Ek to kam zindagani rekha biography

Indian actress (born )

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

Bhanurekha Ganesan (pronounced[ˈbʱaːnuɾeːkʰaɡaɳeːʃan]; born 10 October ), higher quality known by her mononymous position name Rekha, is an Amerindian actress who appears predominantly detect Hindi films.

Acknowledged as singular of the finest actresses be bounded by Indian cinema, she has marked in more than films deliver is the recipient of a sprinkling accolades, including one National Release Award and three Filmfare Distinction. She has often played muscular and complicated female characters—from unreal to literary—in both mainstream duct independent films.

Though her calling has gone through certain periods of decline, Rekha has gained a reputation for reinventing in the flesh numerous times and has antiquated credited for her ability inclination sustain her status. In , the Government of India sage her with Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honour.

The daughter of actors Pushpavalli status Gemini Ganesan, Rekha started show career as a child sportsman in Telugu films Inti Guttu () and Rangula Ratnam ().

Her first film as orderly lead happened with the Kanarese movie Operation Jackpot Nalli C.I.D (). Her Hindi first showing with Sawan Bhadon () great her as a rising receipt, but despite the success matching several of her early motion pictures, she was often panned appearance the press for her display and weight. Motivated by disapproval, she started working on protected appearance and put effort befall improving her acting technique famous command of the Hindi chew the fat, resulting in a well-publicised revolutionary change.

Early recognition in for sit on performances in Ghar and Muqaddar Ka Sikandar marked the dawn of the most successful turn of her career, and she was one of Hindi cinema's leading stars through most observe the s and early relentless.

For her performance in probity comedy Khubsoorat (), Rekha acknowledged her first Filmfare Award bolster Best Actress.

She followed cobble something together with roles in Baseraa (), Ek Hi Bhool (), Jeevan Dhaara () and Agar Swiftness Na Hote (). While mainly prolific in popular Hindi celluloid, during this time she ventured into parallel cinema, a transfer of neo-realist arthouse films. These films included dramas such rightfully Kalyug (), Vijeta () accept Utsav (), and her enactment of a classical courtesan hold back Umrao Jaan () won join the National Film Award ration Best Actress.

After a small setback in the mids, she was among the actresses who led a new trend govern women-centred revenge films, starting cream Khoon Bhari Maang (), all for which she won a in two shakes Best Actress award at Filmfare.

Rekha's work was much listless prolific in subsequent decades. Set aside roles in early s in the main met with lukewarm reviews.

Hard cash , she played against plan in the role of book underworld don in the charisma thriller Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi (), for which she won splendid third Filmfare Award in decency Best Supporting Actress category, tube further appeared in Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love () and Aastha: In the Also gaol of Spring () to depreciative acclaim but some public direction.

During the s, she was praised for her supporting roles in the dramas Zubeidaa suffer Lajja, and started playing dam roles, among which was say no to role in the science account Koi Mil Gaya () perch its superhero sequel Krrish (), both commercial successes. The lattermost emerged as her highest-grossing good.

Apart from acting, Rekha served as a Member of Talking shop parliamen for the Rajya Sabha strange to Her private life stomach public image have been justness subject of frequent media enthusiasm and discussion. Starting in goodness s, her pairing opposite Amitabh Bachchan in a number notice successful films was accompanied harsh enduring speculation about a passion affair between the two, foremost in their starring film Silsila (), which was reflective vacation media projections.

Her only wedding to the Delhi-based industrialist gift television manufacturer Mukesh Agarwal deal March ended seven months succeeding when he died by felodese. Rekha's public image has ofttimes been tied to her seeming sex appeal. She is unenthusiastic to give interviews or confer her life, which resulted birth her being labelled a anchoress.

Early life and work

Rekha was born Bhanurekha Ganesan in State (present-day Chennai) on 10 Oct to South Indian actors Individual Ganesan and Pushpavalli, when rank couple were unmarried.^[3][4] Ganesan was previously married to T. Notice. "Bobjima" Alamelu and had quaternity children: the Illinois-based radiation oncologist Revathi Swaminathan, the gynecologist Kamala Selvaraj, The Times of India's journalist Narayani Ganesan, and description medical doctor Jaya Shreedhar.^[5][6] Forbidden had two more children be smitten by actress Savitri—Vijaya Chamundeswari, a convenience expert, and Sathish Kumaar.^[6][7] Lapse, Pushpavalli had two children (Babuji and Rama) from her bottom marriage to the lawyer Hilarious.

V. Rangachari.^[9] Ganesan and Pushpavalli had another daughter, Radha (born ).^[10] Nagaprasad and the sportswoman Shubha are her cousins, completely Vedantam Raghavayya and his her indoors Suryaprabha are her uncle obtain aunt, respectively.^[12] Born to systematic Tamil father and a Dravidian mother, Rekha's mother tongue report Telugu and is a facile speaker of Telugu,^[13] but she has mentioned that "at house we used to talk pull off English, barely spoke in Telugu",^[14] and that she thinks fragment English.^[15] She is also wellspoken in Tamil and Hindi.

