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In the golden era of Hindi cinema, few on-screen pairs ignited the kind of magic that Rekha and Amitabh Bachchan did. Their collaborations—from Muqaddar Ka Sikandar to Silsila—weren’t just blockbusters; they were cinematic poetry. Audiences were not only mesmerized by their chemistry but intrigued by the off-screen mystique that surrounded them.

In a heartfelt interview given to Rediff, Rekha offered rare insights into her journey, her artistic inspirations, and the quiet power of unspoken emotions—many of which circled back to the towering presence of Amitabh Bachchan in her life .

The Amitabh Influence: A Lasting Artistic ImprintRekha has never been one to deny the influence of her co-stars. When it came to Amitabh Bachchan, the impact was profound.
“When a critic pointed out that I had copied him in 'Madam X', I agreed,” Rekha recalled. “When we started working together, we were at a very impressionable stage. Each one left an impression on the other.” She spoke fondly of how Amitabh’s hairstyle once became a national craze, visible in every crowd shot across the country. “I worked with him in 10 films during the early stages of my career… how can I not be influenced?”

A Compliment Etched in MemoryAsked about the most meaningful compliment she ever received from Bachchan, Rekha gave a response that revealed the depth of her admiration and humility. “I think the only compliment he has knowingly or unknowingly paid me was that he gave me an opportunity to work with a great co-star like him. That is the biggest compliment I have ever received,” she relayed. It wasn’t a declaration of praise, but an acknowledgment of shared space—a quiet respect between two towering performers.

The Role She Never Played: MotherhoodThere was a time when Rekha believed that motherhood was the ultimate purpose in a woman’s life. But as the years passed, her perspective evolved in response to the journey life had chosen for her. She once shared that while she had once viewed motherhood as the ultimate experience, she no longer saw it as the be-all and end-all. To her, it had become just one part of a larger jigsaw puzzle—life itself being the true big picture. Her words reflected not loss, but acceptance—a gentle coming to terms with dreams that never fully materialised.

A Dream DeferredRekha had once envisioned taking a break from cinema to embrace motherhood, with plans to return later as a director. However, that chapter in her life never came to be. She admitted that she had truly wanted to have children and step away from the film industry for about five years, but destiny had other plans. One couldn’t keep fighting fate forever, she reflected. Her words carried no trace of regret—only a calm acceptance and the quiet wisdom that comes from having made peace with life’s unexpected turns