1970
SAWAN BHADON (intr.)

1971
DOST AUR DUSHMAN
ELAAN 
HASEENON KA DEVTA
SAAZ AUR SANAM Re

1972
DO YAAR 
DOUBLE CROSS 
EK BECHARA 
GAON HAMARA SHAHAR TUMHARA  
GORA AUR KAALA
RAAMPUR KA LAKSHMAN Randhir 
SAAZA 
ZAMEEN ASMAAN

1973
ANOKHI ADA 
BARKHA BAHAR
DHARMA 
KAHANI KISMAT KI 
KASHMAKASH 
KEEMAT 
KHOON KHOON 
MEHMAAN 
NAMAK HARAAM 
PRAN JAYE PAR VACHAN NA JAYE

1974
DO AANKHEN 
DUNIYA KA MELA
HAWAS
WOH MAIN NAHIN
ZAMEER  

1975
AKRAMAN 
DAFAA 302 
DHARAM KARAM 
DHARMATMA 
KEHTE HAIN MUJHKO RAJA 
ZORRO

1976
AAJ KA MAHATMA 
DO ANJAANE 
KABEELA 
KALICHARAN 
KHALIFA 
SANTAN

1977
AAP KI KHATIR
ALAAP
CHAKKAR PE CHAKKAR 
DILDAAR 
FARISHTA YA QATIL 
MAAN DHARAM 
KACHCHA CHOR
KHOON PASINA 
PALKON KI CHHAON MEIN 
RAM BHAROSE

1978
AAKHRI DAKU 
BHOLA BHALA 
DI SHIKARI 
DO MUSAFIR 
GANGA KI SAUGANDH 
GHAR 
KARMAYOGI
MUQADDAR KA SIKANDER
PARAMAATMA 
PREM BANDHAN 
RAHU KETU
RAM KASAM 
SAWAN KE GEET

1979
AHIMSA 
GAUTAM GOVINDA 
JAANI DUSHMAN 
KALI GHATA 
KARTAVYA 
MR. NATWARLAL 
MUQABLA 
NAYA BAKRA 
SUHAAG

1980
 AANCHAL 
AGREEMENT
CHEHRE PE CHEHRA 
JAL MAHAL 
JUDAAI
JYOTI BANE JWALA
KALYUG
KHOOBSURAT
MAANG BHARO SAJANA
NEEYAT 
NISHANA
RAM BALRAM  

1981
 BASERAA
CHASHM-E-BADDUR
DAASI 
EK HI BHOOL
GHUNGHROO KI AWAAZ 
KHOON AUR PAANI 
MANGALSUTRA 
NAGIN
RAASTE PYAR KE
SAAJAN KI SAHELI 
UMRAO JAAN

1982
APNA BANA LO 
DEEDAR-E-YAAR
GHAZAB
JEEVAN DHARA 
MEHNDI RANG LAYEGI 
SILSILA
VIJETA

1983
AGAR TUM NA HOTE 
BINDIYA CHAMKEGI
MUJHE INSAAF CHAHIYE
NISHAN 
PREM TAPASYA

1984
ASHA JYOTI
BAAZI
JHOOTA SACH
KAAMYAAB
KHAZANA 
MAATI MAANGE KHOON
MUSAFIR
UTSAV
ZAMEEN AASMAAN

1985
FAASLE
LOCKET
RAM TERE KITNE NAAM

1986
INSAAF KI AWAAZ
JAAL
JAANBAAZ
JHOOTHI
PYAR KI JEET
SADA SUHAGAN

1987
APNE APNE
IJAAZAT
JAAN HATHELI PE
SANSAR

1988
AKARSHAN
BIWI HO TO AISI
EK NAYA RISHTA 
JISM KA RISHTA 
KHOON BHARI MAANG

1989
BAHU RANI
BHRASHTACHAR
CLERK
KASAM SUHAAG KI
LADAAI

1990
AMIRI GARIBI 
AZAAD DESH KE GHULAM 
MERA PATI SIRF MERA HAI 
SOUTEN KI BETI 
SHESHNAAG

1991
PHOOL BANE ANGAREY
YEH AAG KAB BUJHEGI

1992
INSAAF KI DEVI

1993
GEETANJALI
MADAM X

1995
AB INSAF HOGA

1996
AURAT AURAT AURAT
KAMA SUTRA 
KHILADIYON KA KHILADI

1997
AASTHA 
UDAAN

1998
QILA

1999
MOTHER

2000
BULANDI
ZUBEIDAA

2001
 CENSOR
MUJHE MERI BIWI SE BACHAAO
LAJJA

2002
 DIL HAI TUMHARA
TUMSE AACHA KAUN HAI
2003
 KOI MIL GAYA  
 BHOOT

 

