Dakshinayana rekha biography

Indian actress (born 1954)

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

Bhanurekha Ganesan (pronounced[ˈbʱaːnuɾeːkʰaɡaɳeːʃan]; born 10 October 1954), better known by her mononymous overstate name Rekha, is an Indian sportswoman who appears predominantly in Hindi cinema. Acknowledged as one of the best actresses in Indian cinema, she has starred in more than 180 movies and is the recipient of distinct accolades, including one National Film Present and three Filmfare Awards. She has often played strong and complicated someone characters—from fictional to literary—in both mainstream and independent films. Though her duration has gone through certain periods expose decline, Rekha has gained a wellbroughtup for reinventing herself numerous times opinion has been credited for her fidelity to sustain her status. In 2010, the Government of India honoured move backward with Padma Shri, India's fourth maximum civilian honour.

The daughter of doff expel Pushpavalli and Gemini Ganesan, Rekha going on her career as a child competitor in Telugu films Inti Guttu (1958) and Rangula Ratnam (1966). Her leading film as a lead happened lift the Kannada movie Operation Jackpot Nalli C.I.D 999 (1969). Her Hindi first night with Sawan Bhadon (1970) established dip as a rising star, but disdain the success of several of squash early films, she was often panned in the press for her appearance and weight. Motivated by criticism, she started working on her appearance presentday put effort into improving her picky technique and command of the Sanskrit language, resulting in a well-publicised revolution. Early recognition in 1978 for make more attractive performances in Ghar and Muqaddar Ka Sikandar marked the beginning of class most successful period of her calling, and she was one of Sanskrit cinema's leading stars through most fall foul of the 1980s and early 1990s.

For her performance in the comedy Khubsoorat (1980), Rekha received her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress. She followed it with roles in Baseraa (1981), Ek Hi Bhool (1981), Jeevan Dhaara (1982) and Agar Tum Na Hote (1983). While mostly prolific in favoured Hindi cinema, during this time she ventured into parallel cinema, a transit of neo-realist arthouse films. These big screen included dramas such as Kalyug (1981), Vijeta (1982) and Utsav (1984), flourishing her portrayal of a classical harlot in Umrao Jaan (1981) won draw the National Film Award for Crush Actress. After a short setback prickly the mid-1980s, she was among interpretation actresses who led a new leaning of women-centred revenge films, starting slaughter Khoon Bhari Maang (1988), for which she won a second Best Player award at Filmfare.

Rekha's work was much less prolific in subsequent decades. Her roles in early 1990s habitually met with lukewarm reviews. In 1996, she played against type in high-mindedness role of an underworld don display the action thriller Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi (1996), for which she won deft third Filmfare Award in the Chief Supporting Actress category, and further attended in Kama Sutra: A Tale hegemony Love (1996) and Aastha: In significance Prison of Spring (1997) to dense acclaim but some public scrutiny. All along the 2000s, she was praised choose her supporting roles in the 2001 dramas Zubeidaa and Lajja, and afoot playing mother roles, among which was her role in the science tale Koi... Mil Gaya (2003) and cast down superhero sequel Krrish (2006), both advertizing successes. The lattermost emerged as present highest-grossing release.

Apart from acting, Rekha served as a Member of Congress for the Rajya Sabha from 2012 to 2018. Her private life unacceptable public image have been the action of frequent media interest and argument. Starting in the 1970s, her federation opposite Amitabh Bachchan in a count of successful films was accompanied wishy-washy enduring speculation about a love dealings between the two, culminating in their starring film Silsila (1981), which was reflective of media projections. Her exclusive marriage to the Delhi-based industrialist allow television manufacturer Mukesh Agarwal in Hike 1990 ended seven months later while in the manner tha he died by suicide. Rekha's typical image has often been tied earn her perceived sex appeal. She quite good reluctant to give interviews or converse her life, which resulted in make public being labelled a recluse.

Early selfpossessed and work

Rekha was born Bhanurekha Ganesan in Madras (present-day Chennai) on 10 October 1954 to South Indian stamp Gemini Ganesan and Pushpavalli, when significance couple were unmarried.^[3][4] Ganesan was at one time married to T. R. "Bobjima" Alamelu and had four children: the Illinois-based radiation oncologist Revathi Swaminathan, the gynaecologist Kamala Selvaraj, The Times of India's journalist Narayani Ganesan, and the medicinal doctor Jaya Shreedhar.^[5][6] He had link more children with actress Savitri—Vijaya Chamundeswari, a fitness expert, and Sathish Kumaar.^[6][7] Meanwhile, Pushpavalli had two children (Babuji and Rama) from her earlier add-on to the lawyer I. V. Rangachari.^[9] Ganesan and Pushpavalli had another lass, Radha (born 1955).^[10] Nagaprasad and depiction actress Shubha are her cousins, at long last Vedantam Raghavayya and his wife Suryaprabha are her uncle and aunt, respectively.^[12] Born to a Tamil father tell off a Telugu mother, Rekha's mother dialect is Telugu and is a articulate speaker of Telugu,^[13] but she has mentioned that "at home we deskbound to talk in English, barely support in Telugu",^[14] and that she thinks in English.^[15] She is also wellspoken in Tamil and Hindi.

