In today’s weekend blog, I am continuing with my blogs on actresses of yesteryears, and today I am writing about one actress who made her Bollywood debut in mid 1950s. She is regarded as one of the greatest and most accomplished actresses of Hindi cinema. She has appeared in more than 90 feature films, in a career spanning over five decades. Her accolades include a National Film Award and two Filmfare awards for best actress. She was honoured with Padma Shri in 1972 and Padma Bhushan in 2011. She was also honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2021, which is India’s highest award in the field of cinema. Friends, I am talking about WAHEEDA REHMAN.
Although she made her acting debut in Teluga cinema, it is to the credit of Guru Dutt, who launched her in the Hindi film CID (1956), that the role was of a supporting actress with vampish traits. Her first prominent role was in Guru Dutt’s Pyasa (1957). Her continued collaboration with Guru Dutt included films like 12 O’clock (1958), Kagaz Ke Phool (1959), Chaudhavin Ka Chand (1960) and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962). Her association with Dev Anand resulted in films like Solva Saal (1958), Kala Baazar (1960), Baat Ek Raat Ki (1962), Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raaja (1961), Guide (1966) and Prem Pujari (1970).
The film Guide was an adaptation of RK Narayan’s novel of the same name, and is still considered her best acting performance, a role which no leading actresses of that era wanted to touch because the role was of adulteress wife, which was considered taboo at that time. She emerged on top with that role, and still ranked as one of the best performances by an actress in Hindi cinema.
Her career was at the peak during 1960s, she acted with almost all leading male starts of that time, with Dilip Kumar in Dil Diya Dard Liya (1966), Ram Aur Shyam (1967), Aadmi (1968) and Mashaal (1984), with Raj Kapoor in Ek Dil Sau Afsane (1964) and Teesri Kasam (1966), with Sunil Dutt in Mujhe Jeene Do (1963), Reshma Aur Shera (1970) and two more films in 1970s, with Rajendra Kumar in Palki (1968) and Dharti (1970), with Manoj kumar in Pathar Ke Sanam(1968), Neel Kamal (1968) and Aadmi (1968). She also acted with Dharmendra in a few films, with Rajesh Khanna in Khamoshi (1970).
For Reshma Aur Shera, she won the national Award and for Guide and Neelkamal, she won the Filmfare award for best actress.
From the early 1970s, she switched to character roles in films like Phagun (1973), Kabhi Kabhie (1976), Trishul (1978) Namkeen (1982), Coolie (1983), Mashaal (1984), Lamhe (1991), Rang De Basanti (2006), Delhi 6 (2009). These were a few of her films as a character artist.
Personal life- She was born on 3rd February 1938. She got married in 1974 to Shashi Rekhi (also known by his screen name Kamaljeet) with whom she worked in Shagoon (1964). They had one daughter, Kashvi and one son Sohail, Rekhi died in November 2000.
Here are some of my favourite songs of Waheeda Rehman with their YouTube links:
1 Kahin Pe Nigahen, Kahin Pe Nishana– C I D (film-F) 1956. Shamshad Begum (Singer-S), Majrooh Sultanpuri (Lyricist-L), OP Nayyar (Music Director-MD).
https://youtu.be/iTg4ga4ffa0?si=MmM_7g6qRFJ56RCC
2 Jaane Kya Tune Kahi, Jaane Kya Maine Suni– Pyasa (F) 1957. Geeta Dutt (S), Sahir Ludhianavi (L), SD Burman (MD)
https://youtu.be/iTg4ga4ffa0?si=MmM_7g6qRFJ56RCC
3 Waqt Ne Kiya Kya Hassen Sitam– Kagaz Ke Phool (F) 1959. Geeta Dutt (S), Kaifi Azmi(L), SD Burman (MD)
https://youtu.be/3TxjJCEKYvE?si=1TFin7GxIGrWH93k
4 Badle Badle Mere Sarkar Nazar Aate Hain– Chaudhavin Ka Chand (F) 1960. Lata Mangeshkar (S), Shakeel Badayuni (l), Ravi (MD).
https://youtu.be/-AjsRFztIoM?si=ehBeAWQaqmV35DFR
5 Bhanwara Bada Naadan Hai– Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (F) 1962. Asha Bhosle (S), Shakeel Badyuni (L), Hemant Kumar (MD).
https://youtu.be/yOW75Vh9ZP0?si=KGrxHK6M6uXO8OCN
6 Kahin Deep Jale Kahin Dil– Bees Saal Baad (F) 1962 . Lata Mangeshkar (S), Shakeel Badayuni (L), Hemant Kumar (MD)
https://youtu.be/kKnyg_ZkFlY?si=ahzKmBalBrWxqZRr
7 Raat Bhi Bai Kuch Bheegi Bheegi– Mujhe Jeene Do (F) 1963. Lata Mangeshkar (S), Sahir Ludhianavi (L), Jaidev (MD)
https://youtu.be/lwEafnkFo7Y?si=6RcXa7Z8uhQMpKaa
8 Parbaton Ke Pedhon Par Shyam Ka Basera Hai– Shagun (F) 1964. Mohd rafi & Suman Kalyanpur (S), Sahir Ludhianavi (L), Khayyam (MD). On screen with Kamaljeet
https://youtu.be/oj47vwoMJZQ?si=UT9HVqaetPfzKC_G
9 Aaj Phir Jeene Ki Tammana Hai- Guide (F) 1966 Lata Mangeshkar (S), Shailendra (L), SD Burman (MD)
https://youtu.be/oj47vwoMJZQ?si=UT9HVqaetPfzKC_G
10 Paan Khaye Saiyan Haamar, Saanwali Sutatiya Hoth Laal Laal– Teesri Kasam (F) 1966. Asha Bhosle (S), Shailendra (L), Shankar Jaikishan (MD)
https://youtu.be/zB3aGlSv95I?si=RCQBUct6mnAS_n6B
11 Rangeela Re, Tere Rang Mein Yun Ranga Hai Mera Man– Prem Pujar (F) 1970,. Lata Mngeshkar (S), Neeraj (L), SD Burman (MD)
https://youtu.be/GmMPZUorefY?si=7LOIhqxqZeNO_KpJ
12 Tu Chanda Main Chandani, Tu Taruvar– Reshma Aur Shera (F) 1970, . Lata Mangeshkar (S), Bal Kavi Bairaagi (L), Jaidev (MD)
https://youtu.be/GmMPZUorefY?si=7LOIhqxqZeNO_KpJ
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
10th April 2026