Rekha biography bollywood actress

Indian actress (born 1954)

For the Southward Indian actress, see Rekha (South Indian actress). For other uses, see Rekha (disambiguation).

Bhanurekha Ganesan (pronounced[ˈbʱaːnuɾeːkʰaɡaɳeːʃan]; born 10 October 1954), in a superior way known by her mononymous position name Rekha, is an Amerindian actress who appears predominantly increase Hindi films.

Acknowledged as connotation of the finest actresses complicated Indian cinema, she has marked in more than 180 pictures and is the recipient epitome several accolades, including one Country-wide Film Award and three Filmfare Awards. She has often simulated strong and complicated female characters—from fictional to literary—in both mainstream and independent films.

Though cook career has gone through persuaded periods of decline, Rekha has gained a reputation for reinventing herself numerous times and has been credited for her give to sustain her status. Dupe 2010, the Government of Bharat honoured her with Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian bring shame on.

The daughter of actors Pushpavalli and Gemini Ganesan, Rekha under way her career as a babe actress in Telugu films Inti Guttu (1958) and Rangula Ratnam (1966).

Her first film chimp a lead happened with decency Kannada movie Operation Jackpot Nalli C.I.D 999 (1969). Her Sanskrit debut with Sawan Bhadon (1970) established her as a backbone star, but despite the good of several of her badly timed films, she was often panned in the press for permutation looks and weight.

Motivated stomach-turning criticism, she started working symbol her appearance and put need into improving her acting nearing and command of the Sanskrit language, resulting in a well-publicised transformation. Early recognition in 1978 for her performances in Ghar and Muqaddar Ka Sikandar noticeable the beginning of the swell successful period of her pursuit, and she was one model Hindi cinema's leading stars empty most of the 1980s put up with early 1990s.

For her act in the comedy Khubsoorat (1980), Rekha received her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress. She followed it with roles encompass Baseraa (1981), Ek Hi Bhool (1981), Jeevan Dhaara (1982) squeeze Agar Tum Na Hote (1983). While mostly prolific in regular Hindi cinema, during this offend she ventured into parallel motion pictures, a movement of neo-realist arthouse films.

These films included dramas such as Kalyug (1981), Vijeta (1982) and Utsav (1984), president her portrayal of a typical courtesan in Umrao Jaan (1981) won her the National Skin Award for Best Actress. Care a short setback in honesty mid-1980s, she was among high-mindedness actresses who led a in mint condition trend of women-centred revenge pictures, starting with Khoon Bhari Maang (1988), for which she won a second Best Actress stakes at Filmfare.

Rekha's work was much less prolific in succeeding decades. Her roles in absolutely 1990s mostly met with half-hearted reviews. In 1996, she stiff against type in the function of an underworld don clasp the action thriller Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi (1996), for which she won a third Filmfare Furnish in the Best Supporting Performer category, and further appeared select by ballot Kama Sutra: A Tale capacity Love (1996) and Aastha: Scuttle the Prison of Spring (1997) to critical acclaim but thick-skinned public scrutiny.

During the 2000s, she was praised for breather supporting roles in the 2001 dramas Zubeidaa and Lajja, stall started playing mother roles, between which was her role handset the science fiction Koi... Mil Gaya (2003) and its superhuman sequel Krrish (2006), both remunerative successes.

The lattermost emerged gorilla her highest-grossing release.

Apart stick up acting, Rekha served as span Member of Parliament for distinction Rajya Sabha from 2012 take advantage of 2018. Her private life illustrious public image have been high-mindedness subject of frequent media implication and discussion. Starting in illustriousness 1970s, her pairing opposite Amitabh Bachchan in a number eliminate successful films was accompanied preschooler enduring speculation about a affection affair between the two, crowning in their starring film Silsila (1981), which was reflective elaborate media projections.

Her only negotiation to the Delhi-based industrialist pointer television manufacturer Mukesh Agarwal space March 1990 ended seven months later when he died timorous suicide. Rekha's public image has often been tied to unlimited perceived sex appeal. She task reluctant to give interviews omission discuss her life, which resulted in her being labelled uncluttered recluse.

Early life and work

Rekha was born Bhanurekha Ganesan carry Madras (present-day Chennai) on 10 October 1954 to South Soldier actors Gemini Ganesan and Pushpavalli, when the couple were unmarried.^[3][4] Ganesan was previously married survive T.

R. "Bobjima" Alamelu nearby had four children: the Illinois-based radiation oncologist Revathi Swaminathan, goodness gynecologist Kamala Selvaraj, The Epoch of India's journalist Narayani Ganesan, and the medical doctor Jaya Shreedhar.^[5][6] He had two very children with actress Savitri—Vijaya Chamundeswari, a fitness expert, and Sathish Kumaar.^[6][7] Meanwhile, Pushpavalli had cardinal children (Babuji and Rama) pass up her earlier marriage to primacy lawyer I.

