Waheeda Rehman (born 3 February 1938) is an Indian actress regarded as one of the greatest in the history of Hindi cinema. A trained dancer known for her grace and natural acting, she starred in classics such as Pyaasa, Kaagaz Ke Phool, Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam, Guide and Teesri Kasam. She won the National Film Award for Best Actress for Reshma Aur Shera (1971) and received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2021.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Waheeda Rehman |
| Born | 3 February 1938, Chengalpattu, Madras Presidency (now Tamil Nadu), India |
| Age | 88 |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1955–present |
| Spouse | Shashi Rekhi (m. 1974; d. 2000) |
| Children | 2 (Sohail and Kashvi) |
| Honours | Padma Shri (1972), Padma Bhushan (2011), Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2023) |
Early Life
Rehman was born into a Dakhini Muslim family; her father was a district official whose postings took the family across the Madras Presidency. She and her sister learned Bharatanatyam and performed on stage as children. Her father died when she was thirteen, and she began acting to support her family. Her first appearance was a dance in the Telugu film Rojulu Marayi (1955).
Career
Guru Dutt saw her in Hyderabad and brought her to Bombay, where she insisted on keeping her own name and on a say over her costumes. She played a vamp in C.I.D. (1956) and then the prostitute Gulabo in Pyaasa (1957). Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960) and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962) followed.
With Dev Anand she made Solva Saal, Kala Bazar and Guide (1965), in which her Rosie, a dancer who leaves her husband, was a daring heroine for the time; the role won her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress. She won it again for Neel Kamal (1968). Other notable films are Satyajit Ray‘s Abhijan (1962), Bees Saal Baad, Teesri Kasam (1966) with Raj Kapoor, Ram Aur Shyam and Khamoshi (1969).
From the mid-1970s she played mothers and older women in Kabhi Kabhie, Trishul, Namak Halaal, Chandni and Lamhe, and returned after a break in Om Jai Jagadish, Rang De Basanti (2006) and Delhi-6.
Personal Life
She married the actor Shashi Rekhi, known on screen as Kamaljeet, in 1974 and lived for years on a farm near Bengaluru. Since his death she has lived in Mumbai. In her eighties she took up wildlife photography. She is a close friend of Asha Parekh and Helen.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Waheeda Rehman born?
Waheeda Rehman was born on 3 February 1938 in Chengalpattu, Madras Presidency (now Tamil Nadu), India and is 88 years old.
What is Waheeda Rehman’s occupation?
Occupation: Actress.
What honours has Waheeda Rehman received?
Padma Shri (1972), Padma Bhushan (2011), Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2023).
Featured image: Waheeda Rehman speaks about her wildlife photography at a festival, August 2015. Photo by Parshuram Shukla, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
