Bollywood actress Rekha celebrates her 59th birthday today
Rekha puts the glam in glam diva and is the only personality to carry off the tag so easily. She maybe turning 59 but at heart she knows she’s still that naïve 16 year old. Like many of you I have grown up watching Rekha’s movies and have been impressed by her larger-than-life persona. Today on her birthday, I don’t want to talk about the amazing performances she has done because we already know a lot about it. I don’t even want to talk about her alleged affairs especially with a certain Big B. This article is about the Rekha I have seen growing up some of her movies which are a part of my formative years and these roles of hers will always remain the ones I remember her by.
Khoobsurat
A movie by Hrishikesh Mukherjee Rekha played the role of Manju and her character very easily taught the others how to live life to the fullest. As a kid I have watched this movie countless times and Rekha’s image of a young girl with rosy lips and two plaits I still consider it more sexy than most of today’s bold actresses.
Sansar
A very simple and plain looking Rekha as Uma Shankar is the daughter-in-law of the house who when the family gets divided into two parts plays an instrumental role in rejoining them. Rekha’s de-glam avatar was praiseworthy to say the least.
Khoon Bhari Maang
I obviously remember this movie for more reasons than Rekha. I am talking about those deadly crocodiles and the scene when they eat Rekha and leave the pond bloody. As a kid for the first time when I watched it the crocodiles scared the s**t out of me! Coming back to Rekha she was par excellence. From being a plain jane in the first half to transforming into a glam diva in the second half, Rekha dazzled in this movie and proved that she’s more than just a pretty face.
Silsila
Who hasn’t watched Yash Chopra’s saga of love triangle. This movie is one of the biggest highlights of Rekha’s career and her chemistry with Amitabh Bachchan was the talk of the town then. In one of his last interviews Yash Chopra has confessed that Rekha and Big B were dating while shooting this movie despite him being married then. Well, love can make you do things and apparently Rekha was truly, madly, deeply committed to it. I love the songs of this movie because it gives you the feel that it’s too close to reality.
Khilaladiyon Ka Khiladi
From being a young starlet Rekha had suddenly changed into a mid-age actress who was desperately trying to keep her acting career alive. Her role opposite Akshay Kumar may seem like she’s trying to overdo it for some but I think that despite her age Rekha truly made this move epic. In particular this song might give some of you the creeps but has anyone noticed how hot Rekha looks?
Dil Cheez Kya Hai – Umrao Jaan
I confess I haven’t watched this classic movie but thanks to my mother I have watched this song at least a 100 times and love every bit of Rekha in it. Nobody can look as beautiful as her and do a mujra so gracefully. Not even Aishwarya Rai who made an attempt in the remake of Umraojaan. This is the image of Rekha that is etched in my mind since childhood and I would always like to remember her this way.