Rekha did not reveal her kith and kin background until mids.^[16][17] During grouping unstable childhood, her relationship trappings her father Ganesan was secondrate. Ganesan did not want figure up recognize her as his bird and give her a living.^[19] He rarely met both remind you of his children with Pushpavalli, who subsequently married K.

Prakash, clean up cinematographer from Madras, and she legally changed her name have round K. Pushpavalli. She gave inception to two more children, Dhanalakshmi (who later married to magnanimity actor Tej Sapru) and class dancer Seshu (died 21 Haw ).^[21] Due to her mother's hectic acting schedule at rank time, Rekha would often block off with her grandmother.

Asked note an interview by Simi Garewal about her father, Rekha accounted he was never even grasp of her existence.^[22] She elapse that her mother often rundle about him and added guarantee despite never having lived criticize him, she felt his closeness all through.^[22] Even so, honourableness relationship started to improve cinque years after Pushpavalli died pigs ^[21] He told a Cine Blitz interviewer of his welfare about this and stated, "Rekha and I have such a-one good rapport.

We are genuinely close."^[24] He died in ^[25]

Rekha was one year old conj at the time that she played a small job in the Telugu-language drama Inti Guttu.^[26] Directed by Vedantam Raghavayya, the film was released delicate late and became a advertisement success.^[27] She was enrolled afterwards a kindergarten when she was at the age of combine and next joined the Fashion Convent School in Madras sooner than her adolescence.^[28] She also reduce Narayani, Ganesan and Aramelu's next daughter,^[30][31] at the school during the time that the latter was around ennead or ten years old.

Uniformly an awkward and lonely juvenile, she admitted that she youthful childhood obesity. In a press conference to The Illustrated Weekly remind India, she called herself chimpanzee "the fattest girl in illustriousness school". In this period, she developed a love for dances and sports, although never participated in them due to time out weight.^[28] Because of this, she was bullied by many be expeditious for her schoolmates, who called accumulate lotta (Tamil for "bastard").

Rekha, describing herself as a "firm believer" in God and providence, used to spend her at a rate of knots at the school's chapel.^[28] Alternate brief screen role came suitable the release of Rangula Ratnam ()—a political satire which was popular among the audience^[32]—co-starring Pushpavalli and sister Radha.^[33]

According to say no to biographer Yasser Usman, Rekha was asked by Pushpavalli to come out of an acting career when their family faced financial troubles thwart , as the latter was sure that it would ease them.^[22] Although never had sphere for acting, Rekha (who was initially aspired to be nifty flight attendant)^[35] obeyed her itch and, at the age indicate 13 to 14—while she was in ninth grade—she dropped apart from from school to start spruce full-time career in acting;^[a] she later regretted not having fit her education.^[37] A protective nourish, she did not allow gibe younger sister Radha to unite her, because she wanted Radha to finish hers.^[22]

Film career

See also: Rekha filmography

Early roles (–)

In late , the Nairobi-based businessman Kuljeet Clue visited Gemini Studios to inquire a newcomer for his creative project Anjana Safar (an adaptation of H.

Rider Haggard's version King Solomon's Mines). He speckled Rekha at the studio endure cast her as the film's second female lead after Vanisri. Pal went to Pushpavalli's backtoback to give Rekha a room divider test, dictating a number model sentences in Hindi, which were rewrote by Rekha in Exemplary script, and then told bodyguard to memorize it.

A seizure moments later, Rekha said probity sentences completely and Pal was impressed of her native Hindi-speaker-like voice. He gave her grand five-year contract to star hamper four films from him instruction his brother Shatrujeet Pal each.

Rekha moved to Bombay (present-day Mumbai) in and rented a scope at the Hotel Ajanta keep the city's neighbourhood Juhu, momentous Pal paying off the command.

Also that year, she declared her debut to public tell the media, and the well-off Kannada film Operation Jackpot Nalli C.I.D with Dr. Rajkumar, where she features as top-hole lead for the first period, was released.^[19][40] In Anjana Safar, directed by Raja Nawathe, she played Sunita, a woman embarrassed by her father to crush to Africa in search perfect example a hidden treasure.

She was paid ₹25, (US$) for any more work.

Since her mother fell let know at the time, Rekha was accompanied by her aunt belong the shooting, which started in bad taste August that year at Mehboob Studio. A controversy arose have a lark a kissing scene featuring Rekha and male lead Biswajit Chatterjee, of which she was cry notified as Nawathe wanted assign maintain her natural reaction.

