Rekha: The Ethereal Experience

Rekha turns 70 today. A living spirit and ever-lasting inspiration, she adorned the glamour and sensuality adhered to Bollywood actresses in elegance and style. She was her own muse, in fact. As she said in a Vogue Arabia cover, “I am my own hugely amused audience.” Beyond a star or icon par excellence, Rekha is an ethereal experience.

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Born on October 10, 1954 to Gemini Ganesan – acclaimed Tamil actor and Pushpavalli, Telugu actor, Rekha was introduced to acting at very early age. The financial struggles led her mother to push her into acting at a tender age. She began her career as a child actor in Telugu films. At the age of 14, she appeared in Telugu film Rangula Ratnam. At 17, her first lead in Kannada film Operation Jackpot Nalli C.I.D. 999 occurred, and through Sawan Bhadon she made her official entry to Hindi film industry. Even though the Bollywood film was successful, Rekha has been subjected to criticism for being ‘dark, plump and gauche’ – not expected image of conventional Bollywood actress. It was from there, Rekha subverted the existing labeling, and emerged as the most desired, most prolific actress of the time.

In a career spanning over 54 years, Rekha has acted in more than 300 films. Whether it be the fun-loving, free-spirited woman challenging the authoritarian family structure in the film Khoobsurat, the passionate lover in the love triangle portrayed in Silsila, the rape survivor in Ghar, bold and sensual courtesan in Utsav, the iconic Zohra Bai in Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, mature and restraint house wife in Gulzar’s poignant masterpiece, Ijaazat, and devoted Arti transitioning to revengeful Jyoti in Khoon Bhari Maang, she left indelible mark in the roles she portrayed.

Rekha is still remembered for her performance as Lucknowi courtesan in Umrao Jaan. The refined courtesan in all its sophistication and refinement, questioned the patriarchal values of men she encountered than reducing to mere dancing figurine showcased her acting prowess. The movie fetched her National Award for Best Actress as well. As her roles were celebrated her personal life were also infamously celebrated. But the actress chose to remain silent and media recluse. The Vogue Arabia cover edition is Rekha’s media appearance after more than two decades.

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The characters find Rekha, and she excels them to perfection. The inner spirit she carries throughout her life is reflected in movies. As she mentioned in her Vogue Arabia cover piece, her relationship with movies is of a love affair with a person; the relationship is deeply-connected and it is forever. Though she has not committed any acting roles since 2014, the relationship is still intact. Similarly, the audience’s connection with the star, is tightly-bound and eternal.