Waheeda Rehman: From 'CID' to 'Skater Girl', Indian cinema's enduring star
New Delhi(PTI): She wanted to be a doctor but ended up on the silver screen instead, an actor who began with Telugu cinema and went on to rule the Hindi film industry, slipping in and out of arthouse and mainstream cinema and staying relevant as movies evolved from black-and-white to colour.
Waheeda Rehman, who was on Tuesday named recipient of the 2021 Dadasaheb Phalke award, the government's highest honour in cinema, acted in over 90 films over almost seven decades. In a career arc made for celluloid history, Rehman made her debut in Hindi films as a character artiste in the 1956 film "CID", moved on to lead roles and returned to cameos in her later years.
What has stood out over the years has been the apparent ease and the grace with which she did it all. She comfortably straddled the twin worlds of the brooding "Kaagaz ke Phool" and the entertaining "Ram aur Shyam". Rehman, now 85, was last seen just two years ago in the sports drama "Skater Girl".
Born in Chennai to a Deccani Muslim family, Rehman never aspired to be an actor but knew she wanted to make people "laugh and cry".
"I wanted to become a doctor, because in those days for Muslim families medicine was the only respectable profession," the actor recalled in a Tweak India interview two years ago.
Art, culture and dance interested her since she was a child. And with the support of her father, an IAS officer, she was able to pursue her dream of learning Bharatanatyam and then making a career in the movies.
"I used to make faces looking in the mirror. When my father asked why do I do this, I said 'I want to make people laugh and cry'," she said in the interview.
She was first seen in the movies in the 1955 Telugu films "Rojulu Maraayi" and "Jayasimha". A chance meeting with Guru Dutt in Hyderabad that same year changed the course of her career - and her life.
She moved to Mumbai, then Bombay, and was launched in Dutt's film "CID", alongside Dev Anand in 1956. Rehman played the role of the antagonist, a dancer.
It was the beginning of a memorable creative partnership with Dutt, their collaboration resulting in some of Indian cinema's finest films -- "Pyaasa", "Kaagaz Ke Phool", "Chaudhvin Ka Chand" and "Saheb Bibi Aur Ghulam".
The Dev Anand and Rehman collaboration was also special. Their most successful film was perhaps "Guide", remembered today for its forward looking portrayal of the protagonist Rosie, her modern-day relationship with the guide Raju and the songs by S D Burman.
"I'm very happy and doubly happy because it is Dev Anand's birthday. I think, 'taufa unko milna tha, mujhe mil gaya'," Rehman told PTI after getting news of the Dadasaheb Phalke award.
"It is very wonderful that his celebration is going on and I get this honour. I'm really happy and grateful to the government that they chose me for this honour. So it is a combination and celebration of this and Dev sahab's 100th birth anniversary," she said.
Rehman also ventured into Bengali cinema with Satyajit Ray's "Abhijan" and became one of the highest paid women actors in the 1950s and 1960s, starring in diverse roles in films such as "Kohraa", "Bees Saal Baad", "Khamoshi", and "Guide", all of which have stood the test of time.
"I never compromised with costumes. I need to feel comfortable when I'm performing. In my first Hindi movie 'CID' I had mentioned in the contract that if I don't like the costume I will not wear it," she told Tweak India.
"CID" director Raj Khosla had also suggested that the actor change her name as it was "too long", but she refused outright.
In the 1970s, she shifted gears and took up more character roles. For 1971's "Reshma Aur Shera", she received a National Film Award for best actress.
At the peak of her career, she married her "Son of India" co-star Shashi Rekhi.
Nobody saw this coming, not even perhaps Rehman.
"We had a common friend Yash Johar. He (Shashi) used to stay at their place and I was very close friends with Yash. So we used to meet often. One day, we were having coffee and suddenly out of the blue he said, 'I want to marry you. Will you marry me?'
"I said, 'It is too sudden and I will take some time to think.' After three-four days, Yash called and said 'Malik, give the answer quickly otherwise he will kill me and Hiroo (Johar).' He was a nice, decent and good-looking Punjabi man. I said okay... He was a easy man, no problem. I learned cooking from him mostly," she recalled.
They have two children -- daughter Kashvi and son Sohail.
The career continued, almost uninterrupted.
After marriage, came several roles, including opposite Amitabh Bachchan in "Kabhi Kabhie" in 1976. And just two years later, she played mother to Bachchan in "Trishul" and again in 1982 film "Namak Halaal".
But the variety was missing, prompting her to move to Bengaluru to lead a quieter life with family.