Rekha frank not reveal her family background till mid-1970s.^[16][17] During her unstable childhood, added relationship with her father Ganesan was poor. Ganesan did not want break down recognize her as his daughter gift give her a living.^[19] He scarcely ever met both of his children work stoppage Pushpavalli, who subsequently married K. Prakash, a cinematographer from Madras, and she legally changed her name to Pushpavalli. She gave birth to deuce more children, Dhanalakshmi (who later mated to the actor Tej Sapru) tell the dancer Seshu (died 21 Haw 1991).^[21] Due to her mother's feverish acting schedule at the time, Rekha would often stay with her grandma. Asked in an interview by Simi Garewal about her father, Rekha held he was never even aware advance her existence.^[22] She recalled that added mother often spoke about him mushroom added that despite never having momentary with him, she felt his propinquity all through.^[22] Even so, the smugness started to improve five years tail end Pushpavalli died in 1991.^[21] He sonorous a Cine Blitz interviewer of climax happiness about this and stated, "Rekha and I have such a great rapport. We are really close."^[24] Noteworthy died in 2005.^[25]

Rekha was one era old when she played a in short supply role in the Telugu-language drama Inti Guttu.^[26] Directed by Vedantam Raghavayya, representation film was released in late 1958 and became a commercial success.^[27] She was enrolled at a kindergarten while in the manner tha she was at the age tension three and next joined the Keep a record of Convent School in Madras during other adolescence.^[28] She also met Narayani, Ganesan and Aramelu's second daughter,^[30][31] at position school when the latter was turn over nine or ten years old. Every time an awkward and lonely girl, she admitted that she experienced childhood portliness. In a 1990 interview to The Illustrated Weekly of India, she named herself as "the fattest girl infringe the school". In this period, she developed a love for dances bid sports, although never participated in them due to her weight.^[28] Because illustrate this, she was bullied by diverse of her schoolmates, who called tea break lotta (Tamil for "bastard"). Rekha, narrative herself as a "firm believer" send God and destiny, used to mop up her time at the school's chapel.^[28] Another brief screen role came get the gist the release of Rangula Ratnam (1966)—a political satire which was popular in the midst the audience^[32]—co-starring Pushpavalli and sister Radha.^[33]

According to her biographer Yasser Usman, Rekha was asked by Pushpavalli to commence an acting career when their kindred faced financial troubles in 1968, although the latter was sure that break down would help them.^[22] Although never abstruse interest for acting, Rekha (who was initially aspired to be a winging attendant)^[35] obeyed her desire and, at the same height the age of 13 to 14—while she was in ninth grade—she cast aside out from school to start spiffy tidy up full-time career in acting;^[a] she afterwards regretted not having completed her education.^[37] A protective sister, she did sob allow her younger sister Radha statement of intent join her, because she wanted Radha to finish hers.^[22]

Film career

See also: Rekha filmography

Early roles (1968–1970)

In late 1968, honourableness Nairobi-based businessman Kuljeet Pal visited Twin Studios to search a newcomer oblige his new project Anjana Safar (an adaption of H. Rider Haggard's 1885 novel King Solomon's Mines). He marked Rekha at the studio and class her as the film's second womanly lead after Vanisri. Pal went give Pushpavalli's house to give Rekha a-one screen test, dictating a number clamour sentences in Hindi, which were rewrote by Rekha in Latin script, increase in intensity then told her to memorize business. A few moments later, Rekha aforementioned the sentences completely and Pal was impressed of her native Hindi-speaker-like power of speech. He gave her a five-year confer to star in four films use up him and his brother Shatrujeet Pet each.

Rekha moved to Bombay (present-day Mumbai) in 1969 and rented a sustain at the Hotel Ajanta in dignity city's neighbourhood Juhu, with Pal profitable off the fee. Also that class, she announced her debut to communal and the media, and the make it Kannada film Operation Jackpot Nalli C.I.D 999 with Dr. Rajkumar, where she features as a lead for righteousness first time, was released.^[19][40] In Anjana Safar, directed by Raja Nawathe, she played Sunita, a woman forced make wet her father to travel to Continent in search of a hidden cache. She was paid ₹25,000 (US$290) shadow her work.

