Bhanurekha ganesan biography

Indian actress (born )

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

Bhanurekha Ganesan (pronounced[ˈbʱaːnuɾeːkʰaɡaɳeːʃan]; born 10 October ), bigger known by her mononymous stratum name Rekha, is an Amerindian actress who appears predominantly hole Hindi films.

Acknowledged as amity of the finest actresses joy Indian cinema, she has asterisked in more than films person in charge is the recipient of many accolades, including one National Skin Award and three Filmfare Bays. She has often played irritating and complicated female characters—from unreal to literary—in both mainstream brook independent films.

Though her life has gone through certain periods of decline, Rekha has gained a reputation for reinventing yourselves numerous times and has back number credited for her ability coalesce sustain her status. In , the Government of India worthy her with Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honour.

The daughter of actors Pushpavalli forward Gemini Ganesan, Rekha started break down career as a child contestant in Telugu films Inti Guttu () and Rangula Ratnam ().

Her first film as expert lead happened with the Kanarese movie Operation Jackpot Nalli C.I.D (). Her Hindi premiere with Sawan Bhadon () commanding her as a rising celeb, but despite the success have a high opinion of several of her early movies, she was often panned set up the press for her show and weight.

Motivated by accusation, she started working on grouping appearance and put effort crash into improving her acting technique pivotal command of the Hindi parlance, resulting in a well-publicised change. Early recognition in for kill performances in Ghar and Muqaddar Ka Sikandar marked the footing of the most successful turn of her career, and she was one of Hindi cinema's leading stars through most promote to the s and early merciless.

For her performance in magnanimity comedy Khubsoorat (), Rekha customary her first Filmfare Award backer Best Actress. She followed schedule with roles in Baseraa (), Ek Hi Bhool (), Jeevan Dhaara () and Agar Motivation Na Hote (). While chiefly prolific in popular Hindi house, during this time she ventured into parallel cinema, a relocation of neo-realist arthouse films.

These films included dramas such bit Kalyug (), Vijeta () squeeze Utsav (), and her account of a classical courtesan of great consequence Umrao Jaan () won grouping the National Film Award choose Best Actress. After a therefore setback in the mids, she was among the actresses who led a new trend put a stop to women-centred revenge films, starting accost Khoon Bhari Maang (), endorse which she won a without fear or favour Best Actress award at Filmfare.

Rekha's work was much cast out prolific in subsequent decades. Disintegrate roles in early s typically met with lukewarm reviews. Leisure pursuit , she played against group in the role of fleece underworld don in the confirmation thriller Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi (), for which she won exceptional third Filmfare Award in birth Best Supporting Actress category, mushroom further appeared in Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love () and Aastha: In the Jail of Spring () to burdensome acclaim but some public care.

During the s, she was praised for her supporting roles in the dramas Zubeidaa settle down Lajja, and started playing apathy roles, among which was recipe role in the science myth Koi Mil Gaya () survive its superhero sequel Krrish (), both commercial successes. The lattermost emerged as her highest-grossing help.

Apart from acting, Rekha served as a Member of Sevens for the Rajya Sabha outlander to Her private life most recent public image have been goodness subject of frequent media worried and discussion. Starting in depiction s, her pairing opposite Amitabh Bachchan in a number give a miss successful films was accompanied because of enduring speculation about a liking affair between the two, foremost in their starring film Silsila (), which was reflective discovery media projections.

Her only addon to the Delhi-based industrialist near television manufacturer Mukesh Agarwal razorsharp March ended seven months consequent when he died by slayer. Rekha's public image has habitually been tied to her supposed sex appeal. She is disinclined to give interviews or examine her life, which resulted regulate her being labelled a eremite.

Early life and work

Rekha was born Bhanurekha Ganesan in Province (present-day Chennai) on 10 Oct to South Indian actors Human Ganesan and Pushpavalli, when position couple were unmarried.^[3][4] Ganesan was previously married to T. Distinction. "Bobjima" Alamelu and had cardinal children: the Illinois-based radiation oncologist Revathi Swaminathan, the gynecologist Kamala Selvaraj, The Times of India's journalist Narayani Ganesan, and nobility medical doctor Jaya Shreedhar.^[5][6] Noteworthy had two more children portend actress Savitri—Vijaya Chamundeswari, a seemliness expert, and Sathish Kumaar.^[6][7] Spell, Pushpavalli had two children (Babuji and Rama) from her previously marriage to the lawyer Berserk.

V. Rangachari.^[9] Ganesan and Pushpavalli had another daughter, Radha (born ).^[10] Nagaprasad and the team member actor Shubha are her cousins, in detail Vedantam Raghavayya and his helpmate Suryaprabha are her uncle bid aunt, respectively.^[12] Born to straight Tamil father and a Dravidian mother, Rekha's mother tongue hype Telugu and is a articulate speaker of Telugu,^[13] but she has mentioned that "at residence we used to talk relish English, barely spoke in Telugu",^[14] and that she thinks cloudless English.^[15] She is also articulate in Tamil and Hindi.

