Rekha life biography wikipedia

Rekha, who turns 70 on Thursday, is one of India's most enduring stars. There are few stars whose impact on Bollywood is as enduring as that of Rekha. As the actor turns 70 on Thursday, film writer Yasser Usman explores her charm and legacy. In the s, she was widely covered for her transformation from a loud, gauche young girl from southern India who entered Bollywood with no knowledge of the Hindi language to a discerning National Award-winning actor who spoke impeccable Urdu and Hindi and brimmed with confidence.

Rekha full name

But the unrelenting attention on her personal life took a toll as she withdrew from public life in the years since, choosing to fiercely protect her privacy. Yet, time and again over the past few decades, Rekha has proved that the air of enigma surrounding her has only left audiences wanting more. With almost every public appearance, she still captures hearts and creates viral moments on the internet.

Born in Chennai then Madras in as Bhanurekha, she was deeply affected by her mother's - actress Pushpavalli - struggles and hurt by the absence of her father, Tamil film star Gemini Ganesan. She was still a teenager when she started acting, mainly because her family faced financial difficulties. In Bombay now Mumbai , the home of Hindi cinema, she had to grapple with an unfamiliar language and a male-dominated industry.

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan greets Rekha at an award ceremony. As her early work garnered attention, she faced relentless body-shaming, with viewers, journalists and even other actors ridiculing her weight and skin colour.