"I started doing character roles.. And in India characters roles are mostly of a mother or a sister. And even the dialogues are at times same. 'Beta tum mil gaye, acche bano'. There was a certain kind of staleness. It's not inspiring," she said in the Tweak India interview.
Filmmaker Yash Chopra remained in touch with Rehman during her time away from Mumbai, and cast her in pivotal roles in 1980-1990s hits such as "Mashaal", "Lamhe" and "Chandni".
In the 2000s, she appeared in "Om Jai Jagdish", "Rang De Basanti", "Delhi-6" and "The Song of Scorpions".
As she grows older, Rehman is also evidence that there is life beyond just the movies and the zest is what keeps you going.
She continues to go on vacation and dinners with her close friends -- Asha Parekh and Helen.
"We went to Turkey. We went on a cruise to Scandinavian countries. We understand and trust each other," Rehman told the online channel, adding that she would love to go for scuba diving someday.
"I'm a happy person, and I naturally see beautiful things first and be happy about it. I'm content," she said.
Rehman is also associated with bringing to life some of Hindi films most popular songs -- "Kahin pe nigahen, kahin pe nishana" ("CID"), "Aaj phir jeena ki tamanna hai" and "Piya tose naina lage re" ("Guide"), "Luka chhuppi" ("Rang De Basanti" and "Genda phool" ("Delhi-6").
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VP Radhakrishnan discusses further deepening of bilateral ties with Sri Lankan President Dissanayake
Colombo (PTI): Vice President C P Radhakrishnan met Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake here on Sunday and held productive discussions on further deepening the multifaceted bilateral ties, housing projects and fishermen issues between the two South Asian neighbours.
Radhakrishnan, who arrived here earlier in the day on a two-day visit, also discussed with Dissanayake the ongoing Indian project implementation in Sri Lanka with emphasis on the USD 450 million Cyclone Ditwah aid offered by India.
Accompanied by a 49-member delegation, the vice president was received at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo by Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage and several other dignitaries.
Radhakrishnan’s visit is the first ever by an Indian vice president to Sri Lanka, officials said.
Radhakrishnan laid emphasis on India’s 'Neighbourhood First' policy and developmental bilateral cooperation, officials said.
“Both leaders held productive discussions on further deepening the multifaceted India–Sri Lanka ties, rooted in shared history, strong civilizational and people-to-people linkages,” according to a social media post by Radhakrishnan.
They held wide-ranging discussions on various initiatives, including the Indian housing project and projects being implemented under the USD 450 million package for areas affected by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka, including reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in the most affected regions of the Indian-origin Tamil community, it added.
The two sides also discussed addressing fishermen issues in a humanitarian manner, considering the livelihoods of fishing communities on both sides.
The fishermen issue is a contentious one in the ties between India and Sri Lanka.
The Palk Strait, a narrow strip of water separating Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka, is a rich fishing ground for fishermen from both countries.
Fishermen from both countries are arrested frequently for inadvertently trespassing into each other's waters.
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya hosted a luncheon meeting for the vice president at her official residence, Temple Trees, in Colombo.
“Both leaders shared the civilizational heritage of the two countries and discussed the importance of further strengthening bilateral ties, including people-to-people bonds,” Radhakrishnan said in a post on X.
Sri Lanka’s Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa also called on Radhakrishnan in Colombo and both leaders discussed further strengthening India-Sri Lanka bilateral ties.
“Sri Lanka and India are not just neighbours, we are true partners with shared history, shared challenges, and a shared future. It is time we move with greater ambition, intent and trust, to reap the benefits of this partnership for all citizens,” Premadasa said in a social media post.
He also met leaders of Sri Lankan Tamil parties and Indian Origin Tamil parties.
The Tamil parties thanked the Government of India for its efforts for the USD 450 million rehabilitation and relief package post Cyclone Ditwah, as well as other relief measures taken.
A number of memoranda of understanding between the two countries are also scheduled to be exchanged during the visit, a Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry release said.
Later in the day, the vice president also participated in a community reception organised by the Indian diaspora here during which he virtually handed over houses to beneficiaries from Tamil communities, built with assistance from the Indian government as part of the third phase of the Indian Housing Project.
With this, the total number of houses for Tamil communities will reach 50,000, and 10,000 more houses are being built in the fourth phase of the project, an official statement said.
On Monday, the vice president will travel to Nuwara Eliya, visit the Indian Housing Projects, and interact with the local Tamil community.
This visit, which follows recent high-level engagements between the two countries, is expected to further strengthen the millennia-old civilisational and people-to-people ties between India and Sri Lanka, an official statement said.