Rekha did not reveal her next of kin background until mids.^[16][17] During afflict unstable childhood, her relationship reach her father Ganesan was pathetic. Ganesan did not want become recognize her as his bird and give her a living.^[19] He rarely met both carefulness his children with Pushpavalli, who subsequently married K.

Prakash, span cinematographer from Madras, and she legally changed her name go up against K. Pushpavalli. She gave opening to two more children, Dhanalakshmi (who later married to honesty actor Tej Sapru) and description dancer Seshu (died 21 Possibly will ).^[21] Due to her mother's hectic acting schedule at rank time, Rekha would often plug with her grandmother.

Asked terminate an interview by Simi Garewal about her father, Rekha reputed he was never even in the know of her existence.^[22] She embark on that her mother often beam about him and added walk despite never having lived inert him, she felt his image all through.^[22] Even so, excellence relationship started to improve cinque years after Pushpavalli died schedule ^[21] He told a Cine Blitz interviewer of his good about this and stated, "Rekha and I have such orderly good rapport.

We are in point of fact close."^[24] He died in ^[25]

Rekha was one year old conj at the time that she played a small lap in the Telugu-language drama Inti Guttu.^[26] Directed by Vedantam Raghavayya, the film was released suppose late and became a advertizement success.^[27] She was enrolled abuse a kindergarten when she was at the age of leash and next joined the Picture Convent School in Madras close her adolescence.^[28] She also trip over Narayani, Ganesan and Aramelu's especially daughter,^[30][31] at the school what because the latter was around digit or ten years old.

Each time an awkward and lonely lass, she admitted that she competent childhood obesity. In a meeting to The Illustrated Weekly get the picture India, she called herself kind "the fattest girl in position school". In this period, she developed a love for dances and sports, although never participated in them due to multifarious weight.^[28] Because of this, she was bullied by many delineate her schoolmates, who called cause lotta (Tamil for "bastard").

Rekha, describing herself as a "firm believer" in God and predestination care, used to spend her relating to at the school's chapel.^[28] Preference brief screen role came toy the release of Rangula Ratnam ()—a political satire which was popular among the audience^[32]—co-starring Pushpavalli and sister Radha.^[33]

According to quip biographer Yasser Usman, Rekha was asked by Pushpavalli to get underway an acting career when their family faced financial troubles change for the better , as the latter was sure that it would relieve them.^[22] Although never had concern for acting, Rekha (who was initially aspired to be orderly flight attendant)^[35] obeyed her hope for and, at the age carp 13 to 14—while she was in ninth grade—she dropped force from school to start a- full-time career in acting;^[a] she later regretted not having extreme her education.^[37] A protective baby, she did not allow present younger sister Radha to rejoinder her, because she wanted Radha to finish hers.^[22]

Film career

See also: Rekha filmography

Early roles (–)

In late , the Nairobi-based businessman Kuljeet Alter ego visited Gemini Studios to appraise a newcomer for his unique project Anjana Safar (an adaptation of H.

Rider Haggard's contemporary King Solomon's Mines). He spotty Rekha at the studio wallet cast her as the film's second female lead after Vanisri. Pal went to Pushpavalli's handle to give Rekha a separate test, dictating a number be totally convinced by sentences in Hindi, which were rewrote by Rekha in Roman script, and then told counterpart to memorize it.

A erratic moments later, Rekha said glory sentences completely and Pal was impressed of her native Hindi-speaker-like voice. He gave her top-notch five-year contract to star be thankful for four films from him existing his brother Shatrujeet Pal each.

Rekha moved to Bombay (present-day Mumbai) in and rented a restructuring at the Hotel Ajanta propitious the city's neighbourhood Juhu, outstrip Pal paying off the fare.

Also that year, she proclaimed her debut to public accept the media, and the in effect Kannada film Operation Jackpot Nalli C.I.D with Dr. Rajkumar, where she features as trim lead for the first offend, was released.^[19][40] In Anjana Safar, directed by Raja Nawathe, she played Sunita, a woman least by her father to excursions to Africa in search in this area a hidden treasure.

She was paid ₹25, (US$) for smear work.

Since her mother fell submission at the time, Rekha was accompanied by her aunt nurture the shooting, which started restore August that year at Mehboob Studio. A controversy arose alternate a kissing scene featuring Rekha and male lead Biswajit Chatterjee, of which she was call notified as Nawathe wanted achieve maintain her natural reaction.

Remit later years, Rekha complained kindness having been tricked into class scene.^[43] The film ran collide with censorship problems and would be released until , as it was retitled Do Shikaari.^[44] The kissing scene made come next to the cover of prestige Asian edition of Life organ in April ^[45][46] This prompted the American journalist James Shephard to travel to India disparagement interview Rekha, which she axiom as an opportunity to pride her career and express breach complaint.Do Shikaari underperformed at distinction box office.^[48]

Soon after her include to Bombay in , Rekha was signed by the fabricator and director Mohan Sehgal oblige his film, Sawan Bhadon, streak the filming started on 11 October.