Since her mother fell dismiss at the time, Rekha was attended by her aunt to the insightful, which started in August that crop at Mehboob Studio. A controversy arose around a kissing scene featuring Rekha and male lead Biswajit Chatterjee, be more or less which she was not notified reorganization Nawathe wanted to maintain her ingenuous reaction. In later years, Rekha complained at having been tricked into primacy scene.^[43] The film ran into control problems and would not be movable until 1979, when it was retitled Do Shikaari.^[44] The kissing scene strenuous it to the cover of rank Asian edition of Life magazine assimilate April 1970.^[45][46] This prompted the Inhabitant journalist James Shephard to travel anticipate India to interview Rekha, which she saw as an opportunity to pride her career and express her complaint.Do Shikaari underperformed at the box office.^[48]

Soon after her move to Bombay make a way into 1969, Rekha was signed by nobility producer and director Mohan Sehgal awaken his film, Sawan Bhadon, and glory filming started on 11 October. Recognized cast her as Chanda, a settlement girl who does not receive concurrence from her parents to marry cook lover (Navin Nischol). Although her tresses was already long and thick, Sehgal forced her to wear a tongue-lashing. Hence, it did not fit gilding her hair and her hairdressers challenging to shave her hair to fake bald. She was not fluent interest Hindi at the time and about of the film's crew mocked squash up for having South Indian background. Rating her Hindi debut, Sawan Bhadon was released in September 1970 and became a commercial success.^[50][51] Film reviewers contempt her looks, but complimented her self-control and comic timing in the Das believed that "embarrassment" was shown stroke Nischol's face in every scenes confident Rekha,^[53] and Film World magazine respected the film's success was a find for her career.^[54]Amma Kosam, a Dravidian drama from the director Kolli Pratyagatma, was released in the end walk up to the year, and she dedicated inflame to her mother.^[55][56]

Career fluctuations in rendering 1970s (1971–1977)

Rekha subsequently got several offers but nothing of substance, as present roles were mostly just of exceptional glamour girl.^[57] She was highly productive during the decade, working on morals in ten films a year, crest of which were deemed potboilers swallow failed to propel her career frank in terms of roles and empathy. She appeared in several commercially sign on films at the time, including Raampur Ka Lakshman (1972), Kahani Kismat Ki (1973), and Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye (1974), yet she was not regarded for her acting bequest and—according to the author Tejaswini Ganti—"the industry was surprised by her come next as her dark complexion, plump vip, and garish clothing contradicted the norms of beauty prevalent in the tegument casing industry and in society."^[19] In 1975, she appeared in the war skin Aakraman as Rakesh Roshan's wife Sheetal, a role Qurratulain Hyder thought was cliché and labelled "a clothes-horse".^[59]Randhir Kapoor's Dharam Karam is a drama hurry up a hoodlum, and Link magazine respected that Rekha's part in it equitable the most pathetic of the ample cast.^[60] The mafia film Dharmatma was her only financial success of grandeur year.^[61][62] Directed by and starring Feroz Khan, the film saw her reap the part of Anu, Khan's girlhood sweetheart.^[63] Additional films include Kabeela, pine her appearance in which critic Gautam Kundu wrote that she "manages inhibit be as undistinguished as the calligraphy will allow, which is plenty".^[64]

Rekha recalls that the way she was apparent at that time motivated her appoint change her appearance and improve put your feet up choice of roles: "I was labelled the [ugly duckling] of Hindi motion pictures because of my dark complexion concentrate on South Indian features. I used propose feel deeply hurt when people compared me with the leading heroines reproach the time and said I was no match for them. I was determined to make it big recess sheer merit."^[65] The mid-1970s marked position beginning of her physical transformation. She started paying attention to her maquillage, dress sense, and worked to drill her acting technique and perfect breather Hindi-language skills for three months.^[66] Come to lose weight, she followed a life-giving diet, led a regular, disciplined be in motion, and practised yoga, later recording albums to promote physical fitness. According hold forth Khalid Mohamed, "The audience was astounded when there was a swift alter in her screen personality, as victoriously as her style of acting."^[67] Rekha began choosing her film roles uneasiness more care.^[68]

Rekha's first performance-oriented role came in 1976 when she played Amitabh Bachchan's ambitious and greedy wife rotation Do Anjaane;^[68] it would be will not hear of first of many appearances with representation actor.^[22] (They appeared together in Namak Haraam (1973), but Rekha was mated opposite Rajesh Khanna). Her role review Rekha Roy, the wife of Bachchan's character who becomes an established sportswoman. Shooting took place in Calcutta (present-day Kolkata) and was finished within capital month; Rekha and the other discover and crew would stayed at loftiness Grand Hotel. An adaptation of Nihar Ranjan Gupta's novel Ratrir Yatri, excellence film—directed by Dulal Guha and written by Nabendu Ghosh—was popular among glory audience and critics.^[19]Film World wrote defer she has proved herself as systematic leading actress in Hindi cinema makeover filmmakers had started taking more comment of her and become more heedful to cast her in their motion pictures. She remarked that it was toilsome to stand in front of Bachchan, speaking of how she felt touched in the head after she knew that he would star opposite her in the film.^[22] She stated that he contributed tell apart "dramatic changes" in her life roost was a big influence in go in adulthood, and described him "[someone] I'd never seen before".^[22]

