Rekha

Rekha Ganesan (born 10 October 1954), better known by her stage name Rekha, is an Indian film actress who has mainly appeared in Hindi films. Noted for her versatility and acknowledged as one of the finest actresses in Hindi cinema,^[2] Rekha started her career in 1966 as a child actress in the Telugu film Rangula Ratnam, though her film debut as a lead happened four years later with Sawan Bhadon. Despite the success of several of her early films, she was often panned for her looks and it was not until the mid-to-late 1970s that she got recognition as an actress.^[3]

Rekha has acted in over 180 films in a career spanning over 40 years. Throughout her career, she has often played strong female characters and, apart from mainstream cinema, appeared in arthouse films, known in India as parallel cinema. She has won threeFilmfare Awards, two for Best Actress and one for Best Supporting Actress, for her roles in Khubsoorat (1980), Khoon Bhari Maang(1988) and Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi (1996), respectively. Her portrayal of a classical courtesan in Umrao Jaan (1981) won her theNational Film Award for Best Actress. Though her career has gone through certain periods of decline, she has reinvented herself numerous times and has been credited for her ability to sustain her status.^[4] In 2010, she was honoured with the Padma Shri by theGovernment of India.

Political career

Bollywood Actress Rekha is officially a member of parliament now. She took her oath today as a member of the Rajya Sabha -she had been nominated by the government along with
cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar and entrepreneur-activist Anu Aga.

Accompanied by Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Rajiv Shukla, Rekha entered the Parliament from Gate 4 because a large number of fans were assembled at Gate 12 to take a
glimpse of newly nominated MP of the upper house.

She was greeted with thumping of desk when her name was called for taking oath. “I Rekha Ganeshan” she said, swearing in the name of God in her brief oath in English.

Early life[edit]

Rekha was born in Mumbai (then Bombay) to Tamil actor Gemini Ganesan and Telugu actress Pushpavalli. Her father enjoyed considerable success as an actor and Rekha was to follow in his footsteps. She is an alumnus of the popular Church Park Convent in Chennai. She considers Telugu to be her mother tongue.^[5] She also speaks Hindi, Tamil and English fluently.^[6]

Her parents were not married at the time of her birth, and her father did not acknowledge his paternity during her childhood.^[7] It was in early 1970s, when she was looking for a footing in Bollywood, that she revealed her origins. Later, at the peak of her career, Rekha told a magazine interviewer that father's neglect still rankled and that she had ignored his efforts at reconciliation.^[7] Rekha quit school to start a career in acting. She did not have any personal aspirations in this direction, but the troubled financial state of her family compelled her to do so.

Personal life

In 1990, Rekha married Delhi-based industrialist Mukesh Aggarwal. A year later—while she was in London—he committed suicide, after several previous attempts, leaving a note, "Don't blame anyone".^[56] She was pilloried by the press at that time, a period which one journalist termed as "the deepest trough in her life."^[57] Bhawana Somaaya observed the period speaking of "a strong anti-wave against the actress — some called her a witch, some a murderess," but added that soon "Rekha came out of the eclipse once again unblemished!"^[58]

She was rumoured to have been married to actor Vinod Mehra in 1973, but in a 2004 television interview with Simi Garewal she denied being married to Mehra referring to him as a "well-wisher". Rekha currently lives in her Bandra home in Mumbai.^[59][60]

Rekha's best known relationship was her long-time affair with superstar Amitabh Bachchan. The couple was last seen together in the film,Silsila, and their affair ended soon after.^[61]

references

google.com
wikipedia.com