When director asked Waheeda Rehman to change her name at the age of 16 as ‘it had no sex appeal’: ‘You will work as per our conditions’

At Jaipur Literature Festival, veteran actor Waheeda Rehman revealed that she was asked to change her name during her debut in CID, but she refused to do so.

By: Entertainment Desk

New Delhi | January 13, 2025 06:03 PM IST

3 min read

Waheeda Rehman refused to change her name during her debut in CID

In her five decades of career, Waheeda Rehman has been part of many hit films such as Neel Kamal, Bees Saal Baad, Khamoshi, Pyaasa, Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam, Guide, CID, and Chaudvin Ka Chand. However, the veteran actor always spoke her mind, and didn’t adhere to every demand kept in front of her. In fact, it was considered customary to change your name in Hindi cinema at the time, but the veteran actor refused to do so. During a recent conversation at Jaipur Literature Festival, she revealed that she was a stubborn newcomer in Bollywood when she made her debut with the 1956 film CID.

Waheeda said, “When I came as a newcomer from Chennai to Mumbai, I was called to sign a contract by Guru Dutt ji. My mother also came along with me. He said that we want to change your name because it’s long and not good. When they said that they don’t like it, I felt really bad. That was so rude! My mom and dad kept my name, who are you to tell me that it’s not good? I refused to change it. The screen can show Waheeda Rehman and you can call me Waheeda while working, it shouldn’t matter if it’s long.”

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But, Dutt said that it’s an industry trend to change one’s name. “He gave examples of Dilip Kumar, Madhubala, Meena Kumari, and many others. I had a lot of pride in myself at that time, I have mellowed down with maturity. I told them a clear no, because my parents gave me this name and I like it. They said that the name doesn’t have glamour and sex appeal. I said that whatever you say, I will not change it,” she further added.

Raj Khosla, the director of CID, was Guru Dutt’s close friend. He said, “Whenever we sign a new artist, he or she works according to our terms and conditions. You being a newcomer, why are you keeping conditions in front of us?” To which the veteran actor replied, “It should be a give and take. My mother had to sign my contract as I was only 16 years old. They were shocked to see such a young girl saying, ‘That is what I want to do’, with dominance and her conditions.” They called after three days and said that they will keep my name and not change it.

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