Skip to main content

GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA



Did fame ever bother you?

It did bother me when I was a teenager. There were some things that were written. I missed certain things like going to the store and eating an ice-cream or just taking a walk. These things bothered me for about seven to eight years.

Later on, I realized that there are so many other beautiful things to life that you should learn to focus on. I realized that there was no point sulking because there was nobody to answer the questions that were in my head. So I think, on my own, something else came over me and I started sorting out things, seeking answers within me.

So I never worried about why certain things were happening to me or why they weren't happening. Luckily, I started concentrating on creative things like languages. I loved Urdu even though I was not educated in the language. So I listened to ghazals and picked up words and wanted to know their meaning. And I went into music in a big way too. I wasn't into discotheques or drugs and those kind of things. I was more into feeling the music or feeling the environment around me. I love gardening, so I would be in my garden. I am a very creative person.

.
FM
GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA

Behind her glass-encrusted table, she presides. Slices of sunlight flatter the face that's as enigmatic as her photo-spreads in the glossies. Her lashes are as still as a row of commas typed on a page. And when she husks in her lowest register, everyone snaps to attention.

Meet Rekha. As she glides from childhood recollections to her well-kept health and beauty secrets, she fascinates, as always.

Congratulations on winning the Lachhu Maharaj Award for proficiency in Kathak.

Rekha : Thank you. But boy, was I completely blown out of my mind? I mean, of course I was deeply touched by the honor, since I'm not a Kathak dancer. Lachhu Maharaj's wife, Rama Devi, who's 83-years-old, travelled all the way from Bombay to Lucknow to present the award to me on his birth anniversary. I was a state guest, I was treated like a queen.

Q. Was there a sense of deja vu, going back to Lucknow, after those Umrao Jaan days?

Rekha : You can say that again. I was going back after 18 years. For Umrao, I'd travelled by train. So much has changed. But strangely, the scent, the feel was intact. In my acceptance speech, I even said that it was as if Muzaffar Ali would say at any moment, "Shot ready hai" I savoured the splendour of Lucknow once more with sheermal kababs, chikan kurtas, ittars and all! We had dinner at Muzaffar's kothi which was straight out of some bygone era... it was as if time had stood absolutely still. And then I saw this Kathak recital by a fifth generation offspring of Lachhu Maharaj's family. She was just five-years-old. But she stunned me with her artistry, especially the jugalbandi with her father. That was truly a humbling experience.

.
FM
GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA

Q. What about liposuction? Quite a few surgeons have claimed that they have done your face-lifts?

Rekha : I wish I could meet all those surgeons. Every once in a while, some doctor claims to have done some operation on me. I'm not a lippo girl, I'm a hippo girl. That's because I have big South Indian hips. And I've let them be that way. I'm realistic, I will never try to drastically cut down my weight and look like an anorexic fashion model .Once I saw an Oprah Winfrey show where the entire process of liposuction was shown. Gawd, the blood scared me. The side-effects are also supposed to be scary. I seriously believe one shouldn't tamper with what nature has blessed you with. I'm against nips, tucks and face-lifts. You should never be a slave to technology. And please, I'd like to get married and have kids even when I'm 60. So why should I abuse my body right now? I really don't think there's any right age for creating art or creating babies. Forget biological clocks.

Q. Your life appears to be laced with all the ingredients of a Jackie Collins novel. Have you ever considered writing your autobiography?

Rekha : I haven't read Jackie Collins novels. But I believe they're pretty controversial and steamy. (Laughs) Sometimes I really wish my life were as exciting as people think it is. Let me also add that my private life is mine alone. I don't want to bare it for discussion and dissection. Because my life can be misunderstood and misinterpreted. Other individuals are involved, too. I don't want them to misinterpret my intentions. Biographies and autobiographies are written about legends and great souls. I'm just a human being, quite an ordinary one at that.

.
FM
quote:
Originally posted by chameli:
Excellent work here Bhai asjCool

i cannot wait for more on BhanuRekha (i love that name)
I am proud of her for not making the same mistake her mom made (have child out of wedlock...and even more happy that she did not have a child wid my BigBWink )
maybe it is her childhood which has made her turn against men as lover? who is to know...so many men in her life and yet none to hold on toFrown


Yes dids, there are more, a lot more to come as we will look at quite a few of her movies, then we have her songs and maybe bits a pieces more, maybe some more on your Amitabh. Big Grin

.
FM
GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA


Rekha at the 12th annual Screen Awards

There was a great Rekha moment at the recently held Screen Awards. The actress, looking gorgeous as always, was called on the stage to give away the best actress award. After the award was given and the applause died down, compere Sonali Bhendre asked Rekha not to leave the stage since she had to give the next award as well. Rekha turned, flicked her hair back and said in her best bass voice, "I ain't going nowhere baby."

