Mumbai | August 01: The Mumbai Film Industry, or ‘Bollywood,’ as it is affectionately known, is among the world’s biggest and busiest film industries where actresses are one of the most important foundations of filmmaking, and their selection establishes the tone for the film and decides its ultimate success or failure.
Bollywood has given rise to some of the most talented women in cinema history. From the Black and White era to the present day, numerous actresses in Hindi films have captivated millions of viewers with their enchanting performances. Among the iconic names in the Bollywood film industry, one that stands out is Rekha.
Bhanurekha was born into the Tamil-speaking Ganesan family on October 10, 1954. Her father, Gemini, was a renowned Tamil actor, while her mother, Pushpavalli, was a well-known Telugu actress. She has seven sisters and one brother. One of her sisters, Dr. Kamala Selvaraj, and another sister, Radha, resides in San Francisco with her son Naveed, who is being prepared for a career in Bollywood.
No stranger to the tinsel screen, Bhanurekha acted in a Telugu movie ‘Rangula Ratnam’ as Baby Bhanurekha along with her mom during 1966, which was subsequently re-made and released in Hindi during 1976 as Rangila Ratan (1976). She acted in one more Telugu as well as one Kannada movie (Amma Kosam and Goadalli CID 999 respectively) before re-locating to Bombay.
Due to her family background, Rekha faced a lot of gloom and pessimism during her early years. She made her Bollywood debut in 1970 with the film Sawan Bhadon opposite Navin Nischol, using the screen name Rekha. Her inability to speak Hindi, her dusky complexion, and her weight posed challenges in a predominantly fair-skinned, Hindi-speaking North Indian film industry.
Rekha was rumored to have had several affairs and quickly became one of the most talked-about celebrities. Her romances with Bollywood actors Jeetendra, Kiran Kumar, Vinod Mehra, and Amitabh Bachchan were widely covered in the media. However, none of these relationships lasted, and in 1990, she married Mukesh Aggarwal, a Delhi-based industrialist. Tragically, he committed suicide the following year in 1991.
Rekha’s life has been marked by numerous highs and lows, accompanied by several controversies. At the age of fifteen, while filming Anjaana Safar, an objectionable scene was shot without her consent, leading to prolonged controversy.
Additionally, there has been much speculation about her wearing vermilion after her husband’s death. At the wedding of actors Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor, the media publicly questioned her, asking, “For whom is this vermilion?” and “Did she have a private marriage after her husband’s death?”
Top Movies, She Worked In
Rekha gradually moved to the top of the list. She is presently regarded as one of the most beautiful and elegant actresses in Indian cinema. She appeared in almost 170 films over her career. Here, it is the top ten finest movies she worked in.
Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978)
Do Anjane (1976)
Ghar (1978)
Khubsoorat (1980)
Umrao Jaan (1981)
Silsila (1981)
Jeevan Dhara (1982)
Utsav (1984)
Ijaazat (1987)
Khoon Bhari Maang (1988)
She has won three Filmfare Awards, two for Best Actress and one for Best Supporting Actress, for her roles in Khubsoorat (1980), Khoon Bhari Maang (1988) and Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi (1996), respectively. Her portrayal of a classical courtesan in Umrao Jaan (1981) won her the National Film Award for Best Actress.
Rekha rarely gives interviews, and she mostly avoids parties and events. In 2011, Rediff listed her as the ninth-greatest Indian actress of all time.
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