Rekha

Rekha is daugher of the well known film superstar Gemini Ganeshan and actress Pushpavalli. Both of her parents were film stars hence studio became her playground. Film studio was like second home for her. Rekha started acting very early, at the age of Thirteen . She did not even know Hindi at that time. But she was a quick learner and learnt hindi in three months and dancing in one month. Her first film Sawan Bhadon done with with Navin Nischol, was released in 1970. Throughout the Seventies, she remained an insignificant entity in Bollywood with nothing but moderate success to her credit. Rekha turned out to be a smart girl. With the help of Yoga and make overs she underwent amazing transformation in early 1980s both physically and mentally, transforming from a plump, darkish, also-ran sort of leading lady to an athletic sexy looking damsel. This overnight transformation boosted her image in the Bollywood so much so that she reigned as number one for almost a decade! The transformation was so complete that it did not only change her appearance but also seemed to have enhanced her acting capabilities. It was at this stage that Amitabh Bachchan entered her personal and professional life. Their hits together like 'Mukaddar Ka Sikandar', 'Mr. Natwarlal', 'Khoon Paseena' and 'Silsila' made Amitabh-Rekha one of the most successful pairs on the Hindi screen. Her most memorable film is Umraoo Jaan in which she played the role of a court dancer with such charm and captivated the audience with her mastery of classical dances. She acted in over 20 films with the then reigning superstar Amithbh Bachchan with whom her reported love Affair culminated in Yash Chopra's art-imitating-life movie Silsila.

Flash back time. Call it the ungainly-duckling-turned-into-a- svelte- swan syndrome .... she is non other than Gemini Ganeshan's daughter Rekha. Both of her parents were stars hence studio was her playground, they were the virtual extension of her school. Rekha started acting at the age of Thirteen . It was a scary world but she learnt hindi in three months and dancing in one month. Her first film was Sawan Bhadon in 1970. She underwent amazing metamorphosis in early 1980s transforming from a plump, darkish, also-ran sort of leading lady to an athletic sexy looking damsel. This overnight transformation boosted her stature in the Bollywood so much so that she reigned as #1 for almost a decade! The transformation was so complete that it did not only change her appearance but also seemed to have enhanced her acting capabilities. It wasn't until the onslaught from the South (Sridevi, Jaya Prada) or the newcomers (Madhuri Dixit) that her presence started to diminish somewhat. Her most memorable film is Umraoo Jaan in which she played the role of a court dancer with such charm and captivated the audience with her mastery of classical dances. She acted in over 20 films with the then reigning superstar AMITABH BACHCHAN with whom her reported love Affair culminated in Yash Chopra's art-imitating-life movie SILSILA. Her other memorable films include Khoobsoorat, Ghar, Jhoothi, Mr Natwarlal, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Do Anjane, Khoon Bhari Maang, Agar Tum Na Hote, Aastha, Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi

1981 : Filmfare award of best actress for Khubsoorat.
National award for film Umaraojaan in year .


1989 : Filmfare award for best actress for Khoon Bhari Maang.


1997 : Filmfare award for best supporting actress for Khiladiyon Ke Khiladi.


1998 : The 1998 U.P. award for the best kathak dancer in Hindi films. Installed by the King of Kathak, Pandit Lachchu Maharaj, the ceremony also commemorated the maestro's 97th birth anniversary. So touched was our Rekha by the Maharaj's six-year-old Great-great-granddaughter presiding over the grand affair with such earnest dignity, that the actress, in a spontaneous gesture, handed her a trophy and a Rs. 51,000 cash-prize to the tiny tot herself! From the Renaissance Woman it was a feat of feet!

 

 

MOST MEMORABLE PERFORMANCES: My most memorable performance is still to come, but if you're talking about memorable films, then there's... Saawan Bhadon, Do Anjaane, Aalap, Muqaddar Ka Sikander, Ghar, Silsila, Umrao Jaan, Khoon Bhari Maang, Ijazat, Phool Bane Angaarey

MEMORABLE PERFORMANCES BY NATIONAL/ INTERNATIONAL STARS: There are at least 10 which are close to my heart. But anyway... (1) The romantic scene that Madhubala did in Mughal-E-Azam. (2) French lieutenant's Woman, which I've seen over and over again. (3) Tony in Scarface: I'd love to do a female version of the human side of him. (4) Padosan: Everytime things are going wrong, 1 switch it on. (5) Rocky III: I can watch it all the time, because I associate it with the beginning of a very bubbly part of my I Life.

