Did you know Rekha never wanted to be an actress?

Legendary Bollywood actress Rekha resurfaced in headlines after an old BBC interview revealed how she was pushed into the film industry as just a 13-year-old. In the candid interview, Rekha opened up about how she never wanted to become an actress, but circumstances led her into a life in front of the camera.
Rekha recalls refusing to sign a film
“I was 13 years old. Then Kuljeet Pal and Shatrujeet Pal came to Madras in search of a heroine. Someone told them about me,” Rekha shared. Coming from a family rooted in cinema — her parents were renowned South Indian actors — she was approached despite having no interest in films and even lacking fluency in Hindi. “They asked if I wanted to become an actress. I said ‘no’. They asked if I knew Hindi. I said ‘no’. Still, they said they would come back tomorrow to sign me.”

Mother wanted her to be an actress
According to Rekha, it was her mother who truly wanted her to become an actress. “I never wanted to be one. But I was made into one with great effort,” Rekha admitted. At just 15, she faced a traumatic moment on set when she was unexpectedly made to shoot a kiss scene in the film Anjana. “It was inserted without informing me beforehand,” she said. The scene lasted for five minutes and left her crying uncontrollably afterwards. “I fainted after the shot,” she recalled. The experience highlights the lack of consent young actresses often faced during that era.
From reluctant star to legend
Despite the rocky beginning and personal reluctance, Rekha rose to become one of the most iconic actresses in Indian cinema. Her life has remained shrouded in mystery, with numerous stories involving her relationship with Amitabh Bachchan, her marriage, and public appearances with sindoor sparking decades of speculation. Yet her talent on screen has always spoken for itself.
Rekha was last seen in the film ‘MLA’ which was directed by Manju Maurya.