Veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha has collaborated with Rekha on several films like Raampur Ka Lakshman (1972), Muqabla (1979) and Khoon Bhari Maang (1988). In an old interview with Zoom , Sinha spoke about his rapport with Rekha, their fallout and his long, turbulent association with the diva.
Rekha and you have had a very eventful relationship. A book can be written on your association with her?
Ha ha a book, why not a film? Jokes aside, there are many things in the world to be written about. That said, haan , meri aur the beautiful gorgeous ever-young Rekha ka association is as old as the hills and as bumpy. I think the first time we worked together was Rampur Ka Lakshman in 1972. The great Manmohan Desai directed us. Apna Dabboo (Randhir Kapoor) was Rekha’s leading man. I was the villain in their love story.
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But you stole the show from both of them?
Main toh yeh nahin bol sakta. But many years later I was her leading man in Raj Khosla’s Maati Maange Khoon. She played a tawaif and I was a dacoit. Good film with fantastic music by R D Burman—Ghulam Ali’s Yeh dil yeh pagal dil mera was recorded especially for the film. Lekin chali nahin. Haan magar Rekha aur meri dosti chalti rahi.
So is she a friend now?
We have a very long association. I am her senior,both age-wise and professionally. She respects me.And she is very close to my wife Punam.
The fall-out between you two happened during the making of Rakesh Roshan’s Khoon Bhari Maang?
We had a difference of opinion over some silly issue. After that we didn’t speak to each other for more than twenty years. It was none other than my better-half Punam Sinha who ended our silly differences. You see, Rekha and she were close friends. And my so-called cold war with Rekha was causing difficulties in my wife’s friendship with Rekha. She patched us up for her own selfish reason. And I happily agreed to let bygones be bygones.
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You made many uncharitable remarks about Rekha while your cold war was on?
I did make digs about her. I shouldn’t have. To her credit, Rekha never retaliated.She is a very large-hearted generous woman.Is she really 70? Hard to believe. So well-maintained. Rekha is a timeless beauty, and matchless. So many have copied her style. But Rekha remains Rekha. Unique,no one quite like her. We started our careers almost simultaneously. The Rekha back then was very different from the picture-perfect Rekha we see these days.
According to you,which leading man was her most perfect co-star?
I know the name you want to hear. But if you ask me, her best co-star is the one and only Shatrughan Sinha.