QAMYAB – THE FORGOTTEN GEMS OF BOLLYWOOD
Qamyab is our humble tribute to all those lesser-known actors, one hit wonders and junior artists who we see umpteen times but don’t know about; beyond their faces. These actors have been an integral part of Bollywood but didn’t get their due. This series is our sincere attempt to put a name to these faces, familiarize them to our readers and celebrate their achievements in life – however big or small. We believe that every artist contributes in his/her own way to the cinema’s success. Qamyab will explore the unknown lives of such actors and artists as we believe even these forgotten gems of Bollywood deserve their due recognition today.
A dream Bollywood launch is what every actor aspires for. In the past decades, big production houses like Yashraj and Dharma have launched several new faces comprising star kids as well as outsiders. While it was a perfect debut for a few lucky, the rest of them fizzled out.
Today, we are taking you through the life journey of one such actress, who was to get a dream Bollywood launch in the ’70s but luck never favoured her. This actress is Rekha Rao. Her name may not resonate fast to Hindi film buffs but Marathi cinegoers will easily recognize her.
The grey eyed beauty Rekha Rao, also known as Mona, was born in a Kannadiga family in Bangalore. Her family details remain undisclosed. Rekha was fond of acting since childhood and trained in classical dance
Once, Rekha Rao got a chance to perform at a function in front of the legendary Kishore Kumar. This event developed the confidence in her to become an actress. In 1972, veteran comic actor Deven Verma decided to step into filmmaking and announced a film titled Yasmeen.
Verma came across Rekha Rao, who was then in her early teens and planned to launch her with Yasmeen. In order to avoid confusion with another upcoming actress Rekha, he changed her name to Jyotika for her Bollywood debut.
Thus, Deven Verma started Yasmeen with Jyotika but the movie never saw the light of the day. He then decided to direct a film himself titled Naam Bade and cast Rekha Rao (or Jyotika) opposite then struggling actor Amitabh Bachchan.
A major schedule of Naam Bade got completed in 1972 but in the coming year, a film called Zanjeer (1973) changed the life of Amitabh Bachchan, who became a big star and also got the tag of angry young man. Post Zanjeer, Bachchan was flooded with big offers and Naam Bade was put on the backburner.
Later, Deven Verma decided to change the script to suit Amitabh’s newfound image and turned his movie in to an actioner. He shot with Rekha Rao for some time but eventually, the reigning star Sharmila Tagore replaced her as the heroine. After facing some delays, the film was released with a new title Besharam (1978).
Rekha Rao was unlucky to miss the deserved break in Bollywood. Not getting disheartened, she decided to shift her base to South cinema, where she worked in different languages, mostly Kannada. She tasted success in Kannada cinema with some notable hits. Her acting debut was with the 1979 movie Atthege Thakka Sose, where she was introduced as Mona. Her other films down South include Ithihasa, Elle Madhavanu, Hamsageethe, etc.
Rekha was getting good work in Kannada films. In the early ’80s, she started doing Marathi theatre as well and ended up doing close to three thousand shows. In the mid ’80s, Deven Verma decided to launch Rekha Rao again and announced the social drama Dana Paani with her and Mithun Chakraborty in the lead. This was in the year 1985. Unfortunately, this movie got endlessly delayed and finally released in mid-1989. Padmini Kolhapure replaced Rekha in the film for unknown reason.
In between this time, Rekha Rao made her debut in Marathi cinema with Prem Karuya Khullam Khulla (1987) opposite Ashok Saraf. The film also had Laxmikant Berde playing the other lead opposite Kishori Shahane. Prem Karuya Khullam Khulla became a box office success and Rekha Rao got instant recognition. Her light grey eyes and close resemblance to Bollywood actress Mandakini gave her the tag ‘Mandakini of Marathi cinema’ by the media and audience, alike.
The late ’80s saw a new wave of comedy content in Marathi cinema, making stars out of Ashok Saraf and Laxmikant Berde with two young actors turned filmmakers Sachin Pilgaonkar and Mahesh Kothare, delivering some all-time great blockbusters. Rekha Rao formed a good pairing with both, Saraf as well as Berde. Her professional rivals were actresses like Varsha Usgaonkar, Ashwini Bhave, Kishori Shahane, Alka Kubal, Supriya Pilgaonkar, Archana Joglekar, etc. But in those days, there was enough work for all of them.