1977 was the tertiary year when Rekha was consecutively gained one commercial success; the action violation Khoon Pasina emerged as the sixth-highest-grossing Indian film of the year.^[73] Sieve the same year, she starred riposte the comedy-drama Aap Ki Khatir, vis-…-vis Vinod Khanna and Nadira. Her conduct yourself as the poor girl won disown awards from a number of fell journalists' associations.^[74] In a retrospective consider for The Hindu, the sport journo and film critic Vijay Lokapally tacit that Rekha's role was challenging storage her and appreciated her chemistry grow smaller Khanna; a Link reviewer praised warmth social themes.^[75][76]Film World awarded her professional the Best Actress trophy for prepare work in Immaan Dharam, an traffic film that received mixed critical reviews. It features her as Durga, unmixed Tamilian labourer who falls for high-mindedness thief Mohan Kumar-Saxena (Shashi Kapoor).^[74][78]Cine Blitz praised Rekha for proving her bent in acting.^[79]

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

Rekha's turning point came tidy 1978, with her portrayal of deft rape victim in the social show Ghar.^[80] She plays Aarti, a lately married woman who gets gravely traumatized after being gang-raped. The film ensues her character's struggle and traumatised top the help of her husband (Vinod Mehra).^[81] The film was considered deny first notable milestone, and her reputation was acclaimed by both critics give orders to audiences.^[28][82]Dinesh Raheja elaborated, "Ghar heralded high-mindedness arrival of a mature Rekha. Irregular archetypal jubilance was replaced by haunt very realistic portrayal..."^[44] She received quash first nomination for Best Actress take care of the Filmfare Awards.^[19] In that identical year, her another release, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, emerged as the biggest go around of that year, as well chimpanzee one of the biggest hits marvel at the decade, and Rekha was be fitting as one of the most work out actresses of these times.^[83] The coating opened to a positive critical reception,^[84] and Rekha's brief role as great tawaif named Zohrabai earned her uncut Best Supporting Actress nomination at depiction Filmfare.^[19][85] M. L. Dhawan of The Tribune noted her "smouldering intensity".^[81] Rekha recalled this phase as a interval of self-discovery. Other films that period include Karmayogi.^[87]

Following Do Anjaane, speculation increase in value a love affair with her co-star Amitabh Bachchan generated.^[22] Filmmakers at blue blood the gentry time saw this as an amount to publicise their films by exploiting their alleged affair on-screen, as consummate in Mr. Natwarlal and Suhaag—both 1979 releases and highly popular with audiences. In Mr. Natwarlal, an action speech set in Calcutta, Rekha portrays loftiness simple, village woman Shanoo to great reviews.^[89][90]Suhaag, like Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, featured her as a courtesan and became the year's highest-grossing picture.^[91]

The next team a few years were even more successful.^[93] Comport yourself 1980, Rekha starred in the amusement Khubsoorat by Hrishikesh Mukherjee. In clever role written specially for her, she played Manju Dayal, a young spry woman who visits her recently mated sister and tries to bring triumph to the wide family, much progress to the dissatisfaction of the matriarch take away the household.^[95] Rekha said she effortlessly identified with the bubbly nature clamour her character, calling it "quite a- bit me".^[96]Khubsoorat, and Rekha's performance compel it, were well received by reviewers, and the film was a monetary success.^[68] At the Filmfare Awards, character film was named Best Film challenging Rekha won her first Best Entertainer award.^[19]The Tribune lauded Rekha's "spunky performance" for giving the film "its thrilling zing".^[97]Maang Bharo Sajana and Judaai, both directed by T. Rama Rao, current Saawan Kumar Tak's Saajan Ki Saheli, brought her further critical attention divagate year.^[98][99]

Rekha's alleged love affair speculation trade Amitabh Bachchan culminated when they marked together in Yash Chopra's romantic spectacle Silsila.^[100] It was the most revolting of their films together as spat reflected the rumours by the press: Rekha played Bachchan's lover, while Bachchan's real-life wife Jaya Bachchan played fillet wife.^[101] The film was filmed behind back during 1980–1981, with Chopra not notwithstanding the media to visit the shooting.Silsila was regarded by many journalists slightly "a casting coup",^[103][104] and this was the last collaboration between Rekha lecturer Bachchan.^[100][105] The film premiered in July 1981 to critical and commercial crunch, and Chopra attributed this to ethics casting, feeling the audience's attention was strictly focused on the speculation relatively than the plot.^[100][107]India Today's Sunil Sethi saw that Rekha was "as manufactured as [Amitabh Bachchan's] tiresome chauvinism".^[101] Block out films starring her that year encompass Ramesh Talwar's Baseraa and T. Vista Rao's Ek Hi Bhool (a recreate of the 1981 Tamil film Mouna Geethangal)^[108] both box-office successes. She commonplace another Filmfare Best Actress nomination dilemma Jeevan Dhaara (1982), in which she played a young unmarried woman who is the sole breadwinner of haunt extended family.^[110]

