Happy Birthday Rekha: Few interesting facts about Bollywood’s ‘Umrao Jaan’

Bollywood's 'Khoobsurat' actress Rekha known for her mesmerising performances in films like 'Umrao Jaan', 'Silsila' and power packed performances in films like 'Khoon Bhari Maang' celebrates her 61st birthday today. We bring you some interesting facts about the actress. (Express archive photo/ Varinder Chawla)

Rekha was born out of wedlock to Tamil superstar Gemini Ganesan and Telugu actress Pushpavalli. Gemini Ganeshan did not acknowledge his paternity during her childhood. And later on, when he wanted to reconcile with his daughter, Rekha did not oblige. (Express archive photo)

Rekha told a magazine in an interview that her father's neglect still rankled and that she had ignored her father's efforts at reconciliation. (Express archive photo)

Rekha quit school to start a career in acting not out of choice but due to financial crisis in her family. Seen here in a still from 'Gaon Humara Shehar Tumahara' (Express archive photo)

Rekha had once told Simi Grewal on her chat show: "Bombay was like a jungle, and I had walked in unarmed. It was one of the most frightening phases of my life... I was totally ignorant of the ways of this new world. Guys did try and take advantage of my vulnerability. I did feel,"What am I doing? I should be in school, having an ice-cream, fun with my friends, why am I even forced to work, deprived of normal things that a child should be doing at my age?" (Express archive photo)

She also said: “Every single day I cried, because I had to eat what I didn't like, wear crazy clothes with sequins and stuff poking into my body. Costume, jewelery would give me an absolute terrible allergy. Hair spray wouldn't go off for days even despite all my washing. I was pushed, literally dragged from one studio to another. A terrible thing to do to a 13-year-old child.” (Express archive photo)

However today Rekha is noted for her versatility and is acknowledged as one of the finest actresses in Bollywood, she was often panned for her looks in the early stages of her career. It was not until the mid-to-late 1970s that she got recognition as an actress. Since the late 1970s, after undertaking a physical transformation, she has been featured as a sex symbol in Bollywood. (Express archive photo)

Rekha claimed that she was tricked into a kissing scene in 'Anjana Safar' (retitled as 'Do Shikaari') with the lead actor Biswajit for the overseas market and the kiss made it to the Asian edition of Life magazine. The film ran into censorship problems, and released almost a decade later in 1979. (Express archive photo)

Rekha revealed in an interview that when she first read the script of her landmark film Umrao Jaan she felt strange. Rekha confessed, "After reading the script, I had a strange feeling that I had Umrao in me." Rekha bagged the National Award for the film. (Express archive photo)

Rekha's mystery 'sindoor': In 1990, Rekha married Delhi-based industrialist Mukesh Aggarwal, who committed suicide after a year. But Rekha has mostly appeared on several occasions wearing sindoor, which she explained saying: "I think it looks rather nice on me.. sindoor suits me." Rekha at the premier of 'Maa'. (Express archive photo)

She was then rumoured to have been married to her 'Ghar' co-star Vinod Mehra in 1973. But in a 2004 television interview with Simi Garewal she denied being married to Mehra referring to him as a "well-wisher". (Express archive photo)

Rekha was also rumoured to be in a relationship with her married co-star Amitabh Bachchan. The couple was last seen together in 'Silsila,' and their affair ended soon after. Rumours were rife that Amitabh had secretly married Rekha because she was seen wearing sindoor and mangalsutra at Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh's wedding. It is said that she captured all the limelight that night. But nothing came out of these reports.

The two shared screen space after 33 long years in R Balki's 'Shamitabh'. (Express archive photo)