Bhanurekha Ganesan or Rekha as she is popularly known as the diva of Bollywood. Despite various ups and downs, she is regal and poised.

Rekha is one of the most talented, graceful, and talented actress ever to grace the silver screen. She can give many younger actresses a run for their money even to this day. In Illustrious career spanning for four decades, she is known for playing strong, thinking and sometimes complicated characters. Though her personal life was most talked about than her movies, she broke the glass ceiling, smashed stereotypes by choosing unconventional roles.

Early life

Rekha is the daughter of famous Tamil actor, Gemini Ganesan and Telugu actress Puspavalli. At the age of 13, she quit studying to work in the films. She started her career with Telugu movies as a child actor. She started her big Bollywood dream with the movie named “Anjana Safar”.

Her unconventional looks

Hard to believe but initially Rekha was termed as “Ugly Duckling” by peers and directors in the industry. She was not considered beautiful by text-book definition of beautiful, which is doe-eyed, fair and slim. Rekha however, took this as a challenge and transformed herself. She started paying attention to her make-up, diet and clothes and even worked on her Hindi diction. The result was instantaneous, and a star was born.

 70s and the rise of Rekha

The much improved Rekha‘s “Kabeela” garnered positive feedback from the industry and critics. This was the time that she was paying attention to her choice of roles and picked roles in movies like “Do Anjaane”, “Muquaddar Ka Sikandar”, and “Ghar”.

Rekha-the diva

The 80s saw the rise of the legend and the ultimate diva of Bollywood. She did a variety of roles, and the World saw her nuanced acting. Be it bubbly and lively girl in “Khoobsurat” or a cheating wife in “Silsila”. This was also the time when she successfully transitioned into parallel cinema as well. With cult classics like “Umrao Jaan” and “Ijazzat”, she wowed the audience. Ironically, once an Ugly Duckling was now considered as beautiful, graceful and full of charisma, her portrayal of a simple girl to ultra glamourous model in “Khoon Bhari Maang” dazzled the audience.

She went on to give many blockbusters and experimented with various genres. She was awarded Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honour in 2010.

She is known as “director’s actor” by legendary director Shyam Benegal. Often dubbed by media as “Greta Garbo”, Rekha has carved her niche and has become a woman you know, yet can’t forget.