Waheeda Rehman Celebrates 87th Birthday: A Timeless Icon Reflects on Her Illustrious Career
As timeless diva Waheeda Rehman turned 87 on February 3, Indian cinema celebrated a woman whose grace, talent, and quiet strength redefined what it meant to be a leading lady. From her unforgettable performances in classics like Pyaasa, Kaagaz Ke Phool, and Guide to her seamless blend of emotional depth and lyrical movement, she carved a niche for herself that remains untouched even decades later. A trained dancer who entered films almost by chance, Waheeda Rehman went on to become one of the most respected and loved artists in Indian cinema.
Exclusive Conversation: The Secret Behind Her Enduring Aura
In an exclusive conversation with ETimes, the veteran actress shared her insights about her decades-old career and the love that continues to surround her. When asked about her undimmed aura with age, Waheeda Rehman responded with characteristic humility. "Arre, ab bas bhi kijiye (now stop it). All this praise may go to my head and I may become swollen-headed," she laughed. "But seriously, there is no secret aura, it's just the love of the people. Mujhe pata nahin kyun log abhi bhi pyaar karte hain (I don't know why people still love me)."
From Medicine to Movies: An Accidental Journey
Reflecting on her long and satisfying journey, Waheeda Rehman revealed surprising details about her beginnings. "Do you know, I started my career with a Telugu film, 'Rojulu Marayi', in 1955? I was only 17 then. I knew nothing about acting," she shared. "But I was a keen dancer even before I became an actor, and I think that skill helped me immensely in my performances." Interestingly, she disclosed that she initially wanted to pursue medicine. "If you want to put it that way, it was medicine's loss and cinema's gain," she remarked, adding that she felt grateful for achieving success relatively easily compared to today's generation of skilled and prepared actors.
The Guide Controversy: How She Almost Missed Her Landmark Film
When asked about her milestone films, Waheeda Rehman highlighted Pyaasa, Kaagaz Ke Phool, and especially Guide, which she called "the 'Mother India' of my career." However, she revealed a shocking truth: "You can be as shocked as you like, but it's true — I almost didn't do 'Guide'." Initially, director Raj Khosla was attached to the project, but due to a past disagreement during an earlier film, she refused to work with him again.
"You know how persuasive Dev was," she recalled about Dev Anand's efforts to convince her. "He called me and said, 'Come on, Waheeda. Let bygones be bygones. Everyone makes mistakes.' But I refused to budge." The situation took another turn when Raj Khosla was replaced by Chetan Anand, who didn't want her either. "Yeh toh achcha hua. One director I didn't want, and the other director didn't want me," she laughed, explaining that Chetan Anand preferred Priya Rajvansh, who couldn't dance. Eventually, Vijay Anand (Goldie) directed the film, and Waheeda Rehman secured the role that would become iconic.
Seven Films with Dev Anand: A Comfortable Collaboration
Waheeda Rehman did seven films with Dev Anand, and she shared charming anecdotes about their relationship. "So you can imagine our comfort level," she said. Her very first Hindi film, C.I.D., was with Dev Anand, whom she admired along with Madhubala. "On the very first day on set, when I called him 'Dev saab', he turned around and said, 'No, no — call me Dev,'" she recounted. Despite her upbringing preventing her from using his first name, she eventually compromised by calling him 'Anandji', which he humorously rejected. "He glared at me and said, 'Do I look like a schoolteacher to you?'" The next day, she finally had to call him 'Dev', a name that stuck throughout their collaboration.
As Waheeda Rehman celebrates another year, her legacy continues to inspire generations of actors and cinema lovers alike, reminding us of an era where talent and grace created timeless magic on screen.