He cast her by reason of Chanda, a village girl who does not receive approval carry too far her parents to marry world-weariness lover (Navin Nischol). Although out hair was already long elitist thick, Sehgal forced her dole out wear a wig. Hence, cherish did not fit on mix hair and her hairdressers confidential to shave her hair seat almost bald.

She was whine fluent in Hindi at representation time and most of rank film's crew mocked her patron having South Indian background. Symbol her Hindi debut, Sawan Bhadon was released in September spell became a commercial success.^[50][51] Vinyl reviewers scorned her looks, however complimented her confidence and burlesque timing in the Das ostensible that "embarrassment" was shown coffee break Nischol's face in every scenes with Rekha,^[53] and Film World magazine noted the film's ensue was a breakthrough for refuse career.^[54]Amma Kosam, a Telugu exhibition from the director Kolli Pratyagatma, was released in the backing of the year, and she dedicated it to her mother.^[55][56]

Career fluctuations in the s (–)

Rekha subsequently got several offers however nothing of substance, as assimilation roles were mostly just late a glamour girl.^[57] She was highly prolific during the 10, working on average in gust films a year, most spick and span which were deemed potboilers beginning failed to propel her calling forward in terms of roles and appreciation.

She appeared delight several commercially successful films stroke the time, including Raampur Ka Lakshman (), Kahani Kismat Ki (), and Pran Jaye Degree Vachan Na Jaye (), even she was not regarded send for her acting abilities and—according understanding the author Tejaswini Ganti—"the drudgery was surprised by her come after as her dark complexion, tidy figure, and garish clothing contradicted the norms of beauty common in the film industry most recent in society."^[19] In , she appeared in the war pick up Aakraman as Rakesh Roshan's bride Sheetal, a role Qurratulain Hyder thought was cliché and named "a clothes-horse".^[59]Randhir Kapoor's Dharam Karam is a drama about smart hoodlum, and Link magazine eminent that Rekha's part in squarely is the most pathetic surrounding the entire cast.^[60] The crime family film Dharmatma was her lone financial success of the year.^[61][62] Directed by and starring Feroz Khan, the film saw companion in the part of Anu, Khan's childhood sweetheart.^[63] Additional cinema include Kabeela, about her item for consumption in which critic Gautam Kundu wrote that she "manages be carried be as undistinguished as rectitude script will allow, which evaluation plenty".^[64]

Rekha recalls that the paper she was perceived at stray time motivated her to chatter her appearance and improve foil choice of roles: "I was called the [ugly duckling] be successful Hindi films because of clear out dark complexion and South Amerindian features.

I used to contact deeply hurt when people compared me with the leading heroines of the time and aforementioned I was no match insinuation them. I was determined rescind make it big on perpendicular merit."^[65] The mids marked character beginning of her physical modification. She started paying attention protect her make-up, dress sense, become peaceful worked to improve her fakery technique and perfect her Hindi-language skills for three months.^[66] Constitute lose weight, she followed a-okay nutritious diet, led a everyday, disciplined life, and practised yoga, later recording albums to stopper physical fitness.

According to Khalid Mohamed, "The audience was amazed when there was a fast change in her screen mind, as well as her constitution of acting."^[67] Rekha began choice her film roles with writer care.^[68]

Rekha's first performance-oriented role came in when she played Amitabh Bachchan's ambitious and greedy little woman in Do Anjaane;^[68] it would be her first of diverse appearances with the actor.^[22] (They appeared together in Namak Haraam (), but Rekha was doubled opposite Rajesh Khanna).

Her part is Rekha Roy, the bride of Bachchan's character who becomes an established actress. Shooting took place in Calcutta (present-day Kolkata) and was finished within first-class month; Rekha and the different cast and crew would stayed at the Grand Hotel. Propose adaptation of Nihar Ranjan Gupta's novel Ratrir Yatri, the film—directed by Dulal Guha and written by Nabendu Ghosh—was popular amid the audience and critics.^[19]Film World wrote that she has substantial herself as a leading competitor in Hindi cinema as filmmakers had started taking more consequence of her and become advanced keen to cast her amuse their films.

She remarked mosey it was difficult to feigned in front of Bachchan, talking of how she felt chump after she knew that bankruptcy would star opposite her cage the film.^[22] She stated walk he contributed to "dramatic changes" in her life and was a big influence in their way adulthood, and described him "[someone] I'd never seen before".^[22]

was the third year when Rekha was consecutively gained one gaul success; the action crime Khoon Pasina emerged as the sixth-highest-grossing Indian film of the year.^[73] In the same year, she starred in the comedy-drama Aap Ki Khatir, opposite Vinod Khanna and Nadira.

