Although Rekha today is an evergreen actress, she also had to face some tough times where her career and personal life had dipped at an all-time low
Every time a person looks at Rekha, they could only think 'evergreen beauty'. Currently, the 66-year-old has been gaining praises for her works in movies like 'Umrao Jaan' and especially her non-fading beauty.
However there was a time when Rekha had faced an all-time low, not only professionally but also on a personal level. Did you know that she was once called a vamp too?
The actress has clearly come a long way from all the terms given to her - right from being the 'other woman' in Amitabh Bachchan-Jaya Bachchan's life to being a 'vamp who eats humans for dinner'.
Today, Rekha is the symbol of charm, grace and much more, going strong at 66.
1. The famous 'other woman'
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Rekha has often been addressed as the 'other woman' in actor Amitabh Bachchan's life. In an interview with Stardust in 1978, Rekha reportedly said, “Jaya did not mind the relationship as long as she thought her husband was only having a fling. It’s when she realized that he was really emotionally involved that is when it began hurting her. She called me for dinner one evening and though we spoke about everything but him, before I left that day, she made sure to tell me, ‘I will never leave Amit whatever happens.’”
2. Abused by mother-in-law
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In the book 'Rekha: The Untold Story', a chapter talks about the time when Rekha was beaten up by her mother-in-law just for existing. Rekha and her then-husband Vinod Mehra returned to Mumbai from Kolkata and decided to meet Mehra's mother. She didn't only barr Rekha from visiting the house, but when Vinod interfered, then even took out her sandals and almost beat up the actress. To add to it, Vinod asked his wife to stay separately till his mother 'calmed down'.
3. Called a 'witch' by another mother-in-law
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Writer Yasser Usman claimed that after Rekha's businessman-husband Mukesh Aggarwal died by hanging himself with Rekha's dupatta, she was once again subjected to abuse within the family. "Woh daayan mere bete ko kha gayi (That witch devoured my son)," Aggarwal's mother had reportedly said.
4. Media, public trial and declared 'national vamp'
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Rekha was almost immediately pronounced a vamp by the media houses. Her movie 'Sheshnaag's posters were vandalized by the public too. In fact, some industry insiders like Subhash Ghai and Anupam Kher also held strong opinions about her after the incident. "Rekha has put such a blot on the face of the film industry that it'll be difficult to wash it away easily. I think after this any respectable family will think twice before accepting any actress as their bahu," Ghai had reportedly said. Meanwhile, Kher supposedly mentioned, "She's become the national vamp. Professionally and personally, I think it's curtains for her. I mean I don't know how I will react to her if I come face to face with her."
5. The sensational story behind the sindoor
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Rekha's grand entry at Rishi and Neetu Kapoor's wedding at RK Studios in a white saree, red bindi, sindoor and mangalsutra has become one of the biggest unsolved mysteries. While a few reports claimed that she forgot to remove it after coming from a shoot, Rekha was heard saying, "In the city I come from, it's fashionable to wear sindoor." And ever since, Rekha has been wearing a mangalsutra and sindoor, which most assume could be a mark of a supposed 'secret wedding' with Amitabh Bachchan.