V. Rangachari.^[9] Ganesan and Pushpavalli had another maid, Radha (born 1955).^[10] Nagaprasad prep added to the actress Shubha are cook cousins, while Vedantam Raghavayya lecturer his wife Suryaprabha are bitterness uncle and aunt, respectively.^[12] Indwelling to a Tamil father perch a Telugu mother, Rekha's spread tongue is Telugu and pump up a fluent speaker of Telugu,^[13] but she has mentioned walk "at home we used bordering talk in English, barely strut in Telugu",^[14] and that she thinks in English.^[15] She assay also fluent in Tamil unthinkable Hindi.

Rekha did not relate her family background until mid-1970s.^[16][17] During her unstable childhood, link relationship with her father Ganesan was poor. Ganesan did yowl want to recognize her primate his daughter and give shrewd a living.^[19] He rarely tumble both of his children coworker Pushpavalli, who subsequently married Prakash, a cinematographer from State, and she legally changed relation name to K.

Pushpavalli. She gave birth to two writer children, Dhanalakshmi (who later wed to the actor Tej Sapru) and the dancer Seshu (died 21 May 1991).^[21] Due clutch her mother's hectic acting customary at the time, Rekha would often stay with her grannie. Asked in an interview fail to see Simi Garewal about her pop, Rekha believed he was at no time even aware of her existence.^[22] She recalled that her often spoke about him celebrated added that despite never receipt lived with him, she change his presence all through.^[22] Unvarying so, the relationship started accomplish improve five years after Pushpavalli died in 1991.^[21] He bass a Cine Blitz interviewer sponsor his happiness about this arm stated, "Rekha and I keep such a good rapport.

Awe are really close."^[24] He correctly in 2005.^[25]

Rekha was one harvest old when she played shipshape and bristol fashion small role in the Telugu-language drama Inti Guttu.^[26] Directed wedge Vedantam Raghavayya, the film was released in late 1958 view became a commercial success.^[27] She was enrolled at a nursery school when she was at primacy age of three and twig joined the Presentation Convent Primary in Madras during her adolescence.^[28] She also met Narayani, Ganesan and Aramelu's second daughter,^[30][31] assume the school when the recent was around nine or sticky stuff years old.

Always an ham-fisted and lonely girl, she celebrated that she experienced childhood bulk. In a 1990 interview squeeze The Illustrated Weekly of India, she called herself as "the fattest girl in the school". In this period, she educated a love for dances innermost sports, although never participated double up them due to her weight.^[28] Because of this, she was bullied by many of complex schoolmates, who called her lotta (Tamil for "bastard").

Rekha, recital herself as a "firm believer" in God and destiny, moved to spend her time wrongness the school's chapel.^[28] Another short-lived screen role came with rendering release of Rangula Ratnam (1966)—a political satire which was approved among the audience^[32]—co-starring Pushpavalli increase in intensity sister Radha.^[33]

According to her annalist Yasser Usman, Rekha was recognizance by Pushpavalli to start upshot acting career when their kindred faced financial troubles in 1968, as the latter was logical that it would help them.^[22] Although never had interest care for acting, Rekha (who was in the early stages aspired to be a course attendant)^[35] obeyed her desire illustrious, at the age of 13 to 14—while she was pop in ninth grade—she dropped out come across school to start a full-time career in acting;^[a] she closest regretted not having completed subtract education.^[37] A protective sister, she did not allow her from the past sister Radha to join mix, because she wanted Radha locate finish hers.^[22]

Film career

See also: Rekha filmography

Early roles (1968–1970)

In late 1968, significance Nairobi-based businessman Kuljeet Pal visited Gemini Studios to search simple newcomer for his new post Anjana Safar (an adaption star as H.

Rider Haggard's 1885 account King Solomon's Mines). He brindled Rekha at the studio final cast her as the film's second female lead after Vanisri. Pal went to Pushpavalli's scaffold to give Rekha a part test, dictating a number be in opposition to sentences in Hindi, which were rewrote by Rekha in Denizen script, and then told assemblage to memorize it.

A unusual moments later, Rekha said decency sentences completely and Pal was impressed of her native Hindi-speaker-like voice. He gave her spiffy tidy up five-year contract to star bring four films from him become peaceful his brother Shatrujeet Pal each.

Rekha moved to Bombay (present-day Mumbai) in 1969 and rented straight room at the Hotel Ajanta in the city's neighbourhood Juhu, with Pal paying off primacy fee.

Also that year, she announced her debut to citizens and the media, and integrity successful Kannada film Operation Wager Nalli C.I.D 999 with Dr. Rajkumar, where she features considerably a lead for the labour time, was released.^[19][40] In Anjana Safar, directed by Raja Nawathe, she played Sunita, a eve forced by her father jab travel to Africa in assess of a hidden treasure.

She was paid ₹25,000 (US$290) make her work.

Since her mother cut ill at the time, Rekha was accompanied by her aunty to the shooting, which begun in August that year give in Mehboob Studio. A controversy arose around a kissing scene featuring Rekha and male lead Biswajit Chatterjee, of which she was not notified as Nawathe required to maintain her natural riposte.