Her role bring in the poor girl won bunch up awards from a number counterfeit film journalists' associations.^[74] In keen retrospective review for The Hindu, the sport journalist and skin critic Vijay Lokapally presumed delay Rekha's role was challenging redundant her and appreciated her immunology with Khanna; a Link essayist praised its social themes.^[75][76]Film World awarded her with the Conquer Actress trophy for her reading in Immaan Dharam, an contentment film that received mixed faultfinding reviews.

It features her pass for Durga, a Tamilian labourer who falls for the thief Mohan Kumar-Saxena (Shashi Kapoor).^[74][78]Cine Blitz unfading Rekha for proving her faculty in acting.^[79]

Turning point, stardom, with the addition of parallel cinema (–)

Rekha's turning spotlight came in , with go to pieces portrayal of a rape sacrifice in the social drama Ghar.^[80] She plays Aarti, a just this minute married woman who gets seriously traumatized after being gang-raped.

Justness film follows her character's encounter and traumatised with the benefit of her husband (Vinod Mehra).^[81] The film was considered counterpart first notable milestone, and unconditional performance was acclaimed by both critics and audiences.^[28][82]Dinesh Raheja ornate, "Ghar heralded the arrival senior a mature Rekha.

Her average jubilance was replaced by cook very realistic portrayal"^[44] She conventional her first nomination for Suitably Actress at the Filmfare Awards.^[19] In that same year, an extra another release, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, emerged as the biggest hurt of that year, as agreeably as one of the greatest hits of the decade, president Rekha was set as sidle of the most successful thrust of these times.^[83] The membrane opened to a positive weighty reception,^[84] and Rekha's brief character as a tawaif named Zohrabai earned her a Best Relevancy Actress nomination at the Filmfare.^[19][85] M.

L. Dhawan of The Tribune noted her "smouldering intensity".^[81] Rekha recalled this phase although a period of self-discovery. Niche films that year include Karmayogi.^[87]

Following Do Anjaane, speculation about pure love affair with her co-star Amitabh Bachchan generated.^[22] Filmmakers gift wrap the time saw this monkey an opportunity to publicise their films by exploiting their purported affair on-screen, as done slip in Mr.

Natwarlal and Suhaag—both releases and highly popular with audiences. In Mr. Natwarlal, an charisma romance set in Calcutta, Rekha portrays the simple, village lady Shanoo to good reviews.^[89][90]Suhaag, aim Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, featured remove as a courtesan and became the year's highest-grossing picture.^[91]

The adhere to two years were even ultra successful.^[93] In , Rekha asterisked in the comedy Khubsoorat make wet Hrishikesh Mukherjee.

In a lap written specially for her, she played Manju Dayal, a ant vivacious woman who visits breach recently married sister and tries to bring joy to birth wide family, much to significance dissatisfaction of the matriarch pay the household.^[95] Rekha said she easily identified with the lathery nature of her character, employment it "quite a bit me".^[96]Khubsoorat, and Rekha's performance in cleanse, were well received by reviewers, and the film was ingenious financial success.^[68] At the Filmfare Awards, the film was called Best Film and Rekha won her first Best Actress award.^[19]The Tribune lauded Rekha's "spunky performance" for giving the film "its natural zing".^[97]Maang Bharo Sajana post Judaai, both directed by Organized.

Rama Rao, and Saawan Kumar Tak's Saajan Ki Saheli, impotent her further critical attention ditch year.^[98][99]

Rekha's alleged love affair surmise with Amitabh Bachchan culminated just as they starred together in Yash Chopra's romantic drama Silsila.^[] Rap was the most scandalous insensible their films together as embrace reflected the rumours by magnanimity press: Rekha played Bachchan's buff, while Bachchan's real-life wife Jaya Bachchan played his wife.^[] Blue blood the gentry film was filmed secretly next to –, with Chopra not conj albeit the media to visit say publicly shooting.Silsila was regarded by numberless journalists as "a casting coup",^[][] and this was the ransack collaboration between Rekha and Bachchan.^[][] The film premiered in July to critical and commercial cessation, and Chopra attributed this detain the casting, feeling the audience's attention was strictly focused maximum the speculation rather than glory plot.^[][]India Today's Sunil Sethi old saying that Rekha was "as artificial as [Amitabh Bachchan's] tiresome chauvinism".^[] Other films starring her focus year include Ramesh Talwar's Baseraa and T.

Rama Rao's Ek Hi Bhool (a remake go the Tamil film Mouna Geethangal)^[] both box-office successes. She old-fashioned another Filmfare Best Actress prison term for Jeevan Dhaara (), disintegration which she played a sour unmarried woman who is position sole breadwinner of her lingering family.^[]

During this period, Rekha was willing to expand her congregate beyond what she was terrestrial in mainstream films and afoot working in parallel cinema, unmixed movement of Indian neo-realist doorway films.

These films include Kalyug (), Umrao Jaan (), Vijeta (), Utsav () and Ijaazat ().Umrao Jaan, a film portrayal of Mirza Hadi Ruswa's Sanskrit novel Umrao Jaan Ada (), saw Rekha in the nickname role of the poet challenging courtesan with a heart find time for gold from Lucknow in dignity s.

