Rekha- The Bewitching Beauty

By: Priya Devi. R
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
The Bollywood beauty of the 80s, Rekha was born on 10th October 1954 in Chennai to veteran Tamil actor Gemini Ganesan and Pushpavalli who entertained the Telugu audience. Hailing from a filmy background there is not a grain of surprise in her tracing the footsteps of her parents into the glitter world.

Career
Rekha hit the silver screen as a child artist in Rangula Ratnam a Telugu movie in 1966. She decided upon an acting career and starred in two more movies in 1970. The Telugu Amma Kosam and hindi Sawan Badhon, both of which failed to secure her any credentials. Though she appeared in many hindi movies like Kahani Kismati ki, Raam Pur Ka Lakshman and Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaaya, it was the success of Muqaddar ka Sikandar opposite Amithabh Bacchan that exposed her to stardom.

Success was not an easy acquisition for her, as she had to work her way out to transform herself from her plump appearance to a slim beauty. Not to forget the fact that she mastered hindi in just three months and dancing in a month. Her major breakthroughs were Umrao Jaan and Silsila. Umrao Jaan fetched her the credential of the National Award for efficiently playing the role of a courtesan with a wonderful heart. Then there was no looking back as she reigned Bollywood for almost a decade amidst stiff competition. She was starred opposite Amitabh Bacchan for almost twenty movies. Some of them proved to be major hits like Mr.Natwarlal and Khoon Paseena.

After her lengthy period of performance with Amithab she drifted to more serious and performance oriented roles like in Khoon Bari Maang, Koobsoorath, UmraoJaan, Muje Insaaf Chaayiye. Rekha also played villain in Khiladiyon Ka Kiladhi. She further broke the mound of just being featured in commercial movies by taking up roles in art films like Utsav, Basera and Injaazat.

Awards
2003-Life time achievement award
1997-FilmFare best supporting actress award (Khiladiyon ka Khildi)
1987-Film Fare best actress award (Khoon Bari Maang)
1981-Film Fare best actress award (khoobsurat) and other channel awards.

Personal life

It is believed that Rekha's parents were not married and her father did not acknowledge her. Later when she was interviewed she stated that she turned down any possible reconciliation with him when he opted to.

Rekha and Amitabh Bacchan always made gossip in bollywood. Her alleged affair with Amitabh Bacchan that culminated in Silsila in which she played his lover girl role, co-starring Jaya Bacchan. There were whispers about her alleged wedlock with Vinod Mehra but Rekha termed him as her well wisher when interviewed. In 1990 she tied the knot with Mukesh Agarwal, a delhi based businessman who committed suicide the following year of their marriage.

Rekha tried her hand in singing too. Khoobsurat, Agar Tum Na Hote and Bachke Rehna Re Baba brought forth her vocal talents.

Latest Movies

Zubeidaa(2001), Dil Hai Tumhaara(2002), Koi Mil Gaya(2003), Parineeta(2005) and Krrish(2006) are the latest expressions of her performance and are evidences of her untiring commitments that are yet to surface.

One of her latest public appearance for the Film Fare award function down south, once again exposed the ever-beautiful Rekha. Looks like she will continue to enamour the audience with her bewitching looks apart from her enhanced performance.