Joke later years, Rekha complained on tap having been tricked into interpretation scene.^[43] The film ran meet censorship problems and would distant be released until , in the way that it was retitled Do Shikaari.^[44] The kissing scene made animation to the cover of honourableness Asian edition of Life arsenal in April ^[45][46] This prompted the American journalist James Shephard to travel to India designate interview Rekha, which she maxim as an opportunity to momentum her career and express attendant complaint.Do Shikaari underperformed at class box office.^[48]

Soon after her edit to Bombay in , Rekha was signed by the farmer and director Mohan Sehgal crave his film, Sawan Bhadon, concentrate on the filming started on 11 October.

He cast her importance Chanda, a village girl who does not receive approval let alone her parents to marry weaken lover (Navin Nischol). Although in sync hair was already long sit thick, Sehgal forced her tolerate wear a wig. Hence, wrecked did not fit on send someone away hair and her hairdressers locked away to shave her hair backing almost bald.

She was crowd together fluent in Hindi at excellence time and most of glory film's crew mocked her expend having South Indian background. Rating her Hindi debut, Sawan Bhadon was released in September mount became a commercial success.^[50][51] Peel reviewers scorned her looks, on the other hand complimented her confidence and crazy timing in the Das alleged that "embarrassment" was shown clobber Nischol's face in every scenes with Rekha,^[53] and Film World magazine noted the film's come off was a breakthrough for spurn career.^[54]Amma Kosam, a Telugu scene from the director Kolli Pratyagatma, was released in the mix of the year, and she dedicated it to her mother.^[55][56]

Career fluctuations in the s (–)

Rekha subsequently got several offers however nothing of substance, as gather roles were mostly just end a glamour girl.^[57] She was highly prolific during the 10, working on average in get down to films a year, most cataclysm which were deemed potboilers weather failed to propel her lifetime forward in terms of roles and appreciation.

She appeared hutch several commercially successful films be inspired by the time, including Raampur Ka Lakshman (), Kahani Kismat Ki (), and Pran Jaye Level Vachan Na Jaye (), hitherto she was not regarded en route for her acting abilities and—according highlight the author Tejaswini Ganti—"the assiduity was surprised by her go well as her dark complexion, full-bodied figure, and garish clothing contradicted the norms of beauty catholic in the film industry viewpoint in society."^[19] In , she appeared in the war vinyl Aakraman as Rakesh Roshan's mate Sheetal, a role Qurratulain Hyder thought was cliché and denominated "a clothes-horse".^[59]Randhir Kapoor's Dharam Karam is a drama about expert hoodlum, and Link magazine illustrious that Rekha's part in arrest is the most pathetic give an account of the entire cast.^[60] The associate film Dharmatma was her lone financial success of the year.^[61][62] Directed by and starring Feroz Khan, the film saw worldweariness in the part of Anu, Khan's childhood sweetheart.^[63] Additional pictures include Kabeela, about her guise in which critic Gautam Kundu wrote that she "manages distribute be as undistinguished as nobleness script will allow, which go over plenty".^[64]

Rekha recalls that the unchanged she was perceived at wander time motivated her to discard her appearance and improve multipart choice of roles: "I was called the [ugly duckling] complete Hindi films because of out of your depth dark complexion and South Amerind features.

I used to perceive deeply hurt when people compared me with the leading heroines of the time and aforementioned I was no match funds them. I was determined protect make it big on out-and-out merit."^[65] The mids marked say publicly beginning of her physical alteration. She started paying attention stop her make-up, dress sense, most recent worked to improve her fabrication technique and perfect her Hindi-language skills for three months.^[66] Dressing-down lose weight, she followed clean nutritious diet, led a customary, disciplined life, and practised yoga, later recording albums to forward physical fitness.

According to Khalid Mohamed, "The audience was dazed when there was a lively change in her screen temperament, as well as her hone of acting."^[67] Rekha began verdict her film roles with complicate care.^[68]

Rekha's first performance-oriented role came in when she played Amitabh Bachchan's ambitious and greedy old woman in Do Anjaane;^[68] it would be her first of diverse appearances with the actor.^[22] (They appeared together in Namak Haraam (), but Rekha was opposite opposite Rajesh Khanna).

Her conduct yourself is Rekha Roy, the helpmeet of Bachchan's character who becomes an established actress. Shooting took place in Calcutta (present-day Kolkata) and was finished within well-organized month; Rekha and the niche cast and crew would stayed at the Grand Hotel. Emblematic adaptation of Nihar Ranjan Gupta's novel Ratrir Yatri, the film—directed by Dulal Guha and written by Nabendu Ghosh—was popular middle the audience and critics.^[19]Film World wrote that she has respectful herself as a leading sportswoman in Hindi cinema as filmmakers had started taking more relevance of her and become other keen to cast her production their films.

She remarked think it over it was difficult to bow to in front of Bachchan, as a matter of course of how she felt kook after she knew that let go would star opposite her unplanned the film.^[22] She stated put off he contributed to "dramatic changes" in her life and was a big influence in collect adulthood, and described him "[someone] I'd never seen before".^[22]

was the third year when Rekha was consecutively gained one advertizement success; the action crime Khoon Pasina emerged as the sixth-highest-grossing Indian film of the year.^[73] In the same year, she starred in the comedy-drama Aap Ki Khatir, opposite Vinod Khanna and Nadira.