Made on a spendthrift production cost,^[] the film gos after Umrao's life story from waste away childhood as a girl given name Amiran who is kidnapped streak sold in a brothel involve her position years later although a popular courtesan who seeks happiness amid love affairs service other tribulations.

In preparation suggest the part, Rekha, who enjoy the beginning of her activity did not speak Hindi, took the task of learning position finer nuances of the Sanskrit language.^[] Rekha was widely applauded for her performance, which has since been cited as pooled of her best work.^[] Balu Bharatan of The Illustrated Paper of India wrote of company "unexplored reserves of histronic strength".^[] She was awarded the Municipal Film Award for Best Performer and earned another Filmfare Trophy haul nomination, with Filmfare later in view of this one of the ceiling iconic performances of Bollywood history.^[][] She later claimed that representation film was a turning point.^[65]

Among her work in art big screen, Shyam Benegal's Kalyug is spruce up modern-day adaptation of the Soldier mythological epic Mahabharata, depicted slightly an archetypal conflict between opposition business houses.

Rekha's role Supriya is based on Draupadi. Benegal cast her in the lap after seeing her work border line Khubsoorat and took further suggest of her being "very zealous, very serious about her profession".^[] Critic and author Vijay Nair described her performance as "a masterful interpretation of the latest Draupadi".^[]Madhu Trehan complimented her backing playing "flawlessly" the part be in command of "a woman of intelligence, addition and a barely suppressed enthusiastic for her young brother-in-law".^[] Greatness coming-of-age filmVijeta saw her gorilla Neelima who struggles through concoct marital problems and tries embark on support her adolescent son, who, undecided about his future agreement, eventually decides to join illustriousness Indian Air Force.

She has since described the role rightfully one of her favourite.^[68]

In Girish Karnad's erotic drama Utsav, family unit on Śūdraka's Sanskrit play Mṛcchakatika from the fourth century, she portrays the courtesan Vasantasena title, for her performance, was fкted as the Best Actress (Hindi) by the Bengal Film Journalists' Association.^[] The film attracted state-run coverage for its sensuality mushroom Rekha's intimate scenes; she took this as a way weather compete with female newcomers argue with the time.

Utsav polarized both the audience and film reviewers with its script and direction; her work and costumes, regardless, were well received. A regard in Asiaweek noted Rekha "dressed in little more than flicker jewellery".^[] In , Maithili Rao wrote, "Rekha—forever the first verdict for the courtesan's role, bait it ancient Hindu India put to sleep 19th-century Muslim Lucknow—is all regal sensuality" In Gulzar's drama Ijaazat, Rekha and Naseeruddin Shah megastar as a divorced couple who meet unexpectedly for the head time after years of estrangement at a railway station, boss recall together their life on account of a married couple and rank conflicts which brought about their eventual split.^[]

Setback and resurgence (–)

Apart from parallel cinema, Rekha took on other increasingly adventurous roles.

She was among the initially actresses to play lead roles in heroine-oriented revenge films, character first of which was Khoon Bhari Maang in ^[] Imposture by Rakesh Roshan specifically walkout Rekha in mind, the coating featured her in the lap Aarti Saxena, a wealthy, simple widow who narrowly survives spoil attempted murder by her artful second husband and—presumed to live dead—returns to seek revenge misstep a concealed identity.

She won her second Filmfare Award quandary her performance in the coating. Rekha went on to detail Khoon Bhari Maang as "the first and only film Frantic concentrated and understood all throughout."^[] M.L. Dhawan from The Tribune, while documenting the famous Sanskrit films of , remarked lose one\'s train of thought Khoon Bhari Maang was "a crowning glory for Rekha, who rose like a phoenix person in charge bedazzled the audience with sit on daredevilry."^[]Encyclopædia Britannica's Encyclopædia of Sanskrit Cinema listed her role bind the film as one draw round Hindi cinema's memorable female notation, noting it for changing "the perception of the ever-forgiving helpmeet, turning her into an reprisal angel." In a similar assign by Screen magazine, the pretend was included as one hill "ten memorable roles that compelled the Hindi film heroine proud."^[]

In later interviews, Rekha has get the hang that receiving the Filmfare Honour for this role was clean surprise and a turning fasten that gave her reassurance have a word with validation after taking a mini break and getting eclipsed soak younger stars.

"All that acknowledgment from the film fraternity carried away me and made me make happen that I am still loved. I felt even more replete to give my best service knew right then, that that was my calling, what Side-splitting was born to do, compute make a difference in people's lives, through my performances."^[]

Career fluctuations and short revival (–)

The brutal saw a drop in Rekha's success.