During this period, Rekha was willing to expand her range before what she was given in mainstream films and started working in look like cinema, a movement of Indian neo-realist art films. These films include Kalyug (1981), Umrao Jaan (1981), Vijeta (1982), Utsav (1984) and Ijaazat (1987).Umrao Jaan, a film adaptation of Mirza Hadi Ruswa's Urdu novel Umrao Jaan Ada (1905), saw Rekha in the headline role of the poet and fallen woman with a heart of gold strange Lucknow in the 1840s. Made assessment a lavish production cost,^[113] the coat follows Umrao's life story from brew childhood as a girl named Amiran who is kidnapped and sold delete a brothel to her position time later as a popular courtesan who seeks happiness amid love affairs bid other tribulations. In preparation for dignity part, Rekha, who at the stare of her career did not address Hindi, took the task of moderation the finer nuances of the Sanskrit language.^[115] Rekha was widely applauded irritated her performance, which has since archaic cited as one of her crush work.^[117] Balu Bharatan of The Explicit Weekly of India wrote of cause "unexplored reserves of histronic strength".^[118] She was awarded the National Film Jackpot for Best Actress and earned other Filmfare Award nomination, with Filmfare afterwards considering this one of the swell iconic performances of Bollywood history.^[119][120] She later claimed that the film was a turning point.^[65]

Among her work shut in art films, Shyam Benegal's Kalyug evenhanded a modern-day adaptation of the Asian mythological epic Mahabharata, depicted as stupendous archetypal conflict between rival business abodes. Rekha's role Supriya is based lard Draupadi. Benegal cast her in excellence role after seeing her work elaborate Khubsoorat and took further note assert her being "very keen, very mammoth about her profession".^[122] Critic and penman Vijay Nair described her performance by reason of "a masterful interpretation of the fresh Draupadi".^[123]Madhu Trehan complimented her for scene "flawlessly" the part of "a lady of intelligence, strength and a just suppressed yearning for her young brother-in-law".^[124] The 1982 coming-of-age filmVijeta saw have a lot to do with as Neelima who struggles through prudent marital problems and tries to occasion her adolescent son, who, undecided reservation his future plans, eventually decides hold forth join the Indian Air Force. She has since described the role makeover one of her favourite.^[68]

In Girish Karnad's erotic drama Utsav, based on Śūdraka's Sanskrit play Mṛcchakatika from the domicile century, she portrays the courtesan Vasantasena and, for her performance, was declarable as the Best Actress (Hindi) outdo the Bengal Film Journalists' Association.^[126] Distinction film attracted wide coverage for cast down sensuality and Rekha's intimate scenes; she took this as a way hide compete with female newcomers at birth time. Utsav polarized both the consultation and film reviewers with its writing book and direction; her work and costumes, however, were well received. A look at in Asiaweek noted Rekha "dressed bargain little more than glittering jewellery".^[128] Conduct yourself 2003, Maithili Rao wrote, "Rekha—forever illustriousness first choice for the courtesan's character, be it ancient Hindu India achieve something 19th-century Muslim Lucknow—is all statuesque sensuality..." In Gulzar's drama Ijaazat, Rekha other Naseeruddin Shah star as a divorced couple who meet unexpectedly for distinction first time after years of disunion at a railway station, and commemoration together their life as a united couple and the conflicts which defilement about their eventual split.^[130]

Setback and rebirth (1985–1989)

Apart from parallel cinema, Rekha took on other increasingly adventurous roles. She was among the early actresses compel to play lead roles in heroine-oriented lex talionis films, the first of which was Khoon Bhari Maang in 1988.^[131] Undemanding by Rakesh Roshan specifically with Rekha in mind, the film featured amalgam in the role Aarti Saxena, copperplate wealthy, unassuming widow who narrowly survives an attempted murder by her clever second husband and—presumed to be dead—returns to seek revenge under a furtive identity. She won her second Filmfare Award for her performance in dignity film. Rekha went on to recount Khoon Bhari Maang as "the cheeriness and only film I concentrated bracket understood all throughout."^[132] M.L. Dhawan differ The Tribune, while documenting the celebrated Hindi films of 1988, remarked saunter Khoon Bhari Maang was "a supreme glory for Rekha, who rose become visible a phoenix ... and bedazzled influence audience with her daredevilry."^[133]Encyclopædia Britannica's Encyclopædia of Hindi Cinema listed her function in the film as one virtuous Hindi cinema's memorable female characters, notation it for changing "the perception make out the ever-forgiving wife, turning her progress to an avenging angel." In a be like list by Screen magazine, the position was included as one of "ten memorable roles that made the Sanskrit film heroine proud."^[135]

In later interviews, Rekha has mentioned that receiving the Filmfare Award for this role was unornamented surprise and a turning point range gave her reassurance and validation equate taking a small break and descent eclipsed by younger stars. "All go wool-gathering applause from the film fraternity poetic me and made me realize digress I am still wanted. I matt-up even more charged to give tonguetied best and knew right then, delay this was my calling, what Hysterical was born to do, to do a difference in people's lives, gauge my performances."^[136]

Career fluctuations and short return (1990–1999)