Between 1987 to 1993, Rekha appeared in many successful Marathi films like Halla Gulla (1988), Bhutacha Bhau (1988), Madhuchandrachi Ratra (1989), Eena Meen Deeka (1989), Chambu Gabale (1989), Eeja Beeja Teeja (1989), Dharala Tar Chavtay (1989), Aamchya Sarkhe Amhich (1990), Kutha Kutha Shodu Mee Tila (1990), Godi Gulaabi (1990), Anapekshit (1991), Garam Masala (1993) and many more.
In her Marathi cinema journey, Rekha Rao played the rare anti-heroine in Chambu Gabale, which had Laxmikant Berde in the titular role. She didn’t shy away from doing bold roles as evident in Kutha Kutha Shodu Mee Tila and the adult comedy Ghabraycha Nahi, which involved some skin exposure. Rekha also played the rare dual character of twin sisters opposite superstars Ashok Saraf and Laxmikant Berde in Godi Gulaabi. This film was inspired from Bollywood hits Seeta Aur Geeta (1972) and Chaalbaaz (1989). Before Rekha Rao, only Usha Chavan had played double role earlier in Chora Var Mor (1980).
In 1992, Rekha Rao impressed the audience with her dance performance along with Varsha Usgaonkar in Shubh Mangal Savdhan. The song ‘Pivalya Dhammak Rangachi’ was appreciated by the audience. Rekha finally entered Hindi cinema the same year, with a small role in the relatively unknown Waqt Ka Badsha. The movie went unnoticed at the box office.
Rekha continued to star in Marathi cinema with Garam Masala (1993), which had two theatre talents Prashant Damle and Pradeep Patwardhan instead of her regular co-stars Ashok and Laxmikant. Next, she surprised everyone with an unconventional role in the Gumnaam (1965) inspired suspense thriller Zapaatlelya Betavar. Her character was named Mona in this film, which is also her real name. It is widely believed to be her last Marathi movie as she suddenly disappeared thereafter. This is not true.
Actually, Rekha Rao’s last lead role was in the lesser known Naagdevta (1995), in which she was cast opposite the dashing Ramesh Bhatkar. This Marathi movie got dubbed in Hindi too by the same name. Post Naagdevta, Rekha went on to do some Oriya films like Pua Mora Shola Shankara (1996), Ganga Jamuna (1997), Kalki Abatar (1999), etc.
After 1994, Rekha Rao was practically not heard of in the world of entertainment until she made a solid comeback to mainstream Bollywood with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s romantic hit Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999). It remains her most memorable Hindi film role till date.
By this time, age had started showing on Rekha’s face and she could take up only character roles now. In Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Rekha played the wicked aunt to Aishwarya Rai, whom the hero Salman Khan hates to the core for exposing his secret affair with Aishwarya.
Next, Rekha Rao went on to appear in more Bollywood films like Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega (2000), Tehzeeb (2003), Raqeeb (2007) and yet another memorable role in Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004). She played the wife of Kader Khan in this comic hit and was a part of some hilarious sequences with Khan and Akshay Kumar. Her final appearance was in the box office disaster Sadiyaan (2010).
Rekha did television too and her first appearance was in the highly appreciated Doordarshan serial Mr. Yogi, where she played one of the twelve girls trying to impress the lead played by Mohan Gokhale.
In the present millennium, the television industry became extremely popular and Rekha Rao took up shows like Kittie Party (2002) and Shagun (2001). In Shagun, she played a negative character of Rajraani. Rekha made a mark in these TV serials but didn’t endeavour to last long here. After the movie Sadiyaan in 2010, she disappeared completely from the entertainment industry and was untraceable on social media as well.
It was only in 2018 that Rekha Rao disclosed that she is settled in her hometown Bangalore and now operates a beauty parlour Ajji Mane of Soundarya Goodu. She juggles her time running an eatery known as Amma’s Kitchen as well as conducting an acting class in Bangalore.
Recently, Rekha shared an Instagram post stating Amitabh Bachchan was her first co-star though that film never made it to theatres. This came as a big surprise to her fans. Her stint in Bollywood may have been limited but Rekha Rao’s fans still remember her vividly as the Mandakini of Marathi films.
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