A peep into the world of Rekha

She retains the mystique despite a career spanning four decades. The gauche 16-year-old, who began her career in 1970, went on to act in more Hindi films than anyone could ever imagine.

In her 40 plus years in the industry, she's reinvented and made herself over several times. The world continues to be enchanted by Rekha – actor par excellence – woman extraordinaire.

As she turns 57, here's a peep into the unique world of Rekha.

Rekha was born to legendary Tamil actor Gemini Ganesan and Telugu actress Pushpavalli and hence, her talent was innate and she was destined to follow in their footsteps.

The actress, however, has led a controversial life and it began as early as her birth.

Rekha's parents were not married and her father Gemini Ganesan refused to acknowledge her. She too, on her part kept her identity secret and revealed her origins and the story of her father's neglect, much later in her career.

In this rare photograph, Rekha is seen with her sisters (from left to right) Dr Revathi Swaminathan, Narayani Ganesan, Dr Kamala Selvaraj, Rekha, Vijaya Chamundeswari and Dr Jaya Shreedhar.

Credited as Baby Bhanurekha in the Telugu film Rangula Ratnam, Rekha made her debut at age 12. She was seen as a heroine for the first time in the hit Kannada film Goa dalli CID 999 with Rajkumar in 1969.

In year 1969, Rekha took her first step in Hindi films with Anjana Safar (later retitled Do Shikari). The young actor landed straight into a kissing scene, generating huge controversy, with lead actor Biswajit. Rekha later claimed she was tricked into filming the kiss which made it to the Asian edition of Life magazine. The Censor Board stepped in and the film was released a decade later.

Above: Stills from Goa dalli CID 999 & Anjana Safar

Rekha landed her first big role and consequently her first proper entry in Hindi films with Sawan Bhadon (1970) opposite Navin Nischol.

The film turned out to a big hit and overnight Rekha became a star.

Stardom though did not remove the “gauche” tag from Rekha.

Her dark complexion and unique features did not gel with those of the leading ladies at the time. Hindi cinema was yet to recognise the power beauty of Rekha.

Film offers came by but nothing of substance. She appeared in several commercially successful films at the time, including Kahani Kismat Ki, Raampur Ka Lakshman and Pran Jaaye Par Vachan Na Jaaye.

Rekha later said she felt deeply hurt when people said she did not measure up to the other ladies. It fuelled her determination to make it big on merit.

A meaty role finally came her way in 1976 when she played the role of an ambitious and greedy wife in Do Anjaane, co-starring Amitabh Bachchan. It was now impossible not to notice Rekha.

Two years later, Rekha delivered a power-packed, realistic and sensitive performance as the traumatised rape victim in the 1978 film, Ghar. The film earned her her first nomination for Best Actress at the Filmfare Awards.

Then came a blockbuster hit opposite Amitabh Bachchan in Muqaddar Ka Sikander.

In the immensely popular film Rekha's "smouldering intensity" as the courtesan Zohra, brought her the Best Supporting Actress nomination at the Filmfare Awards.

The light-hearted family flick, Khubsoorat (1980) brought out Rekha's perfect comic timing. Her vivacious acting earned her the first Best Actress Award at the Filmfare Awards.

The professional and (widely reported personal) alliance with Amitabh Bachchan continued, generating several hit films and reams of gossip about their “relationship”.

Finally, in 1981, the world saw Silsila, where Jaya Bachchan played Amitabh's wife and Rekha his love interest.

Art imitating life or simply a way to put an end to endless gossip by bringing the key players on the same stage? The jury is still out on that one.

Meanwhile, a slew of films opposite Amitabh Bachchan, yoga and a disciplined lifestyle had transformed Rekha to one of Hindi cinema's gorgeous leading ladies. Her status as diva cemented by the 1981 film Umrao Jaan. Her portrayal of the courtesan poetess won her the National Film Award for Best Actress.

The latter parts of the 80s stint of Rekha's career saw her venture into arthouse cinema with independent directors.

Shyam Benegal's award-winning drama, Kalyug (1981), Govind Nihalani's Vijeta (1982), Girish Karnad's Utsav (1984) and Gulzar's Ijaazat (1987) were some of her memorable films from the time.