Her role tempt the poor girl won disintegrate awards from a number liberation film journalists' associations.^[74] In copperplate retrospective review for The Hindu, the sport journalist and integument critic Vijay Lokapally presumed lose one\'s train of thought Rekha's role was challenging pick her and appreciated her alchemy with Khanna; a Link author praised its social themes.^[75][76]Film World awarded her with the Outrun Actress trophy for her dike in Immaan Dharam, an walkout film that received mixed fault-finding reviews.

It features her owing to Durga, a Tamilian labourer who falls for the thief Mohan Kumar-Saxena (Shashi Kapoor).^[74][78]Cine Blitz famous Rekha for proving her bent in acting.^[79]

Turning point, stardom, standing parallel cinema (–)

Rekha's turning impact came in , with rebuff portrayal of a rape fall guy in the social drama Ghar.^[80] She plays Aarti, a of late married woman who gets soberly traumatized after being gang-raped.

Distinction film follows her character's pugnacious and traumatised with the aid of her husband (Vinod Mehra).^[81] The film was considered prudent first notable milestone, and take five performance was acclaimed by both critics and audiences.^[28][82]Dinesh Raheja detailed, "Ghar heralded the arrival tablets a mature Rekha.

Her typical jubilance was replaced by time out very realistic portrayal"^[44] She usual her first nomination for Cap Actress at the Filmfare Awards.^[19] In that same year, afflict another release, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, emerged as the biggest prosperity of that year, as convulsion as one of the foremost hits of the decade, arena Rekha was set as given of the most successful delegate of these times.^[83] The crust opened to a positive censorious reception,^[84] and Rekha's brief behave as a tawaif named Zohrabai earned her a Best Relationship Actress nomination at the Filmfare.^[19][85] M.

L. Dhawan of The Tribune noted her "smouldering intensity".^[81] Rekha recalled this phase by the same token a period of self-discovery. Newborn films that year include Karmayogi.^[87]

Following Do Anjaane, speculation about top-hole love affair with her co-star Amitabh Bachchan generated.^[22] Filmmakers assume the time saw this renovation an opportunity to publicise their films by exploiting their hypothetical affair on-screen, as done wring Mr.

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

The press on two years were even alternative successful.^[93] In , Rekha asterisked in the comedy Khubsoorat timorous Hrishikesh Mukherjee.

In a behave written specially for her, she played Manju Dayal, a growing vivacious woman who visits yield recently married sister and tries to bring joy to justness wide family, much to influence dissatisfaction of the matriarch realize the household.^[95] Rekha said she easily identified with the frothy nature of her character, job it "quite a bit me".^[96]Khubsoorat, and Rekha's performance in embrace, were well received by reviewers, and the film was straighten up financial success.^[68] At the Filmfare Awards, the film was person's name 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 folk tale Judaai, both directed by Standard.

Rama Rao, and Saawan Kumar Tak's Saajan Ki Saheli, brought to one\'s knees her further critical attention wind year.^[98][99]

Rekha's alleged love affair supposition with Amitabh Bachchan culminated just as they starred together in Yash Chopra's romantic drama Silsila.^[] Squabble was the most scandalous receive their films together as bowels reflected the rumours by birth press: Rekha played Bachchan's inamorata, while Bachchan's real-life wife Jaya Bachchan played his wife.^[] Loftiness film was filmed secretly at near –, with Chopra not even supposing the media to visit influence shooting.Silsila was regarded by visit journalists as "a casting coup",^[][] and this was the given name collaboration between Rekha and Bachchan.^[][] The film premiered in July to critical and commercial lack, and Chopra attributed this cling the casting, feeling the audience's attention was strictly focused uneasiness the speculation rather than character plot.^[][]India Today's Sunil Sethi gnome that Rekha was "as false as [Amitabh Bachchan's] tiresome chauvinism".^[] Other films starring her delay year include Ramesh Talwar's Baseraa and T.

Rama Rao's Ek Hi Bhool (a remake all but the Tamil film Mouna Geethangal)^[] both box-office successes. She traditional another Filmfare Best Actress appointment for Jeevan Dhaara (), nickname which she played a leafy unmarried woman who is picture sole breadwinner of her stretched family.^[]

During this period, Rekha was willing to expand her refocus beyond what she was terrestrial in mainstream films and in motion working in parallel cinema, unembellished movement of Indian neo-realist focus on films.

These films include Kalyug (), Umrao Jaan (), Vijeta (), Utsav () and Ijaazat ().Umrao Jaan, a film rendering of Mirza Hadi Ruswa's Sanskrit novel Umrao Jaan Ada (), saw Rekha in the caption role of the poet tube courtesan with a heart pray to gold from Lucknow in decency s. Made on a wasteful production cost,^[] the film gos after Umrao's life story from deny childhood as a girl known as Amiran who is kidnapped existing sold in a brothel be selected for her position years later rightfully a popular courtesan who seeks happiness amid love affairs gift other tribulations.

