ACTOR
Rekha
- Known for
- Koi... Mil Gaya (2003), Krrish (2006), Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love (1996), Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi (1996)
50 archived facts 6 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
Rekha is an actor best known for Koi... Mil Gaya, Krrish and Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love.
All facts (50)
- #001
In 1986, expensive jewellery worth 48 pieces was stolen from Rekha's home. The thief, Muniraj Kanappa, was later caught and sentenced to seven years in prison. The court retained the jewellery and planned to return it once the necessary application form was filled out. However, 17 years later, Rekha remembered this and went to collect her jewellery.
- #002
Rekha practises yoga every day to maintain her ageless appearance.
- #003
When Rekha's secret relationship with Amitabh Bachchan, who was married to Jaya Bachchan, came to light in the early '80s, the entire Bollywood industry was shocked. Ironically, the three of them later appeared in Silsila (1981), a film about a married man falling in love with another woman. It would be the last film Rekha and Amitabh Bachchan made together.
- #004
Rekha formed a popular on-screen pair with Amitabh Bachchan, with whom she appeared as the heroine in a total of nine films, and with Jeetendra, with whom she worked in 26 films.
- #005
Because of her constant reinvention throughout her career, Rekha was called the Madonna and Cher of the Bollywood industry.
- #006
At the start of her career, Rekha could not speak a single word of Hindi. She learned Hindi and later learned the nuances of Urdu for her role as a courtesan in Umrao Jaan (1981).
- #007
Although the films Rekha made were in Hindi, her mother tongue is actually Tamil.
- #008
In her first films in the early '70s, Rekha was obese and plump, but she underwent a magnificent transformation and became an ageless symbol of Bollywood's beauty and glamour.
- #009
Rekha owns a large collection of fabrics, consisting of Kanjeevaram and chiffon saris, most of them in gold.
- #010
Rekha was a good friend of the actress Meena Kumari before Meena's death.
- #011
Rekha loves nature and enjoys working in her garden and tending to her plants.
- #012
Rekha is very active on the internet, especially on film-related sites. She is also a devoted feminist.
- #013
There is a search engine named after Rekha at the domain www.rekha.com.
- #014
Rekha has seven sisters and one brother.
- #015
Rekha believes the secret to her ageless face and body is a regular nutritious diet and exercise.
- #016
Over her forty-year career in the industry, Rekha achieved iconic status in Bollywood cinema.
- #017
In 2001, Rekha tried to prevent the author Mohan Deep from publishing a biography about her titled 'Eurekha!'. She failed, but she visited bookshops and asked the owners not to keep copies of 'Eurekha!' on their shelves.
- #018
Some of Rekha's favourite Western singers include Laura Branigan, Barbra Streisand, Bryan Adams, Whitney Houston and Sting.
- #019
Rekha is a big fan of Oprah Winfrey and regularly watches her show.
- #020
Jeetendra and Rekha were romantically paired in 26 films, 15 of which became hits.
- #021
Rekha's secretary, Farzana Jafri, came into the industry hoping to become a film director. She assisted Shekhar Kapur, Lekh Tandon and Chetan Anand.
- #022
Rekha is referenced in Snoop Dogg and Jazzy B's song "Most Wanted".
- #023
Rekha was ranked 50th on the UK magazine Eastern Eye's "Asia's Sexiest Women" list (September 2006).
- #024
Rekha is the step-niece of actor Abhinay Vaddi (grandson of Gemini Ganesan and Savitri).
- #025
Rekha appeared in the international magazine Harper and Queens in 1987.
- #026
In 1980, Salim and Javed planned to return to producing with the film "Kali". Chandra Barot was to direct, and Rekha was to star. The project was later shelved. In the late 1980s, Chandra Barot tried to produce the film with Farha Naaz.
- #027
Rekha had a dog named Pisti, who has died. She now has a cat named Bhaiyyu.
- #028
Rekha is the daughter of Gemini Ganesan and Pushpavalli.
- #029
Rekha was considered for the role of Queen Noor Jehan in the film Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story (2005).
- #030
Rekha's nephew Naveed Syed (Ozman) is married to Seher Khan, daughter of former actor Sameer Khan. Sameer Khan is the younger brother of actor Feroz Khan. Naveed and Sehar have two sons.
- #031
Rekha has a brother named Sheshu (Seshgiri). He died in 1991. Little is known about him. He struggled with drug addiction for years.
- #032
Rekha's sister Dr. Jaya Shreedhar acted in the film Ninaivellam Nithiya (1982). She used the screen name "Gigi", which was the name of her pet.
- #033
Rekha has a mentally disabled sister named Rama. She was married for a year and had a son, Dabloo. Rekha lived with both of them in the 1980s.
- #034
Rekha was once said to have been married to actor Vinod Mehra. She confirmed this in an interview with Movie Magazine (October 1990). However, in a 2004 television interview with Simi Garewal, Rekha denied being married to him and referred to him as a "well-wisher".
- #035
Rekha appeared in the South Indian film Meendum Kokila, which starred Kamal Hasaan, Sridevi and Rekha. Rekha shot for the film for a month before it was made.
- #036
Rekha appeared in the shelved Filmcar Productions film "Choli Daaman" (1975). The cast included Rekha, Raakesh Roshan, Yogita Bali and I. S. Johar, with music by Sudhir Sain and direction by Roopa Sain.
- #037
Rekha appeared in the shelved film "Hansani" (1994), directed by Mahesh Bhatt. The film was about an aging actress.
- #038
Rekha appeared in the shelved film "Aaghosh" (1983). It starred Rekha and Pradeep Hayyam, was written by Gülzar and directed by Meraj.
- #039
Rekha appeared in the shelved film "Five Star Hotel" (1982). The cast included Naseeruddin Shah, Rekha, Shabana Azmi, Smita Patil and Amjad Khan, with direction by Saeed Mirza.
- #040
Rekha appeared in the shelved film "Sone Ki Chidiya" (1981), directed by Harmesh Malhotra.
- #041
Rekha appeared in the shelved Mukul Enterprises film "Parwaz" (1974). The cast included Vikram, Rekha and Asha Sachdev, with music by Kalyanji Anandji, production by Ram Dayal and direction by Sikander Khanna.
- #042
Rekha appeared in the shelved Navjeevan Films film "Anyay" (1988). It starred Dilip Kumar, Rekha, Raj Babbar, Suresh Oberoi and Anupam Kher, with music by Annu Malik, production by Tito and direction by Tony Juneja.
- #043
Rekha appeared in the shelved N. F. film "Zulm O Sitam" (1994), which starred Vinod Khanna, Rekha, Harish, Shweta, Mukesh Khanna and Pran, with music by Shyam Surender and writing and direction by K. C. Bokadia.
- #044
Rekha played the lead in the shelved Mercury Productions film "Khuli Kitaab" (1986). She appeared alongside 7 lead actors, with music by Usha Khanna and writing, production and direction by Sawan Kumar Tak.
- #045
Rekha was ranked 5th on Rediff.com's "Top 10 Bollywood Actresses Ever" list (March 2007).
- #046
Rekha has a younger sister living in California.
- #047
Actor Abhinay Vaddi is her step-nephew, the son of Sister Vijaya.
- #048
Her sister Dhanalakshmi is married to actor Tej Sapru.
- #049
Rekha was engaged to Raja Khara. He is the brother-in-law of actor Karan Shah.
- #050
Salim and Javed wrote a script that Shyam Benegal was to direct. Rekha, Anita Raaj and Nazneen were signed, and Rajesh Khanna was approached for the lead role. The project was shelved.
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