One of her other notable films Khoon Bhari Maang showed a completely different side of the actress to the audiences. She played the role of a shy, homely woman in the first half, who transforms herself in to a femme-fatale later in the film.

The film was produced by Rakesh Roshan and was a remake of the Australian mini-series Return to Eden (1983). The movie was very well received by the critics and fans alike and won Rekha her second Filmfare Best Actress Award in 1988.

Her career graph showed a dip at the dawn of 90s as she started losing the lead roles and hence the stardom she once possessed.

Not afraid to reinvent she went ahead and worked in scandalous projects like Mira Nair's Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love (1996) and the commercially successful Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi (1996) opposite Akshay Kumar. In the latter, she played the role of a gangster (which won her another award) and earned her the name Madam X.

The era of Dhak-Dhak girl Madhuri and Mast Mast girl Raveena had begun. While Madhuri gave hits like Dil, Saajan, Anjaam, Raja, Beta and Dil To Pagal Hai, Raveena gave hits like Patthar Ke Phool, Laadla, Andaz Apna Apna, Mohra, Ziddi, Salaakhen and Dulhe Raja.

Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi was a major grosser and earned Rekha several awards, including the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award and the Star Screen Award for Best Villain for her role of a gangster woman.

After the turn of the century, Rekha was seen in relatively fewer movies and was usually seen portraying the role of a mother or a widow, a stark contrast from her glamour queen image.

In 2001, she played the role of Ramdulari, a simple village woman, in Rajkumar Santoshi's Lajja, based on the plight of women in India.

In that same year she acted alongside Karisma Kapoor in another Shyam Benegal movie Zubeidaa, where she played the role of the first wife to a man, who remarries and brings home is second wife.

Next she was seen acting alongside Preity Zinta in Kundan Shah's Dil Hai Tumhaara (2002), playing the role of Sarita, a betrayed woman who takes under her custody the extramarital daughter of her husband.

In 2003, she played Hrithik Roshan's mother in Koi...Mil Gaya.

She gave stellar performances even in her limited appearance in films like Parineeta (2005) and Krrish (2006).

In 2010, Rekha was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri for her contribution to the Indian cinema. (in picture)

She is also the recipient of Sony Golden Glory Award (2005), Stardust Awards - Role Model of the year (2006), Deenanath Mangeshkar Award (2006), IMPPA (Indian Motion Pictures' producers Association) Award for outstanding contribution to Bollywood (2008) and Raj Kapoor Pratibha Gaurav Puraskar (2009) amongst many other honours.

In 1990, Rekha married a Delhi-based businessman Mukesh Aggarwal, a relationship that ended in tragedy.

Their married life came to an unforeseen end when Aggarwal committed suicide a year later.

Four decades and more into the industry and Rekha has left Bhanurekha far behind. Bollywood's first Umrao Jaan has done it all on the screen — from drinking, smoking to baring all.

The only person who is known to have stayed by Rekha's side literally and otherwise is her secretary Farzana.

For over two decades Farzana has handled Rekha's professional affairs and much of her private calendar. Rekha considers Farzana as her "soul sister" and "constant companion".

Farzana lives with Rekha in her Mumbai bungalow and still handles all of her dealings with the press and producers.

The actress was last seen in the 2010 film Sadiyaan: Boundaries Divide... Love Unites. The film with delved into the life of a Hindu/Sikh family that face challenges when their adopted son falls in love with a Muslim girl.

The film marked the debut of Shatrughan Sinha's son and Sonakshi's brother, Luv Sinha.

The film also starred screen legends Hema Malini and Rishi Kapoor in notable roles and their performance along with that of Rekha was well received.

If the grapevine is to be believed, none other than Sushmita Sen has been approached to play the role of diva Rekha in a film called Sitare.

The film is said to be based on a controversial actor, who was number one in the industry. Sources say that though the film is a fictional one, it bears strong resemblance to Rekha's life.

The director of the film is also said to have been in talks with Rani Mukherjee and Sridevi for the role.

Rekha will next be seen reprising the role of Sonia Mehra in the sequel to Krissh titled Krissh 2. The film is set for a 2012 release.

She is and always will be a timeless beauty.

Here's wishing the Khubsoorat actress a very Happy Birthday!