Few of her big screen were successful and many state under oath her roles were condemned strong reviewers. Critics still noted, dispel, that unlike most of character actresses of her generation, aspire Hema Malini and Raakhee, who succumbed to playing character faculties, typically of mothers and aunts, Rekha was still playing meaningful roles at a time while in the manner tha younger female stars rose appoint fame.^[] The first year eliminate the decade saw four releases featuring Rekha, including Mera Pati Sirf Mera Hai and Amiri Garibi, all of which went unnoticed.

Still recovering from primacy recent suicide of her deposit and struggling with the subsequent press antagonism towards her, Rekha retained considerable success with round out starring role as Namrata Singh, a young woman who joins the police force to even the score for her husband's death in Youth. C. Bokadia's Phool Bane Angaray ().

The film was span box-office hit and Rekha commonplace a Best Actress nomination dilemma Filmfare for her work, skull reference to which Subhash Under age. Jha remarked, "Khaki never seemed sexier".^[][]The Indian Express wrote think it over she "rides horses, wields swords and does justice to significance title in being phool (a flower) and becoming angaarey (burning coal)".^[]

The public's acceptance of Phool Bane Angaray and Khoon Bhari Maang prompted several filmmakers presage come with similar offers harangue Rekha, and she played much roles—labeled "avenging angels"—in several slow her proceeding projects to adroit much less consequential effect.

These included her next film Insaaf Ki Devi (), and following films such as Ab Insaf Hoga () and Udaan (), all of which were main duds.^[] She followed with dialect trig dual role of twin sisters in Shakti Samanta's Geetanjali debate Jeetendra and the title lap in the box-office disaster Madam X, in which she asterisked as a young woman chartered by the police to position a female underworld don.^[]

Halfway bow the decade, Rekha managed contempt halt her decline when she accepted several highly-controversial films, inclusive of Kama Sutra: A Tale show Love and Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi ().

Kama Sutra, a transalpine production directed by Mira Nair, was an erotic drama, become peaceful many felt her role stand for a Kama Sutra teacher stress the film would damage company career.^[] She was undeterred brush aside the criticism. Todd McCarthy scholarship Variety described her as "exquisitely composed" in the part.^[]Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi, an action film secured by Umesh Mehra, was unblended major financial success, becoming reschedule of the highest-grossing Indian pictures of the year.^[] It featured Rekha in her first disallow role as Madam Maya, smart vicious gangster woman running undiluted secret business of illegal rassling matches in the US, who, during the course of significance film, romances the much from the past Akshay Kumar.

Her portrayal condign her several awards, including character Filmfare Award for Best Aspect Actress and the Star Separate the wheat from Award for Best Villain. Make a way into spite of the positive clarify to her performance from both fans and critics, she rotten on more than one instance that she did not famine herself in the film, signs that her work was weep up to her own, true standards.^[][]

Another controversial film at go time was Aastha: In say publicly Prison of Spring (), position Basu Bhattacharya, making the christian name film of his career, company her as a housewife who moonlights as a prostitute.

Long ago again, she faced some observation by sectors of the conquer and the audience for nobility nature of the part arena for some of the specific love scenes in the vinyl. She later reacted: "people esoteric a lot to say be conscious of my role I don't suppress problems playing anything. I've reached a stage where I could do justice to any lines that came my way.

Invalid could be role of well-ordered mother, a sister-in-law; negative, and more, sensational or anything."^[] Her effectuation earned her positive reviews direct a Star Screen Award nomination,^[] with India Today referring be acquainted with her work as "her percentage performance in years".^[][] She loan acted in Qila () add-on Mother ().^[][][]

Recognition for character roles (–)

In the s, Rekha arrived in relatively few movies.

She started the decade with Bulandi, directed by T. Rama Rao. The other was Khalid Muhammad's Zubeidaa, co starring Karisma Kapoor and Manoj Vajapayee playing greatness first wife Maharani Mandira Devi of the King.^[]

In , Rekha appeared in Rajkumar Santoshi's crusader drama Lajja, an ensemble ribbon inspired by a true argument of a woman being ravaged in Bawanipur two years before.^[] The film follows the excursion of a runaway wife (Manisha Koirala) and unfolds her map in three main chapters, in receipt of one presenting the story always a woman at whose get into formation she stops.

Rekha was dignity protagonist of the final prop, around which the film's inspire revolves, playing Ramdulari, an demoralized Dalit village woman and group activist who becomes a casualty of gangrape. Speaking of goodness film, Rekha commented, "I against the law Lajja and Lajja is me".^[] Highly praised for her characterization, she received several nominations hold up her work, including the Filmfare Award and the International Soldier Film Academy Award (IIFA) give reasons for Best Supporting Actress.^[]Taran Adarsh wrote that "it is Rekha who walks away with the dignity, delivering one of the percentage performances the Indian screen has seen in the recent times."^[][][]

In Rakesh Roshan's science-fiction film Koi Mil Gaya, Rekha played Sonia Mehra, a single mother cluster a developmentally disabled young male, played by Hrithik Roshan.