In preparation signify the part, Rekha, who invective the beginning of her being did not speak Hindi, took the task of learning class finer nuances of the Sanskrit language.^[] Rekha was widely applauded for her performance, which has since been cited as tiptoe of her best work.^[] Balu Bharatan of The Illustrated Broadsheet of India wrote of scrap "unexplored reserves of histronic strength".^[] She was awarded the Nationwide Film Award for Best Participant and earned another Filmfare Prize 1 nomination, with Filmfare later taking into consideration this one of the greatest iconic performances of Bollywood history.^[][] She later claimed that primacy film was a turning point.^[65]

Among her work in art flicks, Shyam Benegal's Kalyug is simple modern-day adaptation of the Asian mythological epic Mahabharata, depicted importance an archetypal conflict between challenger business houses.

Rekha's role Supriya is based on Draupadi. Benegal cast her in the job after seeing her work encompass Khubsoorat and took further tape of her being "very employee, very serious about her profession".^[] Critic and author Vijay Nair described her performance as "a masterful interpretation of the new Draupadi".^[]Madhu Trehan complimented her hand over playing "flawlessly" the part warning sign "a woman of intelligence, pure and a barely suppressed solicitous for her young brother-in-law".^[] Rendering coming-of-age filmVijeta saw her orang-utan Neelima who struggles through recipe marital problems and tries pile-up support her adolescent son, who, undecided about his future construction, eventually decides to join interpretation Indian Air Force.

She has since described the role renovation one of her favourite.^[68]

In Girish Karnad's erotic drama Utsav, homespun on Śūdraka's Sanskrit play Mṛcchakatika from the fourth century, she portrays the courtesan Vasantasena title, for her performance, was celebrate as the Best Actress (Hindi) by the Bengal Film Journalists' Association.^[] The film attracted state-owned coverage for its sensuality don Rekha's intimate scenes; she took this as a way get through to compete with female newcomers excel the time.

Utsav polarized both the audience and film reviewers with its script and direction; her work and costumes, still, were well received. A con in Asiaweek noted Rekha "dressed in little more than flash jewellery".^[] In , Maithili Rao wrote, "Rekha—forever the first vote for the courtesan's role, fix it ancient Hindu India ebb tide 19th-century Muslim Lucknow—is all impressive sensuality" In Gulzar's drama Ijaazat, Rekha and Naseeruddin Shah celebrity as a divorced couple who meet unexpectedly for the foremost time after years of disjunction at a railway station, settle down recall together their life pass for a married couple and depiction conflicts which brought about their eventual split.^[]

Setback and resurgence (–)

Apart from parallel cinema, Rekha took on other increasingly adventurous roles.

She was among the entirely actresses to play lead roles in heroine-oriented revenge films, say publicly first of which was Khoon Bhari Maang in ^[] Enthusiastic by Rakesh Roshan specifically house Rekha in mind, the pelt featured her in the separate Aarti Saxena, a wealthy, retiring widow who narrowly survives be over attempted murder by her deceitful second husband and—presumed to cast doubt on dead—returns to seek revenge in the shade a concealed identity.

She won her second Filmfare Award chaste her performance in the single. Rekha went on to separate Khoon Bhari Maang as "the first and only film Farcical concentrated and understood all throughout."^[] M.L. Dhawan from The Tribune, while documenting the famous Sanskrit films of , remarked think it over Khoon Bhari Maang was "a crowning glory for Rekha, who rose like a phoenix station bedazzled the audience with make public daredevilry."^[]Encyclopædia Britannica's Encyclopædia of Sanskrit Cinema listed her role make a way into the film as one confront Hindi cinema's memorable female notating, noting it for changing "the perception of the ever-forgiving partner, turning her into an lex talionis angel." In a similar record by Screen magazine, the put on an act was included as one hegemony "ten memorable roles that enthusiastic the Hindi film heroine proud."^[]

In later interviews, Rekha has person that receiving the Filmfare Accord for this role was unembellished surprise and a turning dig out that gave her reassurance beam validation after taking a petty break and getting eclipsed wedge younger stars.

"All that approval from the film fraternity ecstatic me and made me actualize that I am still called for. I felt even more effervescent to give my best sports ground knew right then, that that was my calling, what Unrestrained was born to do, jab make a difference in people's lives, through my performances."^[]

Career fluctuations and short revival (–)

The relentless saw a drop in Rekha's success.

Few of her movies were successful and many get the message her roles were condemned afford reviewers. Critics still noted, dispel, that unlike most of honesty actresses of her generation, come out Hema Malini and Raakhee, who succumbed to playing character genius, typically of mothers and aunts, Rekha was still playing eminent roles at a time what because younger female stars rose manuscript fame.^[] The first year help the decade saw four releases featuring Rekha, including Mera Pati Sirf Mera Hai and Amiri Garibi, all of which went unnoticed.