FAVOURITE SONGS: They are: (1) Self Control' by Laura Branigan (2) Pyar kiya to darna Kya..: (3)'Allah tero naam...' (4) '1 am a woman in love' by Barbara Streisand (5 ) 'Right Here Waiting For You' by ,Richard Marx (6)'I said 1 love you but I lied' by Michael Bolton (7) I'll be watching you' by Sting (8) 'Everything I do, I do it for you...'by Bryan Adams (9)'1 will always love you' by Whitney Houston and (10) 'I wanna run to you' again by Whifney Houston.

FAVOURITE PEOPLE: Pisti: She's a person, the most sincere person. My mother: For obvious reasons. The late Jennifer Kapoor. A major influence in my life. The Iate Mrs lndira Gandhi: Mere words can't explain what I felt for her. Oprah Winfrey: She's too good to be true and so genuine too.

FAVOURITE BOOKS: You must be kidding, unless you consider magazines and comics, books! Comics - Dennis The Menace, Little Dot, Archie comics: I'm Betty no Veronica. Magazines - Cosmopolitan, Elle i f .a

THINGS YOU'D LIKE TO DO : Change the world to make it a better place. Have the authority to stop wars. Change the dimensions of my figure. Create a wonder drug to make love last. To go back into my future... Not my past. I know it's a fantasy come true but I intend doing just that. !f not in real life, then via films. Hope to God, to see that day.

FILMS SHE'D WISHED SHE'D DONE : Loved to have made the whole of Silent Movie. To play Jessica in Roger Rabbit. Scent of a Woman. A female version. Godfather III: Again a female version. Madhubala in Mughal-E-Azam. But that's only if my co-star was or is as inspirational.

DIRECTORS SHE LOVED TO HAVE WORKED WITH : The late Raj Kapoor The late Guru Dutt The late K. Asif Barbara Streisand Myself

FAVOURITE CARS : Maruti 800 Lamborgini Porche Volkswagen Beetle Jaguar

FAVOURITE JEWELLERY : Oxidised Silver Old Jadhau Pearls Jewellery made from cloth Old Egyptian jewellery

FOREIGN HOLIDAY HAUNT : Rome San Francisco Long Island, New York West Palm Beach Japan

MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS IN A IN A MAN: Honesty Hard working Good social behaviour Sense of humour The ability to laugh at himself

HOBBIES: Watching films on my Laser Disc Collecting postcards Drawing cartoons Mimicking people Photography, collecting old photographs

THINGS SHE'D LIKE TO DO RETIRING AS AN ACTRESS: Open my own boutique Seriously start studying classical music Open a big beauty and make-up centre Establish an institution for the invalids Try my hand at direction

RESTAURANTS: China Garden Shamiana at The Taj Trattoria at The President The Thai restaurant at the President Used to love The ViIlage at Worli

MOST DISAPPOINTING MOMENTS " Mr : Had to leave school due to Financial reasons Could never learn classical dancing Can never keep thin and slim, unless I diet and exercise Couldn't buy a plot of land on Madh Island because I was a film star When I was young, after a full day and night at Tirupati, I could never get a darshan

HER IDEA OF ROMANCE To look into his eyes first thing as you awaken. To be with your loved one at the dining table and not be able to eat a morsel. To be miles away from my man and then suddenly smell his body and be overwhelmed by memories. To speak for hours on the phone long distance, when he's away. To shop for a gift for my special one. And the thrill of planning how to wrap 'it, write a card and how to present that gift.

HAPPIEST MOMENTS: When I got the National Award. But more important, the person who informed me of it. 1977. When I could finally reduce my weight. That particular day when I realised that I could never be alone and that I could be my best friend. The day I realised that there is life and that I should live it to the fullest. And the day that I know I'm going to become a mother.

CO-STARS SHE'S NOT, BUT WOULD ENJOY WORKING WITH: Kamal Haasan Jackie Shroff Sanjay Dutt Shah Rukh Khan Dilip Kumar

And Amitabh Bachchan Amitabh Bachchan? I asked.

"Oh, I did work with him didn't I? Don't blame me, it's been a long, long time ago, I almost forget"