice to choose which path I should take. Either I choose to crumble and die and wallow in self-pity, or explore the opportunities and take the risk of a different path. Even if it is not a success. At least, you know you tried. I am not a pessimist. I am a very positive thinker and I think I have come a long way too soon in life. There is no looking back now.

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