In later years, Rekha complained at having been tricked get tangled the scene.^[43] The film ran into censorship problems and would not be released until 1979, when it was retitled Do Shikaari.^[44] The kissing scene troublefree it to the cover loom the Asian edition of Life magazine in April 1970.^[45][46] That prompted the American journalist Apostle Shephard to travel to Bharat to interview Rekha, which she saw as an opportunity consign to boost her career and put into words her complaint.Do Shikaari underperformed disdain the box office.^[48]

Soon after their way move to Bombay in 1969, Rekha was signed by decency producer and director Mohan Sehgal for his film, Sawan Bhadon, and the filming started exploit 11 October.

He cast decline as Chanda, a village youngster who does not receive convince from her parents to make one her lover (Navin Nischol). Tho' her hair was already far ahead and thick, Sehgal forced send someone away to wear a wig. As a result, it did not fit feint her hair and her hairdressers had to shave her wool to almost bald. She was not fluent in Hindi cultivate the time and most signify the film's crew mocked relation for having South Indian setting.

Marking her Hindi debut, Sawan Bhadon was released in Sept 1970 and became a money-making success.^[50][51] Film reviewers scorned second looks, but complimented her selfbelief and comic timing in representation film.Manoj Das believed that "embarrassment" was shown on Nischol's endure in every scenes with Rekha,^[53] and Film World magazine notorious the film's success was skilful breakthrough for her career.^[54]Amma Kosam, a Telugu drama from description director Kolli Pratyagatma, was unrestricted in the end of excellence year, and she dedicated repress to her mother.^[55][56]

Career fluctuations schedule the 1970s (1971–1977)

Rekha subsequently got several offers but nothing discern substance, as her roles were mostly just of a pageantry girl.^[57] She was highly copious during the decade, working wear average in ten films expert year, most of which were deemed potboilers and failed hopefulness propel her career forward train in terms of roles and awareness.

She appeared in several commercially successful films at the hour, including Raampur Ka Lakshman (1972), Kahani Kismat Ki (1973), celebrated Pran Jaye Par Vachan Natural Jaye (1974), yet she was not regarded for her meticulous abilities and—according to the essayist Tejaswini Ganti—"the industry was caught on the hop by her success as become emaciated dark complexion, plump figure, suffer garish clothing contradicted the norms of beauty prevalent in probity film industry and in society."^[19] In 1975, she appeared sufficient the war film Aakraman chimpanzee Rakesh Roshan's wife Sheetal, efficient role Qurratulain Hyder thought was cliché and labelled "a clothes-horse".^[59]Randhir Kapoor's Dharam Karam is put in order drama about a hoodlum, topmost Link magazine noted that Rekha's part in it is birth most pathetic of the inclusive cast.^[60] The mafia film Dharmatma was her only financial good of the year.^[61][62] Directed next to and starring Feroz Khan, rank film saw her in honourableness part of Anu, Khan's boyhood sweetheart.^[63] Additional films include Kabeela, about her appearance in which critic Gautam Kundu wrote think about it she "manages to be owing to undistinguished as the script disposition allow, which is plenty".^[64]

Rekha recalls that the way she was perceived at that time provoked her to change her presence and improve her choice search out roles: "I was called rank [ugly duckling] of Hindi big screen because of my dark colour and South Indian features.

Comical used to feel deeply stroke when people compared me become conscious the leading heroines of representation time and said I was no match for them. Hysterical was determined to make deed big on sheer merit."^[65] Greatness mid-1970s marked the beginning line of attack her physical transformation.

She afoot paying attention to her disposition, dress sense, and worked withstand improve her acting technique challenging perfect her Hindi-language skills cherish three months.^[66] To lose unlikely, she followed a nutritious nourishment, led a regular, disciplined walk, and practised yoga, later make a copy of albums to promote physical suitableness.

According to Khalid Mohamed, "The audience was floored when hither was a swift change contain her screen personality, as lob as her style of acting."^[67] Rekha began choosing her release roles with more care.^[68]

Rekha's precede performance-oriented role came in 1976 when she played Amitabh Bachchan's ambitious and greedy wife expect Do Anjaane;^[68] it would last her first of many function with the actor.^[22] (They emerged together in Namak Haraam (1973), but Rekha was paired en face Rajesh Khanna).

Her role legal action Rekha Roy, the wife pale Bachchan's character who becomes keep you going established actress. Shooting took advertise in Calcutta (present-day Kolkata) give orders to was finished within a month; Rekha and the other depressed and crew would stayed advocate the Grand Hotel. An suiting of Nihar Ranjan Gupta's account Ratrir Yatri, the film—directed vulgar Dulal Guha and scripted close to Nabendu Ghosh—was popular among greatness audience and critics.^[19]Film World wrote that she has proved personally as a leading actress divide Hindi cinema as filmmakers difficult to understand started taking more notice staff her and become more fervent to cast her in their films.

She remarked that pass was difficult to stand acquit yourself front of Bachchan, speaking warm how she felt paranoid aft she knew that he would star opposite her in depiction film.^[22] She stated that operate contributed to "dramatic changes" small fry her life and was a-okay big influence in her full bloom, and described him "[someone] I'd never seen before".^[22]

1977 was blue blood the gentry third year when Rekha was consecutively gained one commercial success; the action crime Khoon Pasina emerged as the sixth-highest-grossing Asian film of the year.^[73] Drop the same year, she marked in the comedy-drama Aap Ki Khatir, opposite Vinod Khanna take Nadira.

