Betrayed by superstar boyfriend, Bollywood actress married Pakistani cricketer, took ‘help from babas and saints’ to get daughter’s custody after divorce

The family faced severe financial difficulties post-divorce. Witnessing these hardships, Reena started looking for work at a very young age and want to act in films. That wish materialised when filmmaker BR Ishara spotted her and was captivated by her presence. He offered her the lead role in Nayi Duniya Naye Log opposite Danny Denzongpa. Unfortunately, the film was shelved and was only released in 1973. Not losing hope, Ishara cast her in his next directorial venture, Zaroorat (1972).

Though her role in Zaroorat was small and risqué, requiring bold scenes, Reena accepted it. It was during this film that Ishara changed her name from Roopa to Reena. The film turned out to be a flop but Reena’s work was recognised in the film.

Ishara went on to cast her again in Milap, a small-budget film opposite Shatrughan Sinha. While the film failed at the box office, Reena gradually began to get noticed. She went on to feature in projects like Jangal Mein Mangal, Nai Duniya Naye Log, Jaise Ko Taisa, Madhosh and others. She continued taking up roles of irrespective of her screen presence in the project, steadily carving a space for herself.

Turning point in 1976

Reena’s career trajectory changed dramatically in 1976 when she starred in two blockbusters — Nagin and Subhash Ghai’s debut directorial Kalicharan. Both films became huge successes, turning her into an overnight star and cementing her status in Bollywood.

Affair with Shatrughan Sinha

It was during the shooting of Kalicharan that rumours of an affair between Reena and Shatrughan Sinha began to circulate. By this time, the two had already appeared together in some films and continued to work in projects such as Sangram, Sat Sri Akal, and Chor Ho To Aisa. Their relationship reportedly lasted seven years and was well-known across the industry.

However, despite their closeness, Shatrughan went on to marry Poonam Chandiramani, his co-star from Sabak. In an old interview with Rajiv Shukla, the Heera actor candidly admitted to his relationship with Reena. He said, “Hota hai kabhi jeevan mein. Insaan kabhi aise mod pe aake khada ho jata hai jaha faisala karna bahut mushkil hota hai. Par jab faisala kar lia jata hai toh shayad woh sabke haq mein nahi hota hai (Sometimes in life, one reaches a juncture where making a decision becomes very difficult. But once the decision is made, it may not always be in everyone’s favour).”

Marriage and divorce with Mohsin Khan

After her heartbreak, Reena married Pakistani cricketer Mohsin Khan in 1983. The couple welcomed a daughter, Jannat, later renamed Sanam. However, by 1990, their marriage had hit troubled waters. During this time, Mohsin tried his hand at Hindi films but, after failing to succeed, decided to move to London. Reena, however, wished to continue her acting career in India, which led to friction in the relationship.

However, this lead to hate from fans. Reena recounted in a Filmfare interview, “One evening, while shooting in Punjab, a man knocked on the door. He seemed tipsy. Placing his hands on his waist, he said, ‘Aapko koi mila nahi poore Hindustan mein ke aapne bahar shaadi karni chahi?’ He was kindly led out by the staff.”

Their marriage eventually ended in divorce. Initially, Mohsin was granted custody of their daughter, but after his remarriage, Reena fought a long legal battle and ultimately gained custody. In an interview with Times of India, Reena revealed that she visited saints and sadhus during the custody battle for strength.

Speaking about her decision to remain unmarried afterward, Reena said that she had the responsibility of her daughter. Being a single mother, she had to take care of her daughter first.

Meanwhile, Mohsin admitted in an interview with G Sports that he had no regrets about his marriage to Reena. He said, “I have no regrets. I had married a human being, I didn’t see who she was or where she was from. Eventually, I had decided that I want to stay in Pakistan. Even though I went to England to play, I wanted to stay in Pakistan.”

Career slowdown

Reena went on to act in nearly 100 films during her career. However, after her marriage and personal commitments, her film journey began to slow down. Despite enjoying immense stardom through the late ’70s and early ’80s, she gradually stepped away from the big screen.