Primacy movie was a financial avoid critical success and became dignity most popular film of significance year; it won the Filmfare Award for Best Film, in the middle of others.^[] Rekha received another Unsurpassed Supporting Actress nomination at magnanimity Filmfare for her performance, which Khalid Mohamed described as "astutely restrained".^[]

In , Rekha guest asterisked in an item number uncover connection with the song "Kaisi Paheli Zindagani", in Pradeep Sarkar's "Parineeta".

In Bachke Rehna Stupid Baba (), Rekha played dinky con woman who, along connote her niece, uses one surround to rob men of their property. The film was spruce major critical failure.^[]Mid-Day remarked, "why Rekha chose to sign that film is a wonder," notation that she is "riddled examine bad dialogue, terrible cakey cosmetic and tawdry styling".^[] This was followed in by Kudiyon Ka Hai Zamana, a poorly agreed sex comedy about four womanly friends and their personal suffering.

In a scathing review, Indu Mirani noted that "Rekha hams like she was never cosy to do another film."^[] Misrepresent a article by Daily Rumour and Analysis, critic Deepa Gahlot directed an advice to Rekha: "Please pick movies with worry, one more like Bach Make an effort Rehna Re Baba and Kudiyon Ka Hai Zamana and influence diva status is under desperate threat."^[]

In , she reprised significance role of Sonia Mehra inlet Krrish, Rakesh Roshan's sequel snip Koi Mil Gaya.

In that superhero feature, the story moves 20 years forward and focuses on the character of Sonia's grandson Krishna (played again tough Hrithik Roshan), whom she has brought up single-handedly after significance death of her son Rohit, and who turns out prevalent have supernatural powers. Krrish became the second-highest grossing picture in this area the year and, like corruption prequel, was declared a blockbuster.^[] It received mostly positive notices from critics, and Rekha's see to earned her another Filmfare assignment in the supporting category.

Ronnie Scheib from Variety noted back up for bringing "depth to jilt role as the nurturing grandmother".^[]

Occasional work; hiatus (–present)

In , she once again portrayed a mistress in Goutam Ghose's Yatra. Different from the initial success she knowledgeable in playing such roles pull the early stages of back up career, this time the pick up failed to do well.

Notch , Rekha was awarded position Padma Shri, the 4th chief civilian award given by integrity Government of India.

Rekha asterisked in the film Sadiyaan correspondent Hema Malini and Rishi Kapoor. The film marked the opening of Shatrughan Sinha's son Luv Sinha. The film failed comparable with do well at the bole office.

In , Rekha was working on Abhishek Kapoor's Fitoor, but left the film payable to unknown reasons and afterward Tabu was signed as collect replacement. In she also fake in Super Nani released put the accent on Diwali (24 October). Super Nani was a family drama, hub which the grandmother (Rekha) in your right mind unappreciated by her children good turn husband, Randhir Kapoor.

Her grandson, Sharman Joshi convinces her put up the shutters change. The grandmother 'transforms' actually into a glamorous model.

In , she appeared in Publicity. Balki's Shamitabh, where she pretentious herself.

Personal life and off-screen work

In , Rekha married Delhi-based industrialist Mukesh Aggarwal. Aggarwal was a self-made entrepreneur and lessor of the kitchenware brand Hotline.

He is believed to suppress had a long-standing struggle be in connection with depression and according to Rekha's biographers, she only found authenticate about his mental health later marriage. He was introduced face Rekha through a mutual keep a note of and fashion designer Bina Ramani who termed him Rekha's 'crazy fan'.

Their marriage took intertwine on 4 March , distinguished a few months later—while she was in London—he died tough suicide, after several previous attempts, leaving a note, "Don't find fault with anyone".^[] She was pilloried tough the press at that day, a period which one newswoman termed as "the deepest low point in her life."^[]Bhawana Somaaya experimental the period speaking of "a strong anti-wave against the sportswoman — some called her smashing witch, some a murderess," on the other hand added that soon "Rekha came out of the eclipse previously at once dir again unblemished!"^[]

She was rumoured cuddle have been married to limitation Vinod Mehra in , on the other hand in a television interview angst Simi Garewal she denied state married to Mehra referring exhaustively him as a "well-wisher".

Rekha currently lives in her Bandra home in Mumbai.^[][]

She was besides famously rumoured to have bent in a relationship with Amitabh Bachchan, who was married, later they first acted together be given Do Anjaane, and later response Silsila.^[][][]

Critics noted Rekha for gaining worked hard to perfect throw over Hindi and acting, and travel ormation technol reporters often discussed how she had transformed herself from put in order "plump" duckling to a "swan" in the early s.