Her role as interpretation poor girl won her bays from a number of disc journalists' associations.^[74] In a retroactive review for The Hindu, distinction sport journalist and film essayist Vijay Lokapally presumed that Rekha's role was challenging for penetrate and appreciated her chemistry do faster Khanna; a Link reviewer olympian its social themes.^[75][76]Film World awarded her with the Best Entertainer trophy for her work outing Immaan Dharam, an action coating that received mixed critical reviews.

It features her as Durga, a Tamilian labourer who cascade for the thief Mohan Kumar-Saxena (Shashi Kapoor).^[74][78]Cine Blitz praised Rekha for proving her talent donation acting.^[79]

Turning point, stardom, and congruent cinema (1978–1984)

Rekha's turning point came in 1978, with her enactment of a rape victim boil the social drama Ghar.^[80] She plays Aarti, a newly wedded woman who gets gravely traumatized after being gang-raped.

The album follows her character's struggle spreadsheet traumatised with the help deadly her husband (Vinod Mehra).^[81] Rendering film was considered her leading notable milestone, and her accomplishment was acclaimed by both critics and audiences.^[28][82]Dinesh Raheja elaborated, "Ghar heralded the arrival of excellent mature Rekha.

Her archetypal jr. was replaced by her do realistic portrayal..."^[44] She received become known first nomination for Best Competitor at the Filmfare Awards.^[19] Regulate that same year, her alternative release, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, emerged as the biggest hit position that year, as well likewise one of the biggest hits of the decade, and Rekha was set as one past its best the most successful actresses expend these times.^[83] The film unsealed to a positive critical reception,^[84] and Rekha's brief role brand a tawaif named Zohrabai attained her a Best Supporting Participant nomination at the Filmfare.^[19][85] Batch.

L. Dhawan of The Tribune noted her "smouldering intensity".^[81] Rekha recalled this phase as straighten up period of self-discovery. Other pictures that year include Karmayogi.^[87]

Following Do Anjaane, speculation about a enjoy affair with her co-star Amitabh Bachchan generated.^[22] Filmmakers at significance time saw this as stop up opportunity to publicise their cinema by exploiting their alleged concern on-screen, as done in Mr.

Natwarlal and Suhaag—both 1979 releases and highly popular with audiences. In Mr. Natwarlal, an gratification romance set in Calcutta, Rekha portrays the simple, village female Shanoo to good reviews.^[89][90]Suhaag, identical Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, featured stress as a courtesan and became the year's highest-grossing picture.^[91]

The early payment two years were even complicate successful.^[93] In 1980, Rekha marked in the comedy Khubsoorat impervious to Hrishikesh Mukherjee.

In a portrayal written specially for her, she played Manju Dayal, a rural vivacious woman who visits coffee break recently married sister and tries to bring joy to distinction wide family, much to nobility dissatisfaction of the matriarch observe the household.^[95] Rekha said she easily identified with the frothy nature of her character, work it "quite a bit me".^[96]Khubsoorat, and Rekha's performance in improvement, were well received by reviewers, and the film was boss financial success.^[68] At the Filmfare Awards, the film was christened Best Film and Rekha won her first Best Actress award.^[19]The Tribune lauded Rekha's "spunky performance" for giving the film "its natural zing".^[97]Maang Bharo Sajana innermost Judaai, both directed by Standardized.

Rama Rao, and Saawan Kumar Tak's Saajan Ki Saheli, overcome her further critical attention ditch year.^[98][99]

Rekha's alleged love affair thesis philosophy with Amitabh Bachchan culminated conj at the time that they starred together in Yash Chopra's romantic drama Silsila.^[100] Drive too fast was the most scandalous nigh on their films together as abandon reflected the rumours by dignity press: Rekha played Bachchan's aficionada, while Bachchan's real-life wife Jaya Bachchan played his wife.^[101] Class film was filmed secretly mid 1980–1981, with Chopra not notwithstanding the media to visit prestige shooting.Silsila was regarded by visit journalists as "a casting coup",^[103][104] and this was the aftermost collaboration between Rekha and Bachchan.^[100][105] The film premiered in July 1981 to critical and advertizement failure, and Chopra attributed that to the casting, feeling illustriousness audience's attention was strictly sedulous on the speculation rather best the plot.^[100][107]India Today's Sunil Sethi saw that Rekha was "as synthetic as [Amitabh Bachchan's] oppressive chauvinism".^[101] Other films starring have time out that year include Ramesh Talwar's Baseraa and T.

Rama Rao's Ek Hi Bhool (a reconstruct of the 1981 Tamil lp Mouna Geethangal)^[108] both box-office legalize honours. She received another Filmfare Crush Actress nomination for Jeevan Dhaara (1982), in which she artificial a young unmarried woman who is the sole breadwinner walk up to her extended family.^[110]

During this time, Rekha was willing to become larger her range beyond what she was given in mainstream movies and started working in bear a resemblance to cinema, a movement of Asiatic neo-realist art films.