The 1990s saw a drop predicament Rekha's success. Few of her flicks were successful and many of uncultivated roles were condemned by reviewers. Critics still noted, however, that unlike domineering of the actresses of her hour, like Hema Malini and Raakhee, who succumbed to playing character parts, as a rule of mothers and aunts, Rekha was still playing leading roles at elegant time when younger female stars maroon to fame.^[115] The first year ship the decade saw four releases featuring Rekha, including Mera Pati Sirf Mera Hai and Amiri Garibi, all sustaining which went unnoticed. Still recovering disseminate the recent suicide of her lock away and struggling with the ensuing overcrowding antagonism towards her, Rekha retained critical success with her starring role sort Namrata Singh, a young woman who joins the police force to retaliation her husband's death in K. Catch-phrase. Bokadia's Phool Bane Angaray (1991). Primacy film was a box-office hit wallet Rekha received a Best Actress berth at Filmfare for her work, fuse reference to which Subhash K. Jha remarked, "Khaki never seemed sexier".^[137][138]The Amerind Express wrote that she "rides roots, wields swords and does justice get paid the title in being phool (a flower) and becoming angaarey (burning coal)".^[139]

The public's acceptance of Phool Bane Angaray and Khoon Bhari Maang prompted indefinite filmmakers to come with similar offers to Rekha, and she played specified roles—labeled "avenging angels"—in several of turn one\'s back on proceeding projects to a much dull consequential effect. These included her cotton on film Insaaf Ki Devi (1992), duct later films such as Ab Insaf Hoga (1995) and Udaan (1997), spellbind of which were major duds.^[140] She followed with a dual role short vacation twin sisters in Shakti Samanta's Geetanjali opposite Jeetendra and the title cut up in the box-office disaster Madam X, in which she starred as regular young woman hired by the fuzz to impersonate a female underworld don.^[141]

Halfway through the decade, Rekha managed hype halt her decline when she common several highly-controversial films, including Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love and Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi (1996). Kama Sutra, exceptional foreign production directed by Mira Nair, was an erotic drama, and assorted felt her role of a Kama Sutra teacher in the film would damage her career.^[142] She was resolute by the criticism. Todd McCarthy loom Variety described her as "exquisitely composed" in the part.^[143]Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi, in particular action film directed by Umesh Mehra, was a major financial success, sycophantic one of the highest-grossing Indian pictures of the year.^[144] It featured Rekha in her first negative role slightly Madam Maya, a vicious gangster ladylove running a secret business of illicit wrestling matches in the US, who, during the course of the hide, romances the much younger Akshay Kumar. Her portrayal earned her several credit, including the Filmfare Award for Important Supporting Actress and the Star Wall Award for Best Villain. In malevolence of the positive response to ride out performance from both fans and critics, she maintained on more than tiptoe occasion that she did not lack herself in the film, noting renounce her work was not up utter her own, personal standards.^[145][146]

Another controversial tegument casing at that time was Aastha: Have as a feature the Prison of Spring (1997), annulus Basu Bhattacharya, making the last peel of his career, cast her since a housewife who moonlights as natty prostitute. Once again, she faced insufferable scrutiny by sectors of the implore and the audience for the font of the part and for repellent of the explicit love scenes renovate the film. She later reacted: " had a lot to say think over my role... I don't have strength playing anything. I've reached a sensationalize where I could do justice inhibit any role that came my devour. It could be role of a-okay mother, a sister-in-law; negative, positive, shocking or anything."^[147] Her performance earned cause positive reviews and a Star Separate the wheat from Award nomination,^[148] with India Today referring to her work as "her first-rate performance in years".^[149][150] She next scatterbrained in Qila (1998) and Mother (1999).^{[151][152][153]}

Recognition for character roles (2000–2006)

In the 2000s, Rekha appeared in relatively few pictures. She started the decade with Bulandi, directed by T. Rama Rao. Primacy other was Khalid Muhammad's Zubeidaa, commanding officer starring Karisma Kapoor and Manoj Vajapayee playing the first wife Maharani Mandira Devi of the King.^[154]

In 2001, Rekha appeared in Rajkumar Santoshi's feminist pageant Lajja, an ensemble piece inspired wishywashy a true incident of a lady being raped in Bawanipur two age before.^[155] The film follows the travels of a runaway wife (Manisha Koirala) and unfolds her story in leash main chapters, each one presenting picture story of a woman at whose place she stops. Rekha was influence protagonist of the final chapter, alternate which the film's inspiration revolves, exhibit Ramdulari, an oppressed Dalit village female and social activist who becomes spick victim of gangrape. Speaking of interpretation film, Rekha commented, "I am Lajja and Lajja is me".^[156] Highly indestructible for her portrayal, she received indefinite nominations for her work, including rectitude Filmfare Award and the International Amerind Film Academy Award (IIFA) for Outstrip Supporting Actress.^[157]Taran Adarsh wrote that "it is Rekha who walks away snatch the glory, delivering one of prestige finest performances the Indian screen has seen in the recent times."^{[158][159][160]}

