Waheeda Rehman

Waheeda Rehman – Life, Career, and Legacy

Waheeda Rehman (born 3 February 1938) is an iconic Indian film actress known for her versatility, grace, and decades-long impact on Indian cinema. Explore her early life, landmark films, accomplishments, and ongoing legacy.

Introduction

Waheeda Rehman is a celebrated Indian actress whose career spans over five decades and includes roles across multiple Indian film industries (Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Bengali). She is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished actors in Indian cinema.

She is known for her natural style, expressive subtlety, and the ability to portray both lead and character roles with dignity and depth. Over time she transitioned from leading lady roles to supporting and motherly roles, continuing to be honoured for her contributions to film.

Early Life and Background

Waheeda Rehman was born on 3 February 1938 in Chengalpet (Chengalpattu), Madras Presidency, British India (present-day Tamil Nadu) into a Deccani Muslim family.

Her parents were Mohammed Abdur Rehman and Mumtaz Begum. She had three sisters and was the youngest among them.

During her childhood, she and her sisters were trained in Bharatanatyam dance in Chennai. Her education included attendance at St. Joseph’s Convent in Visakhapatnam while her father was posted in that region.

Originally, she aspired to become a doctor, but family circumstances and her mother’s illness forced her to abandon that dream.

Film Career & Major Milestones

Debut & Early Years

• Her acting debut came in 1955, with the Telugu film Rojulu Marayi.

• Around the same period, she also acted in Tamil films, such as Kaalam Maari Pochu.

• Her first Hindi film was CID (1956), in which she appeared in a smaller role.

Early in her Hindi film career, she caught the attention of Guru Dutt, who considered her a protégé. Under his mentorship, she starred in several landmark films: Pyaasa (1957), Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960), and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962).

Rise & Signature Roles

A key turning point in her career was Guide (1965), directed by Vijay Anand, where she played Rosie—a woman who leaves an unhappy marriage, pursues dance, and falls in love. Her performance in Guide earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress and remains one of her most iconic roles.

She later won her second Filmfare Best Actress award for Neel Kamal (1968) and also earned nominations for Ram Aur Shyam (1967) and Khamoshi (1969). In Reshma Aur Shera (1971), she portrayed a clanswoman in love across feuding families, for which she won the National Film Award for Best Actress.

Later Career & Resurgence

From the 1970s onward, she gradually shifted into supporting and character roles. Notable films in this period include Kabhi Kabhie (1976), Trishul (1978), Namkeen (1982), Chandni (1989), and Lamhe (1991).

After Lamhe, she took a partial hiatus from mainstream films. She made a return in the early 2000s in supporting roles in films such as Water (2005), Rang De Basanti (2006), and Delhi 6 (2009).

Personal Life

In April 1974, Waheeda Rehman married Shashi Rekhi (also known by his screen name Kamaljeet). They had two children: a daughter named Kashvi and a son named Sohail.

After her husband’s death in November 2000, she later moved from their farmhouse in Bangalore to live in Mumbai.

She tends to keep her personal life private, once stating:

“My private life should remain private. It is nobody’s business.”

Awards, Honors & Recognition

• Padma Shri (1972) – India’s civilian honor for contribution to arts.

• Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (1994)

• Padma Bhushan (2011)

• Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2021) — India’s highest award in cinema, awarded in 2023.

In her acting career, she has won Filmfare Awards, a National Film Award, and multiple nominations across decades.

Legacy & Influence

Waheeda Rehman is often hailed for breaking the mold of formulaic portrayals of women in Indian cinema—her roles often had depth, agency, and internal struggle. Her classic films with Guru Dutt remain benchmarks in Hindi film history.

She is remembered not only for her beauty but also for her acting sincerity, understated style, and capacity to adapt across genres and decades.

Her contributions continue to be studied in film schools, celebrated in retrospectives, and honored by awards recognizing her enduring impact.