Rekha is one of the most recognised names in Indian cinema. But in a 1986 interview, the actress spoke about a very different beginning to her film career. She revealed that becoming an actress was never her childhood dream. In fact, she said she was forced to work in films and did not enjoy it for the first six to seven years.Speaking about her early life to BBC India, her mother’s influence and her journey from South Indian films to Bollywood, Rekha explained how she entered the industry at a young age. She also recalled arriving in Bombay alone when she was just 13 years old, despite not knowing Hindi.
“I never wanted to become an actress”
Her father, Gemini Ganesan was a famous actor in South India.
During the 1986 BBC India interview, the interviewer asked Rekha about her parents. Her father was a famous actor in South India, while her mother was also an actress. The interviewer wanted to know whether her mother had trained or encouraged her to become an actress. “No, not my mother. In fact, I never wanted to become an actress. If you ask any actor, they usually say that they have always wanted to become an actor. But in my case, it was not like that. I never wanted to become an actress. Mujhe toh maar maar ke banaya gaya (They beat me to become an actress)” said Rekha.When the interviewer asked whether her parents thought she should become a big actor, Rekha clarified that it was her mother who wanted her to work in films. “Not both my parents, my mother. She wanted me to work in films.”
Rekha started working at the age of 3
Rekha was already familiar with film sets long before she entered Hindi cinema. During the interview, she revealed that she had started working as a child artist in South Indian films. “I was a child artist. I have been working since I was 3 years old,” she said. Her early years in the industry were therefore not driven by a personal ambition to become a leading actress. She was introduced to films as a child and continued working as she grew older.The actress later explained that she did not enjoy this work. “For at least 6-7 years, I did not like what I was doing. I was forced to work in films.” She added that her schedule was demanding. “I used to go for shoots and double shifts. I did not like it at all.”
At 13, she came to Bombay alone
Rekha also spoke about the circumstances under which she arrived in Mumbai. The interviewer asked when she had come to the city and whether she had travelled with her parents. “I came to Bombay when I was 13 years old.” When asked whether she had come with her parents or alone, she replied: “I came alone. My mother was not well. She could not make it. I came alone.”Rekha explained that her entry into Hindi cinema happened after two men came to Chennai, looking for a new heroine. “There were two men. They came to Madras to look for a new heroine. Someone told me that there was a South Indian girl who spoke a little Hindi. But I did not know how to speak Hindi at all. They said, ‘Let us see.’ They came to my mother and saw me. They asked me if I knew Hindi. I said no. They asked me if I wanted to work in Hindi films. I said no.”Rekha recalled that she was not interested in the opportunity at the time. However, the men were ready to sign her. “They said, ‘Let us sign you tomorrow.’ I thought it was destiny that I had to come. I had to work in Hindi films.”
“Did your interest increase after the first film?”
Rekha during a scene of her film “Savan Bhadon.”
The interviewer asked whether Rekha’s interest in acting had increased after her first film. “Not at all,” said Rekha. When the interviewer repeated the question, she gave the same answer. Rekha said that she continued to dislike the work for several years. She described the experience as something she had been made to do rather than something she had chosen.Rekha said that her attitude towards acting began to change around 1974-75. She connected this change to the success of her first film, Sawan Bhadon. In 1974-75. My first film, Sawan Bhadon, was a big hit. Everyone was saying, ‘She is very good. She is an overnight star.’” The success of the film gave her a different experience of being an actress. She recalled how her classmates, who were still in school, watched the film. “My classmates were still in school. They would watch it and I would be very proud of myself. I did not know what I was doing.”
‘Ghar’ made Rekha take an interest in acting
“For the first time, I felt that I should take an interest in acting,” said the iconic actor.
In the same BBC India interview, Rekha was asked whether she remembered any films that she liked. She said she had not liked any of her films during the first six or seven years of her career. “I did not like any of my films for 6-7 years.”However, she then recalled a film that changed how she looked at acting. “But after 1975, I made a film called Ghar. For the first time, I felt that I should take an interest in acting.” “I thought it was realistic. I thought I should take an interest in acting from that film,” she said.
“But now I know what acting is all about”
Towards the end of the interview, Rekha spoke about how her feelings towards acting had changed. The actress who had once said she never wanted to become a heroine now described acting as something she genuinely enjoyed. “I told you that I don’t want to be a heroine. But now I know what acting is all about.” “I like it. Acting is the only true thing in my life. I am enjoying it a lot.”