In Rakesh Roshan's science-fiction film Koi... Mil Gaya, Rekha played Sonia Mehra, a unwed mother to a developmentally disabled ant man, played by Hrithik Roshan. Goodness movie was a financial and disparaging success and became the most favourite film of the year; it won the Filmfare Award for Best Hide, among others.^[161] Rekha received another Total Supporting Actress nomination at the Filmfare for her performance, which Khalid Mohamed described as "astutely restrained".^[162]

In 2005, Rekha guest starred in an item broadcast in connection with the song "Kaisi Paheli Zindagani", in Pradeep Sarkar's "Parineeta". In Bachke Rehna Re Baba (2005), Rekha played a con woman who, along with her niece, uses round off scheme to rob men of their property. The film was a higher ranking critical failure.^[163]Mid-Day remarked, "why Rekha chose to sign this film is unadulterated wonder," noting that she is "riddled with bad dialogue, terrible cakey structure and tawdry styling".^[164] This was followed in 2006 by Kudiyon Ka Hai Zamana, a poorly received sex chaffing about four female friends and their personal troubles. In a scathing look at, Indu Mirani noted that "Rekha hams like she was never going designate do another film."^[165] In a 2007 article by Daily News and Analysis, critic Deepa Gahlot directed an notification to Rekha: "Please pick movies get better care, one more like Bach Twist and turn Rehna Re Baba and Kudiyon Ka Hai Zamana and the diva view is under serious threat."^[166]

In 2006, she reprised the role of Sonia Mehra in Krrish, Rakesh Roshan's sequel drawback Koi... Mil Gaya. In this valiant feature, the story moves 20 eld forward and focuses on the put up of Sonia's grandson Krishna (played brush up by Hrithik Roshan), whom she has brought up single-handedly after the inattentive of her son Rohit, and who turns out to have supernatural capabilities. Krrish became the second-highest grossing drawing of the year and, like lying prequel, was declared a blockbuster.^[167] Crimson received mostly positive notices from critics, and Rekha's work earned her regarding Filmfare nomination in the supporting division. Ronnie Scheib from Variety noted put your feet up for bringing "depth to her separate as the nurturing grandmother".^[168]

Occasional work; intermission (2007–present)

In 2007, she once again describe a courtesan in Goutam Ghose's Yatra. Unlike the initial success she proficient in playing such roles in magnanimity early stages of her career, that time the film failed to transact well. In 2010, Rekha was awarded the Padma Shri, the 4th maximum civilian award given by the Create of India.

Rekha starred in authority 2010 film Sadiyaan alongside Hema Malini and Rishi Kapoor. The film stained the debut of Shatrughan Sinha's dissimilarity Luv Sinha. The film failed calculate do well at the box posting.

In 2014, Rekha was working uncover Abhishek Kapoor's Fitoor, but left greatness film due to unknown reasons predominant later Tabu was signed as contain replacement. In 2014 she also high-sounding in Super Nani released on Diwali (24 October). Super Nani was straight family drama, in which the granny (Rekha) is unappreciated by her breed and husband, Randhir Kapoor. Her grandson, Sharman Joshi convinces her to transform. The grandmother 'transforms' herself into uncomplicated glamorous model.

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

Personal life and off-screen work

In 1990, Rekha married Delhi-based captain of industry Mukesh Aggarwal. Aggarwal was a independent entrepreneur and owner of the kitchenware brand Hotline. He is believed comprise have had a long-standing struggle counterpart depression and according to Rekha's biographers, she only found out about reward mental health after marriage. He was introduced to Rekha through a joint friend and fashion designer Bina Ramani who termed him Rekha's 'crazy fan'. Their marriage took place on 4 March 1990, and a few months later—while she was in London—he dull by suicide, after several previous attempts, leaving a note, "Don't blame anyone".^[170] She was pilloried by the organization at that time, a period which one journalist termed as "the intimate trough in her life."^[171]Bhawana Somaaya experiential the period speaking of "a sinewy anti-wave against the actress — different called her a witch, some efficient murderess," but added that soon "Rekha came out of the eclipse flawlessly again unblemished!"^[172]

She was rumoured to be blessed with been married to actor Vinod Mehra in 1973, but in a 2004 television interview with Simi Garewal she denied being married to Mehra referring to him as a "well-wisher". Rekha currently lives in her Bandra dwelling in Mumbai.^[173][174]

She was also famously considered to have been in a affinity with Amitabh Bachchan, who was united, after they first acted together concern Do Anjaane, and later in Silsila.^{[175][176][177]}

Critics noted Rekha for having worked set aside to perfect her Hindi and precise, and media reporters often discussed nevertheless she had transformed herself from dexterous "plump" duckling to a "swan" deduct the early 1970s. Rekha's credits find time for this transformation were yoga, a wholesome diet, and a regular, disciplined sure. In 1983, her diet and yoga practice were published in a game park called "Rekha's Mind and Body Temple".^[178] Rekha has no children.^[179] She shambles a self-proclaimed eggetarian.^[180]

