Jagmohan Singh Barhok
On Her 67th Birth Anniversary
There is no denying the fact that Rekha is something extraordinary.Something unusal.As a trail-brazer,she acts,dance talks & sings differently.The actress,daughter of South stars Pushpavalli and Gemini Ganesan, reigned supreme for long time-to be overshadowed by another southern star-Hema Malini. Interstingly, after doing a hit, the actress has aways chosen to go into hybernation, thereby providing one or more of the rivals to catch up with her, not to outpace her in he race.
Rekha’s debut film was “Sawan Bhadon” in which she was paired with ( another debutant) Navin Nischol .In one of the dance sequences Rekha & Yogeeta Bali danced and bounced titillatingly to the audiences delight in complete harmony & synchronisation with the tempo & tempestuousness of the erotic atmosphere created by their sensual gyrations.The ambience on the screen was simply hypnotic,to say the least.
Rekha was Amitabh’s one of earier favourites.The ‘mega star’ worked with her in “Do Anjaane”, “Khoon Pasina”, “Suhaag” “Ganga Ki Saugandh” , “Iman Dharam”, “Kasme Vaade”,”Natwarlal”, & the much talked & written about “Silsila”. Both did some of the most sizzlingly passionate bedroom scenes,too.She did maximum number of films with Jeetendra like- “Nagin”, “Om Shanti Om”, “Amiri Garibi”,”Jaani Dushman”, “Ek Hi Bhool”,”Jyoti Bane Jwala”, “Nishaan” ,”Jaani Dost” & “Karamyogi” & “Judaai” (1988) with a lovely number ‘Maar Gayi Mujhe Teri Judaai,Das Gayi Ye Tanhaai’ ,a duet rendered by Kisore-Asha Bhosle under the music score Laxmikant–Pyarelal. She also did a good numbr of films with Dharmendra like “Ghazab”, “Jaani Dost” ,”Ram Balram”, “Jaan Hatheli Par”, “Baazi”, “Kasam Suhaag Ki” & “Kahani Kismat Ki” (1973) with ‘Rafte Rafta Dekho Aankh Meri Ladi Hai’ song to boast.
Rekha, was a bold and uninhibited actress. She acted freely with an abandon. She enjoyed playing bold, daring and challenging roles. Rekha looks and acts younger than her age. In most films she portrayed a young, nubile girl who is sought to be wooed or won over by more than one man. That is why she acquired a reputation of a smart, flirtatious, and sophisticated girl. Even in real life she ws no different. Rekha who mostly appeared in girlish or ‘tom-boy’ kind of roles surprised her critics in “Khoobsurat” starring Rakesh Roshan, Ashok Kumar & Dina Pathak. In her snake like two pony tails she looks much younger than her age and loveliness personfied, too. No wonder, She was chosen for her first Filmfare Best Actress Award .
In “Umrao Jaan” v(1981) she played the title role of the fabled ‘tawaif’ ( ‘In aankhon ki masti ke, aa aa aa aa..in aankhon ki masti ke mastane hajaro hai’)with total abandon & it is still ividly fresh in the viewers’ memories. Farooque Shaikh, Naseer and Raj Babbar completed the star cast.
Rekha,as most readers will recall, was too dark a girl when she started her career as a heroine.She got a raw deal in earlier films and was even looked upon with disdain. She,however, rose like the proverbial phoenix from the ashes to claim her supremacy in the next few years to silence her critics & antagonists. A few film journalists also fell victim to her pent up anger.I met one such writer in 1988 at Goregoan. The actress now looks more smarter than ever, dignified, loveliness personified and adorable.
she was also one among the actresses who set a new trend of women-centred revenge films, starting with ‘Khoon Bhari Maang’ (1988) (for which she won Filmfare second Best Actress Award), “Madam X’,’Insaaf Ki Devi’, ‘Ab Insaaf Hoga’ and many more.
She was also rumoured to have been in a relationship with Amitabh Bachchan after they first acted together in “Do Anjaane” and later in “Silsila”. She was also said to have married Vinod Mehra.The actress denied all this in an interview with Simi Grewal.
Akshay starrer “Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi” (1996),earned her another Filmfare Award in the Best Supporting Actress category.”Utsav”,”Vijeta”, “Kalyug” & “Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love” (1996)are her other notable films.Rekha also served as a member for the Rajya Sabha.Bestowed with Padma Shree( 2010)& Ntional Film Award for Best Actress for ” Umrao Jaan” (1982),Best Actress Filmfare Awards for “Khubsoorat”(1981)& “Khoon Bhari Maang” (1989) besides Best Supporting Actress Award for her role in “Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi” (1997). Bestowed with Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003.She received a total of 14 Nominations. Born this day in 1954 as Bhanurekha Ganesan in Madras now called Chennai.