She definitely isn't. Rekha is the quintessential movie star. She's eternally beautiful, consistently confounding and a permanent mystery. She possibly is the only star whose kept her allure intact by refusing to do television and commercials, though I imagine offers good enough to tempt the devil must have come her way. She's still the consummate actress check her out in Shyam Benegal's Zubeida. And she is always a damn good story.

.
FM
GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA

Will be a tough one to guesss who will be offered the role of playing Benazir Bhutto, is it Sushmita Sen or Rekha? or Shabana or Kareena or ????? Aishwariya

Definately I would love to see Amitabh as Benazir's Husband..........then ofcourse Rekha will fit that bill for one last fling with Amitabh.

.
FM
GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA

Plot
In the year 1840, a young girl named Amiran (Seema Sathyu) is kidnapped from her family by their neighbour, Dilawar Khan (Satish Shah) and sold to Madam Khanum Jaan (Shaukat Kaifi) who owns a brothel where she trains courtesans (tawaif). Amiran, renamed Umrao Jaan, learns to read, write, dance, sing, and charm wealthy men. She is no common prostitute, but a cultured woman trained to captivate men of wealth and taste.

A grown-up Umrao Jaan, (Rekha), catches the eye of Nawab Sultan (Farooq Shaikh), and the two fall in love. But the Nawab must marry to please his family, and Umrao's heart is broken.

She meets a dashing bandit chieftain, Faiz Ali (Raj Babbar), who wooes and wins her. She flees with her dacoit, hoping to marry him and leave the world of the courtesan far behind. But her lover is killed by local police and she is left alone, with no choice but to return to her old life.

Soon, the British attack the city of Lucknow and the residents, including Umrao Jaan, are forced to flee. Umrao's party of refugees stop in a small village near Lucknow. The residents ask the courtesan to sing and dance. Umrao, looking about her, realizes that this is her village, Faizabad, her family, the place from which she was kidnapped. She had been so young when kidnapped that she had forgotten it all, but now it all returns to her.

She sings the song, Yeh kya jagah hai doston? -- What kind of place is this, friends? -- a veiled reference to her feelings of dismay at being treated like a pariah entertainer by her very own people. Afterwards, she meets her mother and younger brother, who had thought that she was dead. Her mother would be happy to welcome her back into the family, but her brother forbids it -- she is tainted by her profession and must not return to embarrass them.

At the end of the film, Umrao returns to the now-deserted and looted brothel in Lucknow and finds she is left alone, with nothing but her profession and her poetry.

Rekha was 27, half her age when she played Umrao Jaan.

.
FM
GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA



Farouque Shaikh, Naseeruddin Shah, Raj Babbar and Shaukat Kaifi are all fine actors and leave no room for complaint.

But make no mistake. Umrao Jaan is Rekha's movie. All the other actors are mere props. After all, the story is woven around the central character Umrao Jaan.

Besides the story and Rekha's fine performance, what sets Umrao Jaan apart from the run of the mill Bollywood trash is the high quality of its music. All of the songs still work their magic on listeners despite the passage of time.

Di Cheeze Kya Hai, In Aankhon Ki Masti and Yeh Kya Jagah Hai Dosto have delighted us immensely over the last two decades and more.

Of Umrao Jaan's songs, it can truly be said that they are timeless.

.
FM
GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA



Asha B, will always be remembered for her Ghazals that charmed us in Umrao Jaan, and Rekha performances of these Ghazals will long be remembered, as they remained classics:

"Dil Cheez Kya Hai" Asha Bhosle, Lyrics: Shahryar

"In Aankhon Ki Masti" Asha Bhosle, Lyrics: Shahryar

"Justuju Jiski Thi" Asha Bhosle, Lyrics: Shahryar

"Yeh Kya Jagay Hai Doston" Asha Bhosle, Lyrics: Shahryar


.
FM
GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA

DIL CHEEZ KYA HAI AAP MERI

dil cheez kya hai aap merii jaan liijiye
Never mind my heart, Take my very life!
bas ek baar mera kahaa...maan liijiye
Just once, do what I ask you
dil cheez kya hai aap merii jaan liijiye
Never mind my heart, Take my very life!

is anjuman me.n aap ko...aana hai baar baar
You must come, time and again, to this court
diiwaar-o-dar ko ghaur se... pahachaan liijiye
Get to know every nook and corner well
dil cheez kya hai aap merii jaan liijiye
Never mind my heart, Take my very life!

