Waheeda Rehman, elegant and graceful at 76

One of the classical beauties of Indian cinema, Waheeda Rehman still exudes grace and charm as she turns a year older. Although she seems content in a life away from the arc lights and the grease paint at the moment, the veteran actress is still active in Bollywood's social circuit and continues to make her presence felt at various A-list parties and film screenings.

Here's a pictorial journey through her life as she turns 76.

One of the classical beauties of Indian cinema, Waheeda Rehman still exudes grace and charm as she turns a year older. Although she seems content in a life away from the arc lights and the grease paint at the moment, the veteran actress is still active in Bollywood's social circuit and continues to make her presence felt at various A-list parties and film screenings.

Here's a pictorial journey through her life as she turns 76.

Waheeda Rehman, who is from Andhra Pradesh, was born into a Muslim family in Chengalpattu. She and her sister learnt Bharatnatyam at an early age in Mumbai and performed on stage.
Waheeda, who is known for critically acclaimed films Pyaasa, Guide and Kagaz Ke Phool, aspired to become a doctor, a dream she was forced to abandon because of financial problems.
The talented dancer started her film career with Telugu films in 1954. Her first hit was Jayasimha in 1955 followed by Rojulu Marayi. Next year, came her Tamil film Kaalam Maari Pochu.

It was at the success party of her Telugu film Rojulu Marayi that Bollywood director and to-be mentor Guru Dutt, with whom she went on to do some remarkable films, noticed Waheeda and took her to Mumbai.
Then came the BIG Bollywood break with CID in 1956, directed by Raj Khosla and starring Dev Anand, in which Waheeda played a vamp. The film was a huge success and prompted Guru Dutt to cast her as the leading lady in his next film, Pyaasa (1957) and thus started a series of masterpieces.
Guru Dutt and Waheeda were next seen in Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), which was the story of a successful director's decline after he falls for his leading lady. The film was said to be based on Guru Dutt's own life and rumoured off-screen relationship with Waheeda.

Waheeda Rehman then started working with other Bollywood directors and drifted away from Guru Dutt, although she did complete Chaudhvi Ka Chand and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962). But the two finally parted ways after that and in 1964 Guru Dutt died, reportedly from an overdose of sleeping pills.
Waheeda Rehman and Dev Anand were the most sought after pair in the late ‘50s and ‘60s and appeared in a number of successful films like Solva Saal (1958), Kala Bazar (1960), Baat Ek Raat Ki (1962) and Guide (1965). The two also delivered some flops like Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja (1961) and Prem Pujari (1970). With award winning film Guide, for which she bagged the Filmfare Best Actress Award, Waheeda reached the peak of her career.
Next, she worked with Satyajit Raj in Bengali film Abhijan (1962). Waheeda, who was cast opposite younger actors, continued to taste success in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s too.

With Bollywood thespian Dilip Kumar, she appeared in a string of hits including Ram Aur Shyam, Dil Diya Dard Liya and Aadmi.
She also bagged a National Award for her performance in Reshma Aur Shera (1971), where she was cast opposite the late Sunil Dutt.
By this time, Waheeda was ready to experiment and played mother to Jaya Bhaduri in Phagun (1973), a decision she was to regret and later to blame for the eventual drying up of leading lady roles.
In the late ‘70s and ‘80s, she was cast mainly in in character roles. She appeared in successful films like Kabhi Kabhie (1976), Trishul (1978), Jwalamukhi (1980), Namkeen (1982), Namak Halaal (1982), Mashaal (1984) and had a small role in Chandni (1989).
She married her Shagun co-actor, Kamaljit, in 1974. After her wedding, she shifted base to Bangalore. The actress has two children, Sohail and Kashvi.

In the year 2000, her husband died following a prolonged illness and she moved back to the bright lights of Mumbai.
She took a 12 year break after her appearance in Yash Raj Films' Lamhe in 1991 with Anil Kapoor and Sridevi, and returned to films in 2002 with Om Jai Jagadish. This time, she played mom to her Lamhe co-star Anil Kapoor. Next up was Water (2005) followed by Rang De Basanti (2006).
Waheeda last appeared in Rakyesh Om Prakash Mehra's Delhi 6 (2009) . She played the role of Abhishek Bachchan's grandmother and showed the younger actresses a thing or two with her dance moves in the famous song Sasural Genda Phool.
Waheeda has won several Filmfare and other awards and, in 1972, received the Padma Shri and then a Padma Bhushan in 2011.
Here's to more Waheeda on the big screen, and many more birthdays.