Waheeda Rehman can be adequately summarised in a few words as a tenacious newbie to the film industry who is also an adept dancer, ethereal beauty, and an exceptional actor.
Waheeda Rehman always accepted the terms and conditions she wanted to work under in a period when actresses were unable to make many demands. She accomplished several milestones in a career that lasted more than five decades, participated in films of many different genres, and played a variety of parts with vigour.
These more details about Waheeda Rehman might surprise and enlighten you all:
1. Waheeda Rehman was born in a Muslim family in Tamil Nadu
In Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, Waheeda Rehman was born on February 3rd, 1938, into a Muslim household.
2. Mohammed Abdur Rehman, her father, held the esteemed position of District Commissioner, while her mother, Mumtaz Begum, gracefully assumed the role of a dedicated homemaker.
3. Waheeda Rehman is a trained Bharatnatyam dancer
Out of her four sisters, she was the youngest. All of the sisters had training in Bharatanatyam in Madras as they grew older (now Chennai). She began performing on stage when she was quite young.
4. Hadad had a tough childhood
Waheeda had always wanted to be a doctor, but when she was just thirteen years old, her father passed away. In order to provide for her family, she gave up on her goal and took movie offers based on her dancing talent.
5. Waheeda Rehman’s film debut in 1955
She began her career dancing in item numbers in movies. In 1955, she appeared in Rojulu Marayi, a Telugu movie. After that, she appeared in the Telugu film Jayasimha alongside NT Rama Rao.
6. She was cast in C.I.D by Guru Dutt and then she paved her way in Hindi cinema
Guru Dutt first caught Waheeda’s attention at Rojulu Marayi’s triumph celebration. He offered her a supporting role as a vamp in his 1956 home movie C.I.D., directed by Raj Khosla and starring Dev Anand. She landed in Bombay (now Mumbai), when she began her protracted career in Hindi film with C.I.D.
7. Waheeda refused to change her name for showbiz
Waheeda was advised by Raj Khosla that “Waheeda Rehman” did not sound sexy and that she should alter her name. In support of his claim that everyone had altered their names, he cited the cases of Madhubala (Mumtaz Jehan Dehalvi), Meena Kumari (Mahjabeen Bano), and Nargis (Fatima Rashid).
She insisted on using her real name nonetheless, saying to Khosla, “I am not everyone.” Raj Khosla was forced to budge.
8. She’s never worn a costume that made her uncomfortable.
Waheeda requested a dupatta instead of a lace blouse for the song Kahin pe Nigahen Kahin Pe Nishana. She highlighted the clause in her contract that stated she would refuse to wear a costume if she did not like it.
She insisted on a dupatta despite Guru Dutt’s assurances that the outfit was modest and had a full sleeve. Guru Dutt eventually gave in to her demands. All of this occurred right after she entered Bollywood!
9. Waheeda portrayed a pr**titute in her first Bollywood film.
In Guru Dutt’s Pyaasa (1957), her first film as the lead actress, she portrayed a prostitute. One of Guru Dutt’s most well-known films, the production was a huge smash.
10. Waheeda Rehman was featured in several critically acclaimed Guru Dutt movies
Kagaz Ke Phool (1959), Chaudahvin Ka Chand (1960), and Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam (1962) stand out among the many other movies she made with Guru Dutt. It was also her final film with Guru Dutt when she won her first Filmfare nomination for Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam.
11. Waheeda Rehman and Guru Dutt affair
While Guru Dutt was married to the well-known playback singer Geeta Dutt, there are rumours that the two had a love relationship. In fact, it’s claimed that Kaagaz Ke Phool, in which a director falls in love with the actress, was inspired by their tragic relationship.
12. The rumour died down in 1963 and Guru Dutt lost his life a year after
However, in 1963, they parted ways for both personal and professional reasons. In 1964, Guru Dutt passed away from a combination of alcohol and a sleeping medication overdose.
13. Waheeda Rehman and Dev Anand did a lot of films together
Additionally, Dev Anand, who has been around forever, and Waheeda Rehman had a great working relationship. After C.I.D., she collaborated with him on a number of movies, including Guide (1965), Prem Pujari, Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja, Kala Bazaar (1960), and Solva Saal (1958). (1970).
14. For her outstanding performance in the motion picture Guide, Waheeda Ji got the Filmfare Award for Best Actress.
Waheeda achieved great success, fame, and popularity thanks to Guide. She was honoured with her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress for her outstanding performance in the movie. Her character in the movie was rebellious and strong-willed, which was completely different from how women were represented in Bollywood movies. Waheeda claims that she initially turned down the part but eventually agreed after Dev Anand persuaded her nonstop. and we’re happy she did!