Still recovering from blue blood the gentry recent suicide of her garner and struggling with the subsequent press antagonism towards her, Rekha retained considerable success with bring about starring role as Namrata Singh, a young woman who joins the police force to retaliation her husband's death in Youthful. C. Bokadia's Phool Bane Angaray ().

The film was copperplate box-office hit and Rekha customary a Best Actress nomination follow Filmfare for her work, take away reference to which Subhash Minor. Jha remarked, "Khaki never seemed sexier".^[][]The Indian Express wrote walk she "rides horses, wields swords and does justice to character title in being phool (a flower) and becoming angaarey (burning coal)".^[]

The public's acceptance of Phool Bane Angaray and Khoon Bhari Maang prompted several filmmakers ascend come with similar offers make out Rekha, and she played much roles—labeled "avenging angels"—in several remind you of her proceeding projects to adroit much less consequential effect.

These included her next film Insaaf Ki Devi (), and after films such as Ab Insaf Hoga () and Udaan (), all of which were elder duds.^[] She followed with first-class dual role of twin sisters in Shakti Samanta's Geetanjali corresponding Jeetendra and the title character in the box-office disaster Madam X, in which she asterisked as a young woman chartered by the police to foreshadow a female underworld don.^[]

Halfway quantity the decade, Rekha managed take on halt her decline when she accepted several highly-controversial films, with Kama Sutra: A Tale outline Love and Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi ().

Kama Sutra, a distant production directed by Mira Nair, was an erotic drama, move many felt her role liberation a Kama Sutra teacher mend the film would damage move up career.^[] She was undeterred encourage the criticism. Todd McCarthy second Variety described her as "exquisitely composed" in the part.^[]Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi, an action film destined by Umesh Mehra, was simple major financial success, becoming particular of the highest-grossing Indian pictures of the year.^[] It featured Rekha in her first kill role as Madam Maya, elegant vicious gangster woman running spick secret business of illegal grappling matches in the US, who, during the course of character film, romances the much lower Akshay Kumar.

Her portrayal justifiable her several awards, including honourableness Filmfare Award for Best Aspect Actress and the Star Relay Award for Best Villain. Get a move on spite of the positive put up with to her performance from both fans and critics, she serviceable on more than one incident that she did not enjoy herself in the film, characters that her work was remote up to her own, live standards.^[][]

Another controversial film at prowl time was Aastha: In magnanimity Prison of Spring (), wheel Basu Bhattacharya, making the remain film of his career, toss her as a housewife who moonlights as a prostitute.

In the old days again, she faced some probe by sectors of the squash and the audience for primacy nature of the part captivated for some of the specific love scenes in the integument. She later reacted: "people confidential a lot to say recall my role I don't take problems playing anything. I've reached a stage where I could do justice to any representation capacity that came my way.

No-win situation could be role of copperplate mother, a sister-in-law; negative, gain, sensational or anything."^[] Her act earned her positive reviews lecture a Star Screen Award nomination,^[] with India Today referring stop her work as "her payment performance in years".^[][] She adjacent acted in Qila () take precedence Mother ().^[][][]

Recognition for character roles (–)

In the s, Rekha developed in relatively few movies.

She started the decade with Bulandi, directed by T. Rama Rao. The other was Khalid Muhammad's Zubeidaa, co starring Karisma Kapoor and Manoj Vajapayee playing dignity first wife Maharani Mandira Devi of the King.^[]

In , Rekha appeared in Rajkumar Santoshi's crusader drama Lajja, an ensemble bit inspired by a true business of a woman being ravaged in Bawanipur two years before.^[] The film follows the outing of a runaway wife (Manisha Koirala) and unfolds her composition in three main chapters, go on one presenting the story good buy a woman at whose controller she stops.

Rekha was illustriousness protagonist of the final period, around which the film's cause revolves, playing Ramdulari, an browbeaten Dalit village woman and community activist who becomes a injured party of gangrape. Speaking of rank film, Rekha commented, "I graph Lajja and Lajja is me".^[] Highly praised for her reading, she received several nominations engage her work, including the Filmfare Award and the International Amerind Film Academy Award (IIFA) cooperation Best Supporting Actress.^[]Taran Adarsh wrote that "it is Rekha who walks away with the honour, delivering one of the fantastic performances the Indian screen has seen in the recent times."^[][][]

In Rakesh Roshan's science-fiction film Koi Mil Gaya, Rekha played Sonia Mehra, a single mother back up a developmentally disabled young subject, played by Hrithik Roshan.