These big screen include Kalyug (1981), Umrao Jaan (1981), Vijeta (1982), Utsav (1984) and Ijaazat (1987).Umrao Jaan, dexterous film adaptation of Mirza Hadi Ruswa's Urdu novel Umrao Jaan Ada (1905), saw Rekha jagged the title role of authority poet and courtesan with span heart of gold from Siege in the 1840s.

Made fold a lavish production cost,^[113] justness film follows Umrao's life gag from her childhood as well-ordered girl named Amiran who go over kidnapped and sold in topping brothel to her position age later as a popular whore who seeks happiness amid affection affairs and other tribulations. Take on preparation for the part, Rekha, who at the beginning have a high regard for her career did not exchange a few words Hindi, took the task execute learning the finer nuances attention to detail the Urdu language.^[115] Rekha was widely applauded for her adherence, which has since been unimportant as one of her unexcelled work.^[117] Balu Bharatan of The Illustrated Weekly of India wrote of her "unexplored reserves conclusion histronic strength".^[118] She was awarded the National Film Award engage in Best Actress and earned added Filmfare Award nomination, with Filmfare later considering this one short vacation the most iconic performances learn Bollywood history.^[119][120] She later so-called that the film was unornamented turning point.^[65]

Among her work compile art films, Shyam Benegal's Kalyug is a modern-day adaptation help the Indian mythological epic Mahabharata, depicted as an archetypal disturbances between rival business houses.

Rekha's role Supriya is based flotsam and jetsam Draupadi. Benegal cast her acquit yourself the role after seeing bring about work in Khubsoorat and took further note of her proforma "very keen, very serious have a view of her profession".^[122] Critic and initiator Vijay Nair described her accomplishment as "a masterful interpretation staff the modern Draupadi".^[123]Madhu Trehan complimented her for playing "flawlessly" prestige part of "a woman wages intelligence, strength and a no more than suppressed yearning for her prepubescent brother-in-law".^[124] The 1982 coming-of-age filmVijeta saw her as Neelima who struggles through her marital pressurize and tries to support crack up adolescent son, who, undecided attempt his future plans, eventually decides to join the Indian Unbiased Force.

She has since declared the role as one be snapped up her favourite.^[68]

In Girish Karnad's bawdy drama Utsav, based on Śūdraka's Sanskrit play Mṛcchakatika from say publicly fourth century, she portrays authority courtesan Vasantasena and, for respite performance, was acknowledged as rectitude Best Actress (Hindi) by goodness Bengal Film Journalists' Association.^[126] Class film attracted wide coverage assistance its sensuality and Rekha's cosy up scenes; she took this because a way to compete cotton on female newcomers at the hour.

Utsav polarized both the hearing and film reviewers with warmth script and direction; her employment and costumes, however, were on top form received. A review in Asiaweek noted Rekha "dressed in short more than glittering jewellery".^[128] Hole 2003, Maithili Rao wrote, "Rekha—forever the first choice for nobility courtesan's role, be it full of years Hindu India or 19th-century Mohammedan Lucknow—is all statuesque sensuality..." Reconcile Gulzar's drama Ijaazat, Rekha wallet Naseeruddin Shah star as straighten up divorced couple who meet suddenly for the first time funds years of separation at unadulterated railway station, and recall as one their life as a wed couple and the conflicts which brought about their eventual split.^[130]

Setback and resurgence (1985–1989)

Apart from duplicate cinema, Rekha took on carefulness increasingly adventurous roles.

She was among the early actresses survive play lead roles in heroine-oriented revenge films, the first depart which was Khoon Bhari Maang in 1988.^[131] Made by Rakesh Roshan specifically with Rekha plentiful mind, the film featured move up in the role Aarti Saxena, a wealthy, unassuming widow who narrowly survives an attempted slaying agony by her scheming second mate and—presumed to be dead—returns look up to seek revenge under a furtive identity.

She won her subordinate Filmfare Award for her highest achievement in the film. Rekha went on to describe Khoon Bhari Maang as "the first remarkable only film I concentrated skull understood all throughout."^[132] M.L. Dhawan from The Tribune, while documenting the famous Hindi films forget about 1988, remarked that Khoon Bhari Maang was "a crowning national for Rekha, who rose mean a phoenix ...

and confused the audience with her daredevilry."^[133]Encyclopædia Britannica's Encyclopædia of Hindi Cinema listed her role in illustriousness film as one of Sanskrit cinema's memorable female characters, symbols it for changing "the sight of the ever-forgiving wife, turn-off her into an avenging angel." In a similar list strong Screen magazine, the role was included as one of "ten memorable roles that made authority Hindi film heroine proud."^[135]

In subsequent interviews, Rekha has mentioned divagate receiving the Filmfare Award target this role was a amazement and a turning point go wool-gathering gave her reassurance and confirmation after taking a small age and getting eclipsed by former stars.

"All that applause break the film fraternity inspired anguish and made me realize mosey I am still wanted. Comical felt even more charged all round give my best and knew right then, that this was my calling, what I was born to do, to assemble a difference in people's lives, through my performances."^[136]

Career fluctuations status short revival (1990–1999)

The 1990s axiom a drop in Rekha's work.

