Rekha, a veteran actress, is regarded as one of the most skilled and cherished performers in Bollywood. Although she is the daughter of the iconic Gemini Ganesan, Rekha and her family encountered financial difficulties, and her heritage did not ensure an easy path into Hindi cinema. Even after securing leading roles, she endured harassment on set, exposing the difficult truths that accompanied her ascent to fame.
A notable incident involving Rekha took place during the production of Do Shikaari, a Bollywood film from 1979 directed by Kuljit Pal. The film features actors Biswajeet, Vinod Khanna, and Rekha. Although production began in 1969 under the original title Anjana Safar, it faced censorship challenges. During filming, co-star Biswajit Chatterjee allegedly kissed Rekha without her prior knowledge or consent, despite her being a teenager at the time. This unscripted kiss was reportedly intended for publicity, leaving her visibly uncomfortable and humiliated during the scene.
Yasser Usman’s book, Rekha: The Untold Story, reveals a disturbing event from Rekha’s early career. The book details how actor Biswajeet, director Kuljeet Pal, and cinematographer Raja Nawathe colluded to have Biswajeet kiss Rekha without her consent as soon as the camera began filming. When the scene was executed, Biswajeet followed through with the scheme, resulting in Rekha feeling shocked and betrayed.
This incident is frequently referenced as an illustration of the mistreatment or exploitation faced by actresses, particularly in earlier periods, within the film industry, often masked as performance or publicity. Concurrently, Rekha officially entered the Hindi film industry with her debut in Sawan Bhadon in 1970. During the 1970s, she starred in several successful films such as Dharmatma, Ghar, Muqaddar Ka Sikander, and Mr. Natwarlal, progressively solidifying her status as a prominent actress of that decade.
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