Waheeda was born in a Tamil and Urdu-speaking family in Chengalpattu-Tamil Nadu, India. Her father was the District Magistrate which led him to be posted in several places. Tragedy visited her in 1948 when her dad passed away. Her mom passed away in 1955.A year after her dad’s death she appeared in a Telegu movie ‘Rojulu Marayi’. Her role was as an dancing child artiste. She is proficient in Bharat Natyam. It was here that she was spotted by noted Bollywood actor and film-maker, Guru Dutt, who gave her a lead role in C.I.D. She went on to appear in 5 Guru Dutt classics – Pyaasa, 12 O’Clock, Kaagaz Ke Phool, Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam, Chaudhvin Ka Chand. Her pairing with Devanand was very popular and they had 5 blockbusters – C.I.D., Solva Saal, Kala Bazar, Baat Ek Raat Ki and Guide and 2 critically acclaimed but box office flops – Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja and Prem Pujari. She has acted as a child artiste, a leading lady, then switched to character appearances. She has procured the Best Film Actress Award in 1965 for her role in ‘Guide’, and then again in 1968 for ‘Neel Kamal’.She had co-starred with Kamaljit Singh in ‘Shagun’, and later married him on April 27, 1974, and moved to his farmhouse in Bangalore. She subsequently gave birth to a son, Sohail, and then to a daughter, Kashvi. She being not happy with roles offered to her declined offers after 1991. When Kamaljit became ill, she and the family re-located to ‘Sahil’, located near Bandra Bandstand, Bombay. Kamaljit passed away on November 21, 2000. Sohail has achieved his M.B.A. and is working in a Private Limited Company, while Kashvi is a Jewelery Designer.After her husband’s death she appeared in 7 films from 2002.She is very friendly with former actress Nanda and her other close friends include Asha Parekh, Sharmila Tagore, Nimmi, Shyama.
Waheeda Rehman
Movies
Pyaasa
Unemployed Vijay is the youngest in his family consisting of his widowed mom, and two brothers. His passion is poetry – frowned upon by his brothers – who want him to find gainful employment instead. Vijay’s poems are quite radical in which he laments about the poor, the destitute, and…
Rang De Basanti
Sue comes to India to make a film on Indian revolutionaries. She is helped by her friend Sonia who introduces her to her friends Karan, Aslam, Sukhi, and their head DJ. Sonia’s fiance, Lt Ajay Rathod, also joins the gang when in town. Their gang always gets in trouble with…
Lamhe
When the young Viren comes to India for the first time, he is captivated by Pallavi. When he learns she is already spoken for, he returns to London a broken man. When he gets the news of Pallavi and her husband dying and leaving their daughter Pooja (Sridevi) behind, Viren…
Mashaal
MASHAAL is a story about Vinod (Dilip Kumar) an honest, fearless editor of an outspoken newspaper, Raja (Anil Kapoor) a man from the slums who takes to black marketing to make his living and Vardhan (Amrish Puri) who is a powerful and respected figure of the city whose cloak of…
Chandni
In one cruel stroke of fate, Chandni (Sridevi) faces life alone, her heart and her dreams shattered as Rohit (Rishi Kapoor) disappears from her life. When she meets Lalit (Vinod Khanna) who is fighting the demons of tragic memories, they both find solace in this new friendship. Lalit’s affection gives…
Songs
Aa Meree Jan Mai Tujhme Apnee Jan Rakh Doo
Chandanee O Meree Chandanee
Lagee Aaj Sawan Kee Phir Woh Jhadee Hain
Mai Sasural Nahee Jaungee
Mehbuba Shehro Me Se Shehar Suna
Mere Hatho Me Nau Nau Chudiya Hai
Parbat Se Kalee Ghata Takrayee
Tere Mere Hotho Pe, Mithe Mithe Git Mitwa
Tu Mujhe Sunaa Main Tujhe Sunaoo
Coolie
A wealthy, but evil man named Zafar Khan, has fallen in love a girl named Salma and wants to marry her, but she and her father do not let him. Zafar is arrested for various crimes and is imprisoned for 10 years, but when he is discharged, he sees that…
Fun Facts
Her best friend is Late actress Nanda, and they had co-starred in Kala Bazar (1960).
In Tamil film Kalam Maari Pochu (1956), Alibabhavum Narpathu Thirudargalum (1956) and Telugu films - Rojulu Marayi (1955) and Jayasimha (1955) - she was only a dancer and not the lead heroine.
Her mother tongue was Tamil and from her parents she learned Urdu and Tamil.
Her last hit movie as a lead heroine was Man Mandir (1971), opposite Late Sanjeev Kumar.
Her husband adopted the name of Kamaljit Singh to enter in films but his actual birth name was Shashi Reiki. He tried his hand in acting in early 60's but failed so went to become a businessman from 1965 and got settled in his business by early 70's.
Nanda and Waheedha are very close friends and both spend a lot of time together, and often go out to eat out, including Dahi, Bhel, and Pani Puri - right outside Elco Arcade in Bandra, West.
She is the actress who did maximum number of films with the late Dev Anand (a total of seven). Five of these were box-office hits: C.I.D. (1956), Solva Saal (1958), Kala Bazar (1960), Baat Ek Raat Ki (1962) and Guide (1965). Two were flops: Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja (1961) and Prem Pujari (1970).
Had 4 box-office hits with Late Sunil Dutt - Ek Phool Char Kante (1960), Mujhe Jeene Do (1963), Meri Bhabhi (1969) and Darpan (1970); but her other critically acclaimed film Reshma Aur Shera (1971), flopped at box-office.
Her career's biggest hit Khamoshi (1970), opposite Superstar Late Rajesh Khanna.
Worked with Late Guru Dutt as the lead hero in 5 classics -Pyaasa (1957) , 12 O'Clock (1958), Paper Flowers (1959), Full Moon (1960) and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962).
Her husband Kamaljit Singh was in love with her since 1964 when they worked together in the film Shagoon (1964).The film flopped but they continued to meet each other and in 1974 he proposed her and they married on 27 April 1974.
Waheedha Rehmaan was 2nd highest paid Hindi actress from 1966-1969 with Nanda and Nutan and 3rd highest paid Hindi actress from 1959-64.
Her daughter Kashvi Rekhy was the script supervisor in the movie Mangal Pandey (2005). She was credited as Rashvi Rekhy.
Son's name is Sohail Rekhy. He lived in Vancouver and Toronto for a while in the 1990's.
Often mistaken as the sister of actress Sayeeda ( Brij Sadanah wife ). This is due to Waheeda Rehman actually having a sister by the name of Sayeeda Rehman. She was also a bharat natyam dancer who performed on stage.
Often mistaken as a sister of actress Sayeeda ( Brij' s wife). This is because Waheeda has a sister named "Shahida"".
Often mistaken as the sister of actress Zeb Rehman ( Preetibala).This is because they have the same surname.
Waheeda Rahman played both mother and lover to Amitabh Bachchan. She played the love interest of Big B in 'Adalat' (1976) and mother in 'Trishul' (1978).
Starred in the shelved film "" Brides Wanted"". (2004). Starring Waheeda Rehman