maana ki dosto.n ko nahii.n
It is agreed that friends don't
dosto.n, dosto.n ko nahii.n
That friends don't
maana ke dosto.n ko nahii.n dostii ka paas
It is agreed that friends don't respect friendships;

lekin yeh kya ke ghair ka...ehasaan liijiye
but why do you accept favors from strangers?
dil cheez kya hai aap merii jaan liijiye
Never mind my heart, Take my very life!

kahiye to...aasmaan ko
If you just say so
kahiye to aasmaan ko zamiin par utaar laayen
if you just say so, then I shall lay the sky at your feet,

mushkil nahiin hai kuchh bhii
Nothing is difficult;
mushkil nahiin hai kuchh bhii agar Thaan liijiye
nothing is difficult if you set your heart on it.
dil cheez kya hai aap merii jaan liijiye
Never mind my heart, Take my very life!

bas ek baar
Just for once
bas ek baar mera kahaa maan liijiye
Just once, do what I ask you
maan liijiye
Do it

Trans: Venkat
FM
Last edited by Former Member
quote:
Originally posted by chameli:
Bhaiya....hope u having a great sundaywavey

question:
has DivaRekha been bleaching her skin?
she used to be a typical dark skinned south indian stardunno


Hi Dids, yes I am having so much fun with Rekha, (raining outside) and you have that correct, because we have learnt that after her first Movie "Saawan Bhadon" and whilst in her youth, she began to take pride in her body and would get her make-up stuff from foreign countries with the help of international flight air-hostesses, and maybe in those stuff there was fading cream to get a lighter complexion.

In the late 80's I was lucky to see her at Madison square garden with Anil Kapoor, and boy!! she was a dish.

Cant vouch for bleaching....maybe, maybe not.

.
FM
GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA



'Umrao Jaan' is a quiet, sad, contemplative film. It makes you think about what many women go through, and it makes you think about the repercussions of simple life choices. But it also has wonderful naachgaana to offer - the ghazals are simply beautiful, and Rekha's dancing is simply spellbinding. Her emotional (but very restrained), multi-layered performance also deserves a lot of applause. The rest of the cast is also very good, but Rekha is the highlight of this film.

.
FM
GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA



Aaahh, eyes. Just about three square inches of her body, but they do so much.

They look, they see, they peer, they peek, they glance, they glare, they ogle, they leer, they observe, they spy and seek. They can calm a crying child, cajole a brat. They can shout silently, or show compassion, or shoot arrows directly into your heart. They can console and comfort, display awe and anger, show love, lust and longing. They can cry, complain, or cause anguish in a lover's heart. They can mock, muse or move you. They can speak, smile and seduce. They can induce, implore or intoxicate.

Man can make an imitation of almost every part of the human body with today's technology. Man can make a camera that can see, but he can never make an eye. God kept the secret of making eyes to Himself. That is because that is where He put the soul, another thing that man cannot make.

The same God either made Rekha's eyes just for this ghazal, or made this ghazal just for her. This ghazal crowns Ashaji as the undisputed queen of the ghazal genre. It is a pity she did not sing hundreds more for us.

IN AANHON KII MASTII KE: MP 3:

In Aankhon Kii Mastii Ke,(2) Mastaane Hazaaron Hain (2)
There are thousands intoxicated by the passion of these eyes,
In Aankhon Se Vaabastah (2) Afasaane Hazaaron Hain
Thousands of romances have been spun about these eyes,

Ik Tum Hii Nahiin Tanhaa (2), Ulafat Mein Merii Rusavaa (2)
You are not the only one disgraced by your desire for me,
Is Shahar Mein Tum Jaise (2) Diivaane Hazaaron Hain (2)
In this city, there are thousands of mad men just like you,

In Aankhon Kii Mastii Ke, Mastaane Hazaaron Hain
There are thousands intoxicated by the passion of these eyes,

Ik Sirf hum hii may Ko (2) Aankhon Se Pilaate Hain (2)
I am the only one that can intoxicate you with my eyes
Kahane Ko To Duniyaa Mein (2) Mayakhaane Hazaaron Hain
Although there are thousands of wine houses in this world

In Aankhon Kii Mastii Ke, Mastaane Hazaaron Hain
There are thousands intoxicated by the passion of these eyes,

Is Shamm-e-Farozaan Ko (2) Aandhii Se Daraate Ho (2)
You are trying to frighten this lighted candle with a mere storm,
Is Shamm-e-Farozaan Ke (2) Paravaane Hazaaron Hain
Thousands of moths are drawn to this brilliant candle,

