An epitome of beauty, elegance, and poise, Rekha has proved, time and again, that she is the true diva of Bollywood.
A look at some interesting facts about Rekha’s life.
Rekha: A Born Star
Rekha had a very tough childhood because her father, Gemini Ganesan, a South Indian actor never looked after her during childhood or even acknowledged being her father.
Rekha's Life Before Bollywood
Rekha who grew up in Chennai had two failed aspirations- that of becoming a nun and an air hostess
Rekha's Entry into Tinsel Town
Rekha started off as a child actor in the 1966 Telugu film 'Rangula Ratnam' and made her Hindi film debut as a heroine in the 1969 film 'Anjana Safar'.
Rekha's uncomfortable truths
Rekha's autobiography, 'Rekha: The Untold Story', written by Yasser Usman throws light on how Rekha was forcibly smooched by her co-star Bishwajeet. Barely 15 years old, Rekha had to undergo a humiliating experience while shooting for the film 'Anjana Safar'.
Looked down upon in Bollywood
When Rekha made her Bollywood debut she was often looked down upon because of her dark complexion and was even called an ugly duckling.
Rekha's Troubled Relationships
Rekha’s first husband industrialist Mukesh Aggarwal committed suicide a year after their marriage. As Rekha’s Bollywood career started flourishing, rumours of her link-up with her co-stars like Raj Babbar, Vinod Mehra started spreading. It is even believed that Rekha and Vinod secretly tied the knot which was later denied by Rekha on Simi Garewal’s talk show.
Co-star Chemistry with Amitabh Bachchan
Actor Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha came together on the big screen for the first time in 'Do Anjaane' in 1976. The duo shared crackling chemistry on screen, and in no time became the audience's favourite on-screen couple, leading to rumours about their roaring romance.
An alleged affair with Akshay Kumar
Rekha and Akshay Kumar's relationship was one of the most talked-about alleged love affairs of Bollywood. During the shooting of 1996 'Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi', rumour has it that Akshay and Rekha allegedly had a short fling.
Rekha-Sanjay Dutt's secret wedding?
Back in the 80s, there were rumours of Rekha and Sanjay Dutt's secret wedding. Not too long ago, there were reports that Rekha still applies sindoor in the 'Prassthanam' actor's name. However, Yasser Usman, who penned her biography 'Rekha: The Untold Story', denied these reports.
Rekha: An Eternal Style Icon
Known for her sense of style, Rekha designs her own look! Women of all ages love to copy her signature style of wearing Kanjeevaram sarees. Besides the sari, Rekha's iconic look of bright red lipstick, dark eyes, and a red bindi are part of the Diva's signature looks on and off-screen.