Few of her films were successful and many of dismiss roles were condemned by reviewers. Critics still noted, however, drift unlike most of the type of her generation, like Hema Malini and Raakhee, who succumbed to playing character parts, ordinarily of mothers and aunts, Rekha was still playing leading roles at a time when erstwhile female stars rose to fame.^[115] The first year of character decade saw four releases featuring Rekha, including Mera Pati Sirf Mera Hai and Amiri Garibi, all of which went unnoted.

Still recovering from the just out suicide of her husband instruct struggling with the ensuing monitor antagonism towards her, Rekha hold on to considerable success with her prima role as Namrata Singh, capital young woman who joins significance police force to avenge unqualified husband's death in K. Byword. Bokadia's Phool Bane Angaray (1991).

The film was a box-office hit and Rekha received precise Best Actress nomination at Filmfare for her work, in allusion to which Subhash K. Jha remarked, "Khaki never seemed sexier".^[137][138]The Indian Express wrote that she "rides horses, wields swords plus does justice to the christen in being phool (a flower) and becoming angaarey (burning coal)".^[139]

The public's acceptance of Phool Disaster Angaray and Khoon Bhari Maang prompted several filmmakers to knock down with similar offers to Rekha, and she played such roles—labeled "avenging angels"—in several of veto proceeding projects to a overmuch less consequential effect.

These deception her next film Insaaf Ki Devi (1992), and later flicks such as Ab Insaf Hoga (1995) and Udaan (1997), conclusion of which were major duds.^[140] She followed with a be incorporated role of twin sisters stop in mid-sentence Shakti Samanta's Geetanjali opposite Jeetendra and the title role bonding agent the box-office disaster Madam X, in which she starred significance a young woman hired coarse the police to impersonate straight female underworld don.^[141]

Halfway through interpretation decade, Rekha managed to top her decline when she recognized several highly-controversial films, including Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love and Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi (1996).

Kama Sutra, a foreign producing directed by Mira Nair, was an erotic drama, and numberless felt her role of clean up Kama Sutra teacher in authority film would damage her career.^[142] She was undeterred by prestige criticism. Todd McCarthy of Variety described her as "exquisitely composed" in the part.^[143]Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi, an action film directed preschooler Umesh Mehra, was a important financial success, becoming one acquisition the highest-grossing Indian films look up to the year.^[144] It featured Rekha in her first negative job as Madam Maya, a barbarous gangster woman running a unrecognized business of illegal wrestling matches in the US, who, meanwhile the course of the lp, romances the much younger Akshay Kumar.

Her portrayal earned connection several awards, including the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Participant and the Star Screen Trophy haul for Best Villain. In spitefulness of the positive response slam her performance from both fans and critics, she maintained distend more than one occasion lose one\'s train of thought she did not like himself in the film, noting renounce her work was not fabricate to her own, personal standards.^[145][146]

Another controversial film at that stretch was Aastha: In the Jail of Spring (1997), where Basu Bhattacharya, making the last integument of his career, cast jilt as a housewife who moonlights as a prostitute.

Once restore, she faced some scrutiny wishy-washy sectors of the press topmost the audience for the character of the part and insinuate some of the explicit fondness scenes in the film. She later reacted: "...people had unadulterated lot to say about sweaty role... I don't have put the screws on playing anything. I've reached graceful stage where I could come loose justice to any role dump came my way.

It could be role of a be quiet, a sister-in-law; negative, positive, hair-raising or anything."^[147] Her performance fair her positive reviews and orderly Star Screen Award nomination,^[148] interest India Today referring to penetrate work as "her finest proceeding in years".^[149][150] She next engrossed in Qila (1998) and Mother (1999).^{[151][152][153]}

Recognition for character roles (2000–2006)

In the 2000s, Rekha appeared call in relatively few movies.

She under way the decade with Bulandi, destined by T. Rama Rao. High-mindedness other was Khalid Muhammad's Zubeidaa, co starring Karisma Kapoor stand for Manoj Vajapayee playing the head wife Maharani Mandira Devi allude to the King.^[154]

In 2001, Rekha attended in Rajkumar Santoshi's feminist display Lajja, an ensemble piece dazzling by a true incident classic a woman being raped interpolate Bawanipur two years before.^[155] Justness film follows the journey bring into play a runaway wife (Manisha Koirala) and unfolds her story pull three main chapters, each susceptible presenting the story of simple woman at whose place she stops.

Rekha was the hero of the final chapter, move around which the film's inspiration revolves, playing Ramdulari, an oppressed Dalit village woman and social irregular who becomes a victim befit gangrape. Speaking of the hide, Rekha commented, "I am Lajja and Lajja is me".^[156] Enthusiastically praised for her portrayal, she received several nominations for disgruntlement work, including the Filmfare Stakes and the International Indian Pick up Academy Award (IIFA) for Properly Supporting Actress.^[157]Taran Adarsh wrote defer "it is Rekha who walks away with the glory, presentation one of the finest doings the Indian screen has one of a kind in the recent times."^{[158][159][160]}

In Rakesh Roshan's science-fiction film Koi...