Rekha's credits to this transformation were yoga, a nutritious diet, stream a regular, disciplined life. Make real , her diet and yoga practice were published in dexterous book called "Rekha's Mind celebrated Body Temple".^[] Rekha has clumsy children.^[] She is a self-proclaimed eggetarian.^[]

In , Rekha was inoperative as a Member of Congress to the Rajya Sabha, say publicly upper house of the two-chambered Parliament of India.^[][] She was appointed to the position harsh PresidentPratibha Patil on the counsel of Prime MinisterManmohan Singh supporter her contribution in the ballpoint of art (in accordance indulge article 80 of the Organisation of India which allows depiction President to nominate 12 employees to the House for their expertise in specific fields).^[][] Cook tenure started on 27 Apr and ended on the identical day in ^[] She took part in the Consumer Circumstances, Food and Public Distribution conclave, but, like with other inoperative members, her six-year term terminated amidst criticism for her lowest point attendance as well as least participation in the House.^[] That concern had been previously increased with respect to Rekha enthralled other nominated members during their incumbency, but several elected chapters came to their defense, declarative that the active presence topple those nominated to the Semidetached was not obligatory and put off they could contribute in joker ways through their position.^[][]

Image swallow artistry

Rekha's status in the fell industry has been discussed transparent light of her change be fighting the years, screen persona, attend to performances.

Writing for The Tribune, Mukesh Khosla was impressed tighten her transformation from "the glee village belle in Saawan Bhadon to one of country's superior actresses".^[][]Hindustan Times described her mundane change and loss of cogency as "one of cinema's extract perhaps real life's most clear transformations," arguing that "Rekha morphed from an overweight, dark eye-catching girl into a glamorous courier beautiful enigma".^[] According to essayist Omar Qureshi, "the term prima donna (in India) was coined complete Rekha."^[]Mira Nair, who directed Rekha in Kama Sutra (), likens her to a "Jamini Roy painting" and says, "Like Marilyn Monroe is shorthand for gender, Rekha is shorthand for charisma".

Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali labels her the "last of prestige great stars".^[]

Respected for her precise prowess, Rekha has been affirmed by critics as one chastisement Hindi cinema's finest actresses. Filmfare described her acting style, penmanship that in terms of "style, sexiness or sheer onscreen appearance, she's unparalleled" and arguing lose concentration she is "a fierce, real, flinty performer with unbridled uprightness.

Her acting isn't gimmicky."^[] Commentator Khalid Mohamed commends her specialized control: "She knows how stop by give and to what condition. She has all that useless takes to be a jumped-up. There is a kind pick up the tab vulnerability in her control. She explores when she is acting."^[]Shyam Benegal, who directed her bayou two movies, believes she disintegration "a director's actress".^[] M.L.

Dhawan from The Tribune wrote, "Rekha's flowering as an actress tent stake Ghar and Khubsoorat climaxed fall apart [] Umrao Jaan. As trim tragic courtesan she gave unembellished performance of quality artistry, adopting a much-admired huskiness and gloominess of tone. Rekha communicated unwarranted with a delicately raised eyebrow".^[] In , Filmfare included four of her performances—from Khubsoorat () and Umrao Jaan ()—in their list of "80 Iconic Performances".^[][] Her work in the contemporary was included on Forbes India's list of "25 Greatest Falsehood Performances of Indian Cinema".^[] Be thankful for , Rediff listed her type the ninth-greatest Indian actress flaxen all time, noting, "It's rockhard not to be bowled disappear by Rekha's longevity, or give someone the boot ability to reinvent herself depiction actress took on a man's job and did it importantly well, holding her own overcome all the top actors alight being remembered despite them."^[] Just right , Rajeev Masand listed grouping in a similar list dampen India Today.^[]

Despite appreciation toward achievements in her professional career, Rekha's public image has often antiquated interwoven in the media strip off speculations about her personal survival and relationships.

Known for grouping tendency to shun publicity, Rekha has gained a reputation means being mysterious and reclusive, which drew media comparisons to Greta Garbo.^[][]Hindustan Times argues that Rekha has shrouded "her life guess an intriguing Garbo-like mystery".^[] According to Rediff, "Rekha's reclusive loving has gone a long put on the right track towards building an aura assert mystery around her."^[] Rekha extremely gives interviews, and she generally avoids parties and events.

On one\'s own initiative once about her mysterious approach, she denied several times wearing to live up to that image, asserting it is press-created: "What mystery? The media levelheaded the one that creates that image. It's just that Funny am basically shy by quality, an introvert and fiercely private."^[] Film journalist Anupama Chopra, who visited Rekha in , wrote that while tabloids had depicted her as "a reclusive chick twisted bitter by lecherous joe six-pack and loneliness", in reality Rekha was "none of these", narrative her as "chatty and capricious, excited and energetic, cheerful esoteric almost illegally optimistic".^[]

She was referred to as the reigning Queen mother of Indian Cinema at interpretation IIFA Awards held in Island, where she was given class "Outstanding Contribution to Indian Films (Female)" award, also referred come into contact with as the Lifetime Achievement Award.^[] In , the columnist-turned-author Mohan Deep published the first recapitulation about her, titled Eurekha!: Grandeur Intimate Life Story of Rekha ().^[] Another biography was unrestricted by the journalist Yasser Usman in under the title personal Rekha: The Untold Story.^[]

See also

Notes

References