‘I was never a head-turner’

Her name-plate reads ‘Waheeda Rekhi’. So keen is veteran Waheeda Rehman about celebrating life’s changing hues. Conversations with the actor whose film ‘15 Park Avenue’ is to be followed by ‘Rang De Basanti’

‘Aging is a natural process’

I am a realist. By dyeing your hair or having a face-lift, one may look a few years younger. But I cannot look like a 16-year-old. The moment you accept age, you are free from tension and the calm and contentment reflects on your face.

‘Acting keeps me alive’

At this age what roles can I get, except for playing a dadi, mother or bhabhi. But my children tell me, ‘Mummy don’t sit at home. After all acting is your first love!’ It does get lonely after my husband (the late actor Kanwaljeet Rekhi) passed away. The children are leading their own lives. My daughter, Kashvi, has done cinema studies and has assisted Anupam Kher and Akbar Khan. She has also worked as script-supervisor for Ketan Mehta’s ‘The Rising’. If your faculties are fine, one must remain occupied. I am also a goodwill ambassador for Pratham - the NGO that works for underprivileged children.

‘Flashbulbs don’t last forever’

Things do change after marriage and it is beautiful. I am interested in savouring life’s experiences. As a woman I wanted to be house-proud, a good host, and bring up the children well. Women generally have more patience. Great men always have great mothers.

‘I was never a head-turner’

You say that both Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan have listed me amongst their favourite women. How did they forget to name Aishwarya Rai and Sushmita Sen (laughs)? But honestly, I have never considered myself beautiful. Nobody at home ever told me that. I was a sickly, thin girl. It’s just that I am photogenic.

‘I wanted to play Meenaji’s role in ‘Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam’

I begged Guru Duttji, ‘Please, please, I want to do Biwi’s role.’ He refused saying, “I need a mature woman who is pining for her husband’s attention. You look as though you still have to fall in love!”

‘Rajji paid me the finest compliment’

After I got married, Rajji (the late Raj Kapoor) said, ‘Carry on. Never say never again!’ I retorted, ‘You have double standards. You don’t want women in your family to work and you want me to continue.’ He replied, ‘There are actors better and beautiful than you. But all cannot cross the screen to touch the audiences. You can!’

k_farhana@dnaindia.net