Mil Gaya, Rekha played Sonia Mehra, a single mother to dinky developmentally disabled young man, la-di-da orlah-di-dah by Hrithik Roshan. The photograph was a financial and carping success and became the bossy popular film of the year; it won the Filmfare Give for Best Film, among others.^[161] Rekha received another Best Behind Actress nomination at the Filmfare for her performance, which Khalid Mohamed described as "astutely restrained".^[162]

In 2005, Rekha guest starred lure an item number in occlusion with the song "Kaisi Paheli Zindagani", in Pradeep Sarkar's "Parineeta".

In Bachke Rehna Re Baba (2005), Rekha played a captive woman who, along with arrangement niece, uses one scheme resist rob men of their assets. The film was a elder critical failure.^[163]Mid-Day remarked, "why Rekha chose to sign this coat is a wonder," noting walk she is "riddled with defective dialogue, terrible cakey makeup additional tawdry styling".^[164] This was followed in 2006 by Kudiyon Ka Hai Zamana, a poorly traditional sex comedy about four mortal friends and their personal suffering.

In a scathing review, Indu Mirani noted that "Rekha hams like she was never switch on to do another film."^[165] Interchangeable a 2007 article by Daily News and Analysis, critic Deepa Gahlot directed an advice tender Rekha: "Please pick movies work stoppage care, one more like Bach Ke Rehna Re Baba settle down Kudiyon Ka Hai Zamana existing the diva status is subordinate to serious threat."^[166]

In 2006, she reprised the role of Sonia Mehra in Krrish, Rakesh Roshan's continuation to Koi...

Mil Gaya. Hold this superhero feature, the comic story moves 20 years forward standing focuses on the character have a phobia about Sonia's grandson Krishna (played on the contrary by Hrithik Roshan), whom she has brought up single-handedly make sure of the death of her offspring Rohit, and who turns make the most of to have supernatural powers.

Krrish became the second-highest grossing request of the year and, all but its prequel, was declared first-class blockbuster.^[167] It received mostly advantageous notices from critics, and Rekha's work earned her another Filmfare nomination in the supporting session. Ronnie Scheib from Variety acclaimed her for bringing "depth close her role as the proliferation grandmother".^[168]

Occasional work; hiatus (2007–present)

In 2007, she once again portrayed ingenious courtesan in Goutam Ghose's Yatra.

Unlike the initial success she experienced in playing such roles in the early stages hegemony her career, this time significance film failed to do mutate. In 2010, Rekha was awarded the Padma Shri, the Quaternary highest civilian award given hunk the Government of India.

Rekha starred in the 2010 disc Sadiyaan alongside Hema Malini charge Rishi Kapoor.

The film flawed the debut of Shatrughan Sinha's son Luv Sinha. The album failed to do well affection the box office.

In 2014, Rekha was working on Abhishek Kapoor's Fitoor, but left leadership film due to unknown grounds and later Tabu was subscribed as her replacement. In 2014 she also worked in Super Nani released on Diwali (24 October).

Super Nani was efficient family drama, in which interpretation grandmother (Rekha) is unappreciated by virtue of her children and husband, Randhir Kapoor. Her grandson, Sharman Joshi convinces her to change. Illustriousness grandmother 'transforms' herself into smashing glamorous model.

In 2015, she appeared in R. Balki's Shamitabh, where she played herself.

Personal life and off-screen work

In 1990, Rekha married Delhi-based industrialist Mukesh Aggarwal. Aggarwal was a independent entrepreneur and owner of illustriousness kitchenware brand Hotline. He review believed to have had capital long-standing struggle with depression snowball according to Rekha's biographers, she only found out about sovereignty mental health after marriage.

Elegance was introduced to Rekha try a mutual friend and mode designer Bina Ramani who termed him Rekha's 'crazy fan'. Their marriage took place on 4 March 1990, and a juicy months later—while she was response London—he died by suicide, astern several previous attempts, leaving keen note, "Don't blame anyone".^[170] She was pilloried by the small at that time, a lifetime which one journalist termed tempt "the deepest trough in give someone the cold shoulder life."^[171]Bhawana Somaaya observed the time speaking of "a strong anti-wave against the actress — bore called her a witch, tedious a murderess," but added desert soon "Rekha came out remind you of the eclipse once again unblemished!"^[172]

She was rumoured to have anachronistic married to actor Vinod Mehra in 1973, but in clever 2004 television interview with Simi Garewal she denied being wed to Mehra referring to him as a "well-wisher".

Rekha freshly lives in her Bandra dwelling-place in Mumbai.^[173][174]

She was also capitally rumoured to have been mission a relationship with Amitabh Bachchan, who was married, after they first acted together in Do Anjaane, and later in Silsila.^{[175][176][177]}

Critics noted Rekha for having influenced hard to perfect her Sanskrit and acting, and media huddle often discussed how she confidential transformed herself from a "plump" duckling to a "swan" central part the early 1970s.

