Introduction :
Waheeda Rehman ( Was sometimes wrongly referred as actor Rehman’s daughter/wife) was born into a traditional Muslim family in Hyderabad on 14 May 1936. She could not undergo proper schooling, due to some infection in her lungs. She was trained in Bharatnatyam and with the consent of her parents, she appeared on silver screen. She first starredin the Telugu film Jaisimha (1955), and her second film was Rojulu Maraayi (1955). Then she was spotted by Guru Dutt and her life changed after that.
Love life :She was spotted by Guru Dutt and she got involved in an unsuccessful love affair with him. Together they have given memorable performances. Guru Dutt's marital status ( and problems with his wife Geeta Dutt) and her success in films outside his production house, resulted in their break both- personally and professionally.
She married Kamaljit Singh( He also went by the name of Shashi Lekhi) who was also her co-star in the film Shagun. She has beautiful eyes and with her training in Bharatnatyam makes optimum use of them. I am just fida on her beautiful smile, like a bud blossoming into a flower. I am always mesmerized by her beauty and grace, she has a certain coyness about her. She speaks with her eyes. She ranks second to Madhubala in my preference list.
Films: In Pyaasa, she plays role of prostitute named Gulabo ,who is enamoured with Vijay’s (Guru Dutt) poetry and she falls in love with him. When he is thought as dead, she goes ahead and gets his book published. She played the character with elan.
In Chaudhvi Ka Chand, she plays the character of Jameela. It is a love triangle, two best friends falling in love with the same woman. This film has super hit song “Chaudvi Ka Chand Ho Ya Aaftaab Ho”, the metaphorical description of the beautiful lady.
In Mujhe Jeene Do, she is a courtesan by the name of Chameli, who falls in love with a dacoit and tries to redempt him. The problems she faces when her husband is captured by police and the stuggle faced after is beautifully portrayed by her.
In Guide, she is Rosie the wife of archaeologist who visits, the historical site where Raju(Dev anand) guide is there. She confesses about her love of dancing and he helps her become a success. This is about Rosie who struggles to comeout of a bad marriage and achieves her dream.
In, Neelkamal, she is Neelkamal in her past life and Sita in her present life. She sleepwalks at nights and she has glimpses of her past life. She has convincingly played the role of a person who sleepwalks, with just the right amount of confusion upon confrontation.
In Phagun, she plays the role of wife who humiliates her husband, and he leaves her and goes away. When her daughter grows up and marries, she interferes in their married life and later yearns for her own husband to return.
In Mahaan, she plays the role of Janki, who is seperated from her husband who runs away as he had been framed for murder. She gives birth to twin sons, unfortunately she becomes separated from one of her sons when he goes missing. With her husband on the run and one son missing, Janki is forced to raise the other on her own. I can still remember the softness and love filled look she gives her husband in the song , “Jidhar dekhoon teri tasveer nazar aati hai”, this song I feel was written only for her. The amazing thing about her, is that she has played Amitabh’s mother’s role as well as his beloved’s role convincingly in several films.
In Lamhe , she plays the role of governess called Daai Jaa, who looks after Viren as her own son. She is still very graceful, in Lamhe she suddenly breaks into a graceful dance in one of the parody song, just can’t forget that scene.
She has recently done few films like Om Jai Jagadish (2002), Water (2005) and Rang De Basanti (2006) where her performances were very well received.
Awards :
National Award for Best Actress for Reshma Aur Shera in 1971.
Filmfare Best Actress Award for Guide in 1965 ,Neel Kamal in 1968.
Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994
Nominations :
Filmfare Nomination as Best Supporting Actress--Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962), Kabhi Kabhie (1976), Namkeen (1982), Lamhe (1991)
Filmfare Nomination as Best Actress--Ram Aur Shyam (1967), Khamoshi (1970)
From Horse’s Mouth :
Her Co-stars have nothing but praise for her.
Amitabh Bachchan - "She is my best Actress. She has a certain guileless look in her face, a feminine grace and an Indianness. Her beauty is something soft... and not easily defined. My greatest influences in acting are Waheeda Rehman and Dilip Kumar."
Rati Agnihotri - "She's so beautiful.When I first met her on the sets of Yash Chopra's Mashaal, I told her I was going to just sit beside her and stare at her quietly."
Shabana Azmi - "Waheeda Rehman had made a difference for all Indian actresses. If females can aspire to strong female roles, it is because Waheeda Rehman has given them something to aspire to,"
She has acted in many more memorable films like Mashaal, Namkeen, CID (I didn't write about it coz I don't have much info on it), Namak Halal, Chandni, Kabhie Kabhie etc. Please let me how you liked it. If you wish you can leave brickbats and bouquets in form of your comments.
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