In Aankhon Kii Mastii Ke(2), Mastaane Hazaaron Hain (2)
There are thousands intoxicated by the passion of these eyes,
In Aankhon Se Vaabastaa(2) Afasaane Hazaaron Hain
Thousands of romances have been spun about these eyes,

Trans: Venkat

.
FM
GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA



JUSTAJUU KISKII THII: MP 3:

(Justajuu jiskii thii us ko to na paaya hamne)2
I did not find the one I had been searching for
Is bahaane se magar dekh lii duniya hamne
but on this pretext, I saw the world
Justajuu jiskii thii
The one for whom I searched

(Tujhko rusva na kiya)2
I did not disgrace you.
Khud bhii pashemaa.n na hu'e
and I did not shame myself
(Ishq kii rasm ko)2 is taraha nibhaaya hamne
In this manner, I honored our vows of love.
Ishq kii rasm ko is taraha nibhaaya hamne
In this manner, I honored our vows of love.

Justajuu jiskii thii
The one for whom I searched

Kab mile the kahaa.n bichhare the (2)
When we met, and where we were separated,
Hamein yaad nahiin
I do not remember
Zindagii tujhko to (2) bas khwaab mein dekha hamne
Life, I only beheld you in dreams
Zindagii tujhko to bas khwaab mein dekha hamne
Life, I only beheld you in dreams

Justajuu jiskii thii
The one for whom I searched

Ae 'Ada' aur sunaa'yen bhi to kya haal apna
What more can I tell you of my state?
Umr ka lamba safar (2) tay kiya tanha ham ne
I picked the way that I would spend this life's journey
Umr ka lamba safar tay kiya tanha ham ne
I picked the way that I would spend this life's journey

Justajuu jiskii thii usko to na paaya ham ne
I did not find what I had been searching for
Is bahaane se magar dekh lii duniya ham ne
but on this pretext, I beheld the world
Justajuu jiskii thii
The one for whom I searched

Note: Even though the Lyrics were by Shahryar, the poetry was attributed to the poet Umrao Jaan Ada, and the 'Ada' in the last verse refers to the traditional takhallus.

Trans: Venkat
FM
GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA



quote:
She sings the song, Yeh kya jagah hai doston? -- What kind of place is this, friends? -- a veiled reference to her feelings of dismay at being treated like a pariah entertainer by her very own people. Afterwards, she meets her mother and younger brother, who had thought that she was dead. Her mother would be happy to welcome her back into the family, but her brother forbids it -- she is tainted by her profession and must not return to embarrass them.


THE VIDEO: YEH KYA JAGE HAIN DOSTON:

.
FM
GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA

YEH KYA JAGAH HAI DOSTON

(Yeh kya jagah hai doston)2
What is this place, friends?
(Yeh kaunsa dayaar hai)2
Which region is this
(Had-e-nigaah tak jahaan)2
Where, for as far as the eye can see,
(Gubaar hii gubaar hai)2
Is dust-storm upon dust-storm?

Yeh kya jagah hai dostoon
What is this place, friends?

(Yeh kis maqaam par hayaat)2
To what resting place has life
(Mujhko leke aa ga'ii)2
brought me,
(Na bas khushii pe hai jahaan)2
Where I have neither command over joy,
(Na gam pe ikhtiyaar hai)2
Nor power over my sorrow?

Yeh kya jagah hai doston
What is this place, friends?
(Yeh kaunsa dayaar hai)2
Which region is this

(Tamaam umr ka hisaab)2 (maangtii hai zindagii)2
Life asks me for an account of all my years
(Yeh mera dil kahe to kya)2
What will this heart of mine say?
(Yeh khud se sharmasaar hai)2
It is ashamed of itself

Yeh kya jagah hai dostoon
What is this place, friends?
(Yeh kaunsa dayaar hai)2
Which region is this?

(Bulaa rahaa hai kaun)2
Who is calling
Mujhko chilmanon ke us taraf
me from the edge of those reed curtains?
(Mere li'e bhii kya koii)2
Is there anyone at all for me?
(Udaas beqaraar hai)
Sorrow is so hard to bear

yeh kya jagah hai dostoon
What is this place, friends?
yeh kaunsa dayaar hai
Which region is this?
had-e-nigaah tak jahaan
For as far as the eye can see,
(Gubaar hii gubaar hai)2
There is only dust-storm upon dust-storm.

Yeh kya jagah hai doston
What is this place, friends?

