Arguably the most beautiful Indian actress of all times, Hema Malini has some truly lavish compliments to pay to her colleague Rekha, whose signature film Umrao Jaan was re-released this week.
In a conversation with this writer, Hema Malini said, “Rekha is a friend. It’s not like we meet every day or anything. But whenever we do meet, there is a lot of love between us. She is someone I’ve known since her childhood. When she invited me to come for the premiere of Umrao Jaan, I said yes immediately.”
And what did the nation’s Dream Girl think of Rekha’s Umrao Jaan? “Rekha looks so beautiful in Umrao Jaan! Her clothes, her makeup the way she expresses the character’s emotions, the way she recites the poetry… Rekha was born to play Umrao Jaan. I don’t think anyone could have done the character so much justice,” she said.
Hema Malini is bowled over, and not only by Rekha’s performance but also the film. “The director Muzaffar Ali has done full justice to the theme,” she said. “The aura and environment of a time gone-by is so beautifully recreated. The way women were treated, girls being abducted from their homes and trained to be tawaifs …it’s all there. Although Umrao Jaan was a courtesan, she was so learned and graceful, and a poetess. And the music and songs, all sung by Asha Bhosleji. She was also there at the premiere, still so spirited at her age.”
Reliving her association with Rekha, Hema Malini said, “We had the same dance guru. My first Hindi film had already released. I was learning Bharat Natyam. She was learning Kuchipudi. She was a very mischievous child. She had our Guruji climbing up the wall with her naughtiness. Bahot sharaarati thi. I am so proud of the way she evolved as a human being and actress.”
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