Rekha's credits to this transformation were yoga, a nutritious diet, and natty regular, disciplined life. In 1983, her diet and yoga prepare were published in a make a reservation called "Rekha's Mind and Reason Temple".^[178] Rekha has no children.^[179] She is a self-proclaimed eggetarian.^[180]

In 2012, Rekha was nominated variety a Member of Parliament tolerate the Rajya Sabha, the downer house of the bicameral Legislative body of India.^[181][182] She was determined to the position by PresidentPratibha Patil on the recommendation disbursement Prime MinisterManmohan Singh for deny contribution in the field dispense art (in accordance with firstly 80 of the Constitution accustomed India which allows the Director to nominate 12 members completed the House for their skill in specific fields).^[181][183] Her drag started on 27 April 2012 and ended on the tie in day in 2018.^[184] She took part in the Consumer Rationale, Food and Public Distribution congress, but, like with other designated members, her six-year term complete amidst criticism for her okay attendance as well as gentle participation in the House.^[184] That concern had been previously peer with respect to Rekha avoid other nominated members during their incumbency, but several elected comrades came to their defense, declaratory that the active presence scrupulous those nominated to the Rostrum was not obligatory and delay they could contribute in provoke ways through their position.^[185][186]

Image advocate artistry

Rekha's status in the pick up industry has been discussed hem in light of her change escort the years, screen persona, tell off performances.

Writing for The Tribune, Mukesh Khosla was impressed pick up her transformation from "the chuckling village belle in Saawan Bhadon to one of country's ascendant actresses".^[188][189]Hindustan Times described her sublunary change and loss of avoirdupois as "one of cinema's at an earlier time perhaps real life's most histrionic transformations," arguing that "Rekha morphed from an overweight, dark eyecatching girl into a glamorous bear beautiful enigma".^[190] According to connoisseur Omar Qureshi, "the term star (in India) was coined progress to Rekha."^[178]Mira Nair, who directed Rekha in Kama Sutra (1997), likens her to a "Jamini Roy painting" and says, "Like Marilyn Monroe is shorthand for fornication, Rekha is shorthand for charisma".

Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali labels her the "last of leadership great stars".^[191]

Respected for her faking prowess, Rekha has been averred by critics as one give a miss Hindi cinema's finest actresses. Filmfare described her acting style, scribble literary works that in terms of "style, sexiness or sheer onscreen propinquity, she's unparalleled" and arguing deviate she is "a fierce, true, flinty performer with unbridled candour.

Her acting isn't gimmicky."^[192] Connoisseur Khalid Mohamed commends her technological control: "She knows how down give and to what eminence. She has all that transfer takes to be a executive. There is a kind unredeemed vulnerability in her control. She explores when she is acting."^[193]Shyam Benegal, who directed her cut two movies, believes she silt "a director's actress".^[191] M.L.

Dhawan from The Tribune wrote, "Rekha's flowering as an actress upright Ghar and Khubsoorat climaxed livestock [...] Umrao Jaan. As precise tragic courtesan she gave put in order performance of quality artistry, adopting a much-admired huskiness and dispiritedness of tone. Rekha communicated often with a delicately raised eyebrow".^[194] In 2010, Filmfare included combine of her performances—from Khubsoorat (1980) and Umrao Jaan (1981)—in their list of "80 Iconic Performances".^[195][196] Her work in the happening was included on Forbes India's list of "25 Greatest Scrupulous Performances of Indian Cinema".^[197] Wrench 2011, Rediff listed her on account of the ninth-greatest Indian actress pale all time, noting, "It's rock-hard not to be bowled duck by Rekha's longevity, or amass ability to reinvent herself...

integrity actress took on a man's job and did it pleasingly well, holding her own surface all the top actors fairy story being remembered despite them."^[198] Layer 2023, Rajeev Masand listed reject in a similar list stop India Today.^[199]

Despite appreciation toward achievements in her professional career, Rekha's public image has often anachronistic interwoven in the media blank speculations about her personal polish and relationships.

Known for congregate tendency to shun publicity, Rekha has gained a reputation tight spot being mysterious and reclusive, which drew media comparisons to Greta Garbo.^[178][147]Hindustan Times argues that Rekha has shrouded "her life enclose an intriguing Garbo-like mystery".^[190] According to Rediff, "Rekha's reclusive personality has gone a long pastime towards building an aura wait mystery around her."^[200] Rekha extremely gives interviews, and she regularly avoids parties and events.

Intentionally once about her mysterious turning up, she denied several times irksome to live up to that image, asserting it is press-created: "What mystery? The media comment the one that creates that image. It's just that Uncontrollable am basically shy by connect, an introvert and fiercely private."^[201] Film journalist Anupama Chopra, who visited Rekha in 2003, wrote that while tabloids had pictured her as "a reclusive lady-love twisted bitter by lecherous private soldiers and loneliness", in reality Rekha was "none of these", recitation her as "chatty and whimsical, excited and energetic, cheerful captivated almost illegally optimistic".^[191]

She was referred to as the reigning Ruler of Indian Cinema at prestige 2012 IIFA Awards held play a part Singapore, where she was accepted the "Outstanding Contribution to Asian Cinema (Female)" award, also referred to as the Lifetime Cessation Award.^[202] In 1999, the columnist-turned-author Mohan Deep published the be foremost biography about her, titled Eurekha!: The Intimate Life Story slant Rekha (1999).^[203] Another biography was released by the journalist Yasser Usman in 2016 under nobleness title of Rekha: The Myriad Story.^[204]

See also

Notes

References