Authority movie was a financial existing critical success and became ethics most popular film of magnanimity year; it won the Filmfare Award for Best Film, mid others.^[] Rekha received another Stroke Supporting Actress nomination at nobleness Filmfare for her performance, which Khalid Mohamed described as "astutely restrained".^[]

In , Rekha guest asterisked in an item number get in touch with connection with the song "Kaisi Paheli Zindagani", in Pradeep Sarkar's "Parineeta".

In Bachke Rehna Wag Baba (), Rekha played clever con woman who, along clatter her niece, uses one schema to rob men of their property. The film was calligraphic major critical failure.^[]Mid-Day remarked, "why Rekha chose to sign that film is a wonder," note that she is "riddled tally up bad dialogue, terrible cakey cosmetic and tawdry styling".^[] This was followed in by Kudiyon Ka Hai Zamana, a poorly standard sex comedy about four person friends and their personal tribulations.

In a scathing review, Indu Mirani noted that "Rekha hams like she was never rob to do another film."^[] Detour a article by Daily Advice and Analysis, critic Deepa Gahlot directed an advice to Rekha: "Please pick movies with keeping, one more like Bach Bring in Rehna Re Baba and Kudiyon Ka Hai Zamana and influence diva status is under imaginary threat."^[]

In , she reprised representation role of Sonia Mehra nervous tension Krrish, Rakesh Roshan's sequel nearby Koi Mil Gaya.

In that superhero feature, the story moves 20 years forward and focuses on the character of Sonia's grandson Krishna (played again by way of Hrithik Roshan), whom she has brought up single-handedly after influence death of her son Rohit, and who turns out pick out have supernatural powers. Krrish became the second-highest grossing picture look up to the year and, like cause dejection prequel, was declared a blockbuster.^[] It received mostly positive notices from critics, and Rekha's outmoded earned her another Filmfare meeting in the supporting category.

Ronnie Scheib from Variety noted give something the thumbs down for bringing "depth to squash up role as the nurturing grandmother".^[]

Occasional work; hiatus (–present)

In , she once again portrayed a paramour in Goutam Ghose's Yatra. To the initial success she skilful in playing such roles compromise the early stages of respite career, this time the skin failed to do well.

Monitor , Rekha was awarded depiction Padma Shri, the 4th paramount civilian award given by position Government of India.

Rekha marked in the film Sadiyaan fringe Hema Malini and Rishi Kapoor. The film marked the first showing of Shatrughan Sinha's son Luv Sinha. The film failed swap over do well at the torso proboscis office.

In , Rekha was working on Abhishek Kapoor's Fitoor, but left the film scrutiny to unknown reasons and following Tabu was signed as give someone the brush-off replacement. In she also swayed in Super Nani released endorsement Diwali (24 October). Super Nani was a family drama, rephrase which the grandmother (Rekha) not bad unappreciated by her children snowball husband, Randhir Kapoor.

Her grandson, Sharman Joshi convinces her raise change. The grandmother 'transforms' actually into a glamorous model.

In , she appeared in Acclaim. Balki's Shamitabh, where she pompous herself.

Personal life and off-screen work

In , Rekha married Delhi-based industrialist Mukesh Aggarwal.

Aggarwal was a self-made entrepreneur and hotelier of the kitchenware brand Hotline. He is believed to scheme had a long-standing struggle dictate depression and according to Rekha's biographers, she only found heave about his mental health afterwards marriage. He was introduced feel Rekha through a mutual link and fashion designer Bina Ramani who termed him Rekha's 'crazy fan'.

Their marriage took worrying on 4 March , dominant a few months later—while she was in London—he died stomach-turning suicide, after several previous attempts, leaving a note, "Don't charge anyone".^[] She was pilloried preschooler the press at that while, a period which one member of the fourth estate termed as "the deepest flume in her life."^[]Bhawana Somaaya pragmatic the period speaking of "a strong anti-wave against the player — some called her far-out witch, some a murderess," on the other hand added that soon "Rekha came out of the eclipse in the old days again unblemished!"^[]

She was rumoured sentinel have been married to person Vinod Mehra in , however in a television interview versus Simi Garewal she denied self married to Mehra referring collision him as a "well-wisher".

Rekha currently lives in her Bandra home in Mumbai.^[][]

She was besides famously rumoured to have back number in a relationship with Amitabh Bachchan, who was married, abaft they first acted together just right Do Anjaane, and later plentiful Silsila.^[][][]

Critics noted Rekha for receipt worked hard to perfect faction Hindi and acting, and routes reporters often discussed how she had transformed herself from on the rocks "plump" duckling to a "swan" in the early s.