.
FM
GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA



Silsila was made during peak of their romance and yash chopra had the audacity to caste Amitabh , Rekha and Jaya in almost their real lives role , something that took lots of convincing to get Jaya to agree to this .

The film stars Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Jaya Bhaduri, Sanjeev Kumar and Rekha. This film is said to be based on Amitabh Bachchan's personal life as in late 70's and early 80's, the romance between Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha was the most talked about news from Hindi film industry.

.
FM
GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA

Silsila (1981)

Yash Chopra's Silsila was one of Rekha's most talked about films: her costar was Amitabh Bachchan whom she was rumoured to be having an affair with. The film, which also featured Jaya Bachchan, was said to be close to real life.

The film was not so successful but remains a classic romance.

As the story goes Amitabh gives up Rekha for Jaya, when he finds she is pregnant with his dead brother Shashi Kapoor's child. Rekha then marries Sanjeev Kumar. The lovers continue to meet much to the agony of their spouses. The confrontation scene between Jaya and Rekha is spectacular.

Her marriage to businessman Mukesh Agarwal plunged Rekha into a dark phase after he allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself with Rekha's dupatta.

.
FM


They are probably the biggest couple who made it to the Bollywood gossip circles ever. In a day and age, when chemistry lacks even between real life couples, Amitabh and Rekha probably define what's called 'eternal love'. In life they may have moved on, but for the die hard romantics, Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha remain as the living examples of picture perfect romance.

.
FM
GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA



The two came together for the first time in Dulal Guha's Do Anjaane. And quite literally, at that time, they were two perfect strangers. Their on screen chemistry was better than a lot of people these days but nothing as compared to what we got to saw in the years to come.

But this worked for the film. The scene when Rekha spots her supposedly 'dead' husband Amitabh while coming out from the movie premiere in the film, was the scene we all remembered. The look in their eyes that held a 'I know this stranger too deeply' was just a premonition for what was to happen between the two on and off screen in the years that followed.

.
FM
GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA



And then the stranger, the 'pardesiya' came closer. Mr Natwarlal was a good movie for sure. But the chemistry that the duo shared overshadowed everything else. Their songs together including 'pardesiya yeh sach hai piya' was a chartbuster and a hit due to their cute chemistry.

In fact the song was like the story of their lives. Suddenly from being strangers, they had come closer personally. And yes, people had started talking about the two.

.
FM
GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA



Many till date refuse to watch Muqaddar Ka Sikandar because they hate to see their superstar Bachchan die on screen. But the story of this one man, a failure in love, was an instant hit with the masses.

What was interesting was the fact that the storyline as far as Amitabh and Rekha are concerned was very much akin to their off screen lives. He was married. In the movie he was in love with Rakhi. And Rekha was the 'other woman' madly in love with him. Well, in the movie, she did give her life for him which well, as we all know did not happen in reality. Rekha will celebrates her 55th birthday on October 10, this year.

.
FM


Yash Raj who glamourised eternal love and Amitabh-Rekha who lived it came together for this ultimate romantic saga. Silsila, the tale of two lovers who meet after long years to find their lives shattered by the smouldering embers of their past romance was an instant hit – partly because of the brilliance of the film and mostly because of the sparks that flew between the two actors on screen.

How can we ever forget the song Yeh Kahaan Aa Gaye Hum immortalised by Lata Mangeshkar and Amitabh Bachchan in which the sultry Rekha wearing a red salwar kameez and red lipstick almost burnt the screen while reading the love sonnets written to her by Amitabh.

Decades later, on a film awards night, when Lata Mangeshkar sang the song again with Amitabh reciting the meaningful lines 'Main Aur Meri Tanhayee' in his rich baritone, we all couldn't help but look at the ravishing Rekha sitting in the crowd.


.
FM
GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA



Silsila quite literally upheld the 'affair' of Amitabh and Rekha and immortalised it in Bollywood history. Every moment in the film was worth remembering, but the song *Dekha Ek Khwaab deserves a special mention for sure.

The song made Switzerland as the ultimate honeymoon spot for Indian couples and the field of red and yellow tulips, the perfect setting for romance. And it's all because of the love oozing between the two actors. One look at their faces and one would know what 'love' means.

*Will present later:

.
FM
GLAMOROUS DIVA OF YESTERYEAR: REKHA



And the tabloids went into action with the song Rang Barseâ€ĶAs in the film, so (apparently) in real life, Jaya Bachchan finally put her foot down after the wet and wild romance between Amitabh and Rekha in this Holi chartbuster. The song was like their real life being played out on screen.

.
FM

Add Reply

×
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×