15. She has a very close relationship with the veteran actor, Dev Anand
When she first met Dev Anand during the filming of C.I.D., she referred to him as Dev Saab. Dev Anand then urged her to call him simply by his first name, “Dev,” but because she was younger than him, she lacked the guts to do so. Prior to her addressing him by his first name, he never used to respond to her. With a total of seven films, she is the actress who has worked with him most frequently.
16. She is an actress who collaborated with a lot of A-listers when her career was at its height.
She collaborated with renowned actors from the era, like Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Rajendra Kumar, and Rajesh Khanna, at the height of her career, producing blockbusters like Teesri Kasam (1966), Ram Aur Shyam (1967), Neel Kamal (1968), and Khamoshi (1969).
17. Waheeda Ji’s role in Khamoshi is one of her best acting performance
She received back-to-back Filmfare nominations for Best Actress for the last three of the aforementioned films, and she also took home the second Filmfare for Neel Kamal. Waheeda’s performance in Khamoshi is regarded as her best acting work to date.
18. Waheeda Rehman won the National Film Award for Best Actress
She used to explore unconventional characters, hence she starred alongside Sunil Dutt in Reshma Aur Shera (1971). Although the movie did poorly at the box office, the critics praised her performance, and she was given the National Film Award for Best Actress.
19. Waheeda Ji worked on films in different languages
Waheeda performed in a variety of roles and film genres. She played a character in Satyajit Ray’s 1962 Bengali film Abhijan. She also had numerous appearances in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu movies.
20. Her last successful movie as a lead actress was Man Mandir
Man Mandir (1971), starring the late Sanjeev Kumar, was her final successful film as the lead female. It was also Rakesh Roshan’s debut acting role in a film.
Waheeda Rehman Age
Waheeda Rehman’s age is 85 years. Her Date of birth is 3 February 1938.
Waheeda Rehman Husband
Waheeda Rehman’s husband is Kamaljeet.
Waheeda Rehman Movies
Waheeda Rehman is a legendary Indian actress known for her significant contributions to Indian cinema. She has appeared in numerous movies across different languages, including Hindi, Bengali, and Telugu. Here are some notable movies featuring Waheeda Rehman:
- Pyaasa (1957) – Directed by Guru Dutt, this classic film is considered one of the finest works of Indian cinema. Waheeda Rehman played the role of Gulabo, a prostitute who becomes the love interest of the protagonist.
- Guide (1965) – In this critically acclaimed movie directed by Vijay Anand, Waheeda Rehman starred alongside Dev Anand. She portrayed the character of Rosie Marco, a woman in a troubled marriage who finds solace in a tourist guide played by Dev Anand.
- Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959) – Another masterpiece by Guru Dutt, where Waheeda Rehman played the role of Shanti, a young actress who becomes the muse of a film director.
- Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962) – This film, directed by Abrar Alvi and produced by Guru Dutt, showcased Waheeda Rehman in the role of Jaba, a maid who becomes involved in the complicated lives of her employers.
- Teesri Kasam (1966) – Directed by Basu Bhattacharya, this movie featured Waheeda Rehman as a nautanki dancer, Hirabai, opposite Raj Kapoor.
- Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960) – In this film, directed by M. Sadiq, Waheeda Rehman portrayed Jameela, a woman caught between two friends, played by Guru Dutt and Rehman.
- Bees Saal Baad (1962) – A suspense thriller directed by Biren Nag, where Waheeda Rehman played the lead role opposite Biswajeet.
- Neel Kamal (1968) – In this romantic drama, directed by Ram Maheshwari, Waheeda Rehman starred opposite Raaj Kumar.
- Khamoshi (1969) – Directed by Asit Sen, this emotional drama featured Waheeda Rehman as a nurse who takes care of a mentally ill woman played by Rajesh Khanna.
- Reshma Aur Shera (1971) – In this movie directed by Sunil Dutt, Waheeda Rehman played the role of Champa, a woman caught in the midst of a family feud.
These are just a few of the many notable films in which Waheeda Rehman displayed her remarkable talent as an actress. Her performances and contributions to Indian cinema have left an indelible mark and earned her numerous accolades and awards throughout her career.
Waheeda Rehman daughter
Waheeda rehman daughter is Kashvi Rekhi.