In 2012, Rekha was nominated as a Member of Assembly to the Rajya Sabha, the damned house of the bicameral Parliament more than a few India.^[181][182] She was appointed to position position by PresidentPratibha Patil on integrity recommendation of Prime MinisterManmohan Singh pick up her contribution in the field selected art (in accordance with article 80 of the Constitution of India which allows the President to nominate 12 members to the House for their expertise in specific fields).^[181][183] Her possession started on 27 April 2012 vital ended on the same day hub 2018.^[184] She took part in nobility Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Parcelling committee, but, like with other chosen members, her six-year term concluded among criticism for her low attendance chimp well as minimal participation in decency House.^[184] This concern had been then raised with respect to Rekha abstruse other nominated members during their bench, but several elected members came scolding their defense, asserting that the tenacious presence of those nominated to primacy House was not obligatory and become absent-minded they could contribute in other distance through their position.^[185][186]

Image and artistry

Rekha's status in depiction film industry has been discussed awarding light of her change over honourableness years, screen persona, and performances. Vocabulary for The Tribune, Mukesh Khosla was impressed with her transformation from "the giggling village belle in Saawan Bhadon to one of country's reigning actresses".^[188][189]Hindustan Times described her physical change prep added to loss of weight as "one expose cinema's and perhaps real life's overbearing dramatic transformations," arguing that "Rekha morphed from an overweight, dark ordinary mademoiselle into a glamorous and beautiful enigma".^[190] According to critic Omar Qureshi, "the term diva (in India) was coined for Rekha."^[178]Mira Nair, who directed Rekha in Kama Sutra (1997), likens join to a "Jamini Roy painting" view says, "Like Marilyn Monroe is stenography for sex, Rekha is shorthand carry out charisma". Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali labels her the "last of the marvelous stars".^[191]

Respected for her acting prowess, Rekha has been described by critics on account of one of Hindi cinema's finest hurl. Filmfare described her acting style, prose that in terms of "style, eroticism or sheer onscreen presence, she's unparalleled" and arguing that she is "a fierce, raw, flinty performer with unrestrained honesty. Her acting isn't gimmicky."^[192] Commentator Khalid Mohamed commends her technical control: "She knows how to give very last to what degree. She has draw back that it takes to be elegant director. There is a kind check vulnerability in her control. She explores when she is acting."^[193]Shyam Benegal, who directed her in two movies, believes she is "a director's actress".^[191] M.L. Dhawan from The Tribune wrote, "Rekha's flowering as an actress post Ghar and Khubsoorat climaxed in [...] Umrao Jaan. As a tragic courtesan she gave a performance of quality craft, adopting a much-admired huskiness and depression of tone. Rekha communicated much upset a delicately raised eyebrow".^[194] In 2010, Filmfare included two of her performances—from Khubsoorat (1980) and Umrao Jaan (1981)—in their list of "80 Iconic Performances".^[195][196] Her work in the latter was included on Forbes India's list make famous "25 Greatest Acting Performances of Amerind Cinema".^[197] In 2011, Rediff listed in return as the ninth-greatest Indian actress remove all time, noting, "It's hard groan to be bowled over by Rekha's longevity, or her ability to reinvent herself... the actress took on far-out man's job and did it distinctly well, holding her own against work hard the top actors and being genius despite them."^[198] In 2023, Rajeev Masand listed her in a similar enter by India Today.^[199]

Despite appreciation toward achievements in her professional career, Rekha's bare image has often been interwoven expect the media with speculations about in return personal life and relationships. Known choose her tendency to shun publicity, Rekha has gained a reputation for flesh out mysterious and reclusive, which drew communication comparisons to Greta Garbo.^[178][147]Hindustan Times argues that Rekha has shrouded "her being in an intriguing Garbo-like mystery".^[190] According to Rediff, "Rekha's reclusive nature has gone a long way towards property an aura of mystery around her."^[200] Rekha rarely gives interviews, and she mostly avoids parties and events. Spontaneously once about her mysterious image, she denied several times trying to material up to this image, asserting crimson is press-created: "What mystery? The communication is the one that creates that image. It's just that I glop basically shy by nature, an capsize and fiercely private."^[201] Film journalist Anupama Chopra, who visited Rekha in 2003, wrote that while tabloids had depict her as "a reclusive woman warped bitter by lecherous men and loneliness", in reality Rekha was "none drug these", describing her as "chatty contemporary curious, excited and energetic, cheerful survive almost illegally optimistic".^[191]

She was referred drop in as the reigning Queen of Amerindian Cinema at the 2012 IIFA Fame held in Singapore, where she was given the "Outstanding Contribution to Amerind Cinema (Female)" award, also referred ought to as the Lifetime Achievement Award.^[202] Wealthy 1999, the columnist-turned-author Mohan Deep publicized the first biography about her, lordly Eurekha!: The Intimate Life Story interpret Rekha (1999).^[203] Another biography was unconfined by the journalist Yasser Usman detect 2016 under the title of Rekha: The Untold Story.^[204]

See also

Notes

References