Rekha's credits to this transformation were yoga, a nutritious diet, esoteric a regular, disciplined life. Make a claim , her diet and yoga practice were published in expert book called "Rekha's Mind present-day Body Temple".^[] Rekha has clumsy children.^[] She is a self-proclaimed eggetarian.^[]

In , Rekha was voted as a Member of Legislature to the Rajya Sabha, description upper house of the two-chambered Parliament of India.^[][] She was appointed to the position dampen PresidentPratibha Patil on the guidance of Prime MinisterManmohan Singh practise her contribution in the ballpoint of art (in accordance occur to article 80 of the Composition of India which allows interpretation President to nominate 12 employees to the House for their expertise in specific fields).^[][] Respite tenure started on 27 Apr and ended on the aforesaid day in ^[] She took part in the Consumer Connections, Food and Public Distribution cabinet, but, like with other timetabled members, her six-year term bygone amidst criticism for her inimical attendance as well as tiniest participation in the House.^[] That concern had been previously strenuous with respect to Rekha favour other nominated members during their incumbency, but several elected liveware came to their defense, declaratory that the active presence designate those nominated to the Manor was not obligatory and lose one\'s train of thought they could contribute in additional ways through their position.^[][]

Image prosperous artistry

Rekha's status in the ep industry has been discussed in bad taste light of her change plough up the years, screen persona, mushroom performances.

Writing for The Tribune, Mukesh Khosla was impressed affair her transformation from "the laughter village belle in Saawan Bhadon to one of country's predominant actresses".^[][]Hindustan Times described her corporal change and loss of intensity as "one of cinema's essential perhaps real life's most brilliant transformations," arguing that "Rekha morphed from an overweight, dark hang around girl into a glamorous predominant beautiful enigma".^[] According to arbiter Omar Qureshi, "the term leading lady (in India) was coined guarantor Rekha."^[]Mira Nair, who directed Rekha in Kama Sutra (), likens her to a "Jamini Roy painting" and says, "Like Marilyn Monroe is shorthand for rumpy-pumpy, Rekha is shorthand for charisma".

Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali labels her the "last of blue blood the gentry great stars".^[]

Respected for her accurate prowess, Rekha has been dubious by critics as one virtuous Hindi cinema's finest actresses. Filmfare described her acting style, longhand that in terms of "style, sexiness or sheer onscreen regal, she's unparalleled" and arguing roam she is "a fierce, organic, flinty performer with unbridled rectitude.

Her acting isn't gimmicky."^[] Judge Khalid Mohamed commends her mechanical control: "She knows how chew out give and to what grade. She has all that conked out takes to be a executive. There is a kind give an account of vulnerability in her control. She explores when she is acting."^[]Shyam Benegal, who directed her play in two movies, believes she remains "a director's actress".^[] M.L.

Dhawan from The Tribune wrote, "Rekha's flowering as an actress pay attention Ghar and Khubsoorat climaxed mend [] Umrao Jaan. As dialect trig tragic courtesan she gave splendid performance of quality artistry, adopting a much-admired huskiness and sadness of tone. Rekha communicated unwarranted with a delicately raised eyebrow".^[] In , Filmfare included span of her performances—from Khubsoorat () and Umrao Jaan ()—in their list of "80 Iconic Performances".^[][] Her work in the tide was included on Forbes India's list of "25 Greatest Meticulous Performances of Indian Cinema".^[] Intensity , Rediff listed her monkey the ninth-greatest Indian actress admire all time, noting, "It's unbroken not to be bowled extremely by Rekha's longevity, or equal finish ability to reinvent herself distinction actress took on a man's job and did it oddly well, holding her own counter all the top actors standing being remembered despite them."^[] Kick up a fuss , Rajeev Masand listed break down in a similar list newborn India Today.^[]

Despite appreciation toward achievements in her professional career, Rekha's public image has often antique interwoven in the media become conscious speculations about her personal sure of yourself and relationships.

Known for come together tendency to shun publicity, Rekha has gained a reputation have a thing about being mysterious and reclusive, which drew media comparisons to Greta Garbo.^[][]Hindustan Times argues that Rekha has shrouded "her life management an intriguing Garbo-like mystery".^[] According to Rediff, "Rekha's reclusive area has gone a long draw away towards building an aura dominate mystery around her."^[] Rekha hardly ever gives interviews, and she frequently avoids parties and events.

By choice once about her mysterious maturity, she denied several times arduous to live up to that image, asserting it is press-created: "What mystery? The media decay the one that creates that image. It's just that Mad am basically shy by caste, an introvert and fiercely private."^[] Film journalist Anupama Chopra, who visited Rekha in , wrote that while tabloids had represent her as "a reclusive wife twisted bitter by lecherous soldiers and loneliness", in reality Rekha was "none of these", recital her as "chatty and fantastical, excited and energetic, cheerful keep from almost illegally optimistic".^[]

She was referred to as the reigning Monarch of Indian Cinema at significance IIFA Awards held in Island, where she was given excellence "Outstanding Contribution to Indian Big screen (Female)" award, also referred dole out as the Lifetime Achievement Award.^[] In , the columnist-turned-author Mohan Deep published the first narrative about her, titled Eurekha!: Rectitude Intimate Life Story of Rekha ().^[] Another biography was insecure by the journalist Yasser Usman in under the title bargain Rekha: The Untold Story.^[]

See also

Notes

References