Rekha worked a lead in a movie at the age of 15. She was forcibly kissed by a popular star and the incident left her traumatised.
We wish the #MeToo movement had existed four decades ago, when the careers of today’s superstars were just beginning. Back then, when actresses felt uncomfortable on set, their only option was to cry, as there was no formal process for filing complaints. Moreover, there was often no clear authority to report such incidents to. The actress in question is none other than the legendary Rekha. Yes, you read that right!
Rekha has transformed herself into a bold and iconic actress over the years. Known for her strong-willed and confident personality, she has always carried herself with grace and resilience. However, few know the struggles and challenges she faced behind the scenes that shaped her into the person she is today.
When Rekha was 15-year-old, a newbie, she was forcibly kissed, exact words in the report suggest ‘lip-locked’ on the camera, during the shot by then superstar. It was 1969 when Rekha began her career as a leading lady in ‘Anjana Safar’, which was later renamed ‘Do Shikaari’. She was paired opposite Bengali superstar Biswajit Chatterjee. In her recently published biography Rekha: The Untold Story, the actress recalled how there was a moment when Biswajit forcibly kissed her for a scene, leaving her in shock.
Biswajit Chatterjee kisses Rekha forcibly for a scene
Rekha was traumatised by the incident because the director and the actor had planned the kiss well in advance without her consent. She wasn’t aware of the 5-minute-long kiss. The film’s director Kuljit Pal also did not cut the shot. She cried on the set as she was helpless.
Biswajit was 32 at the time and Rekha was half her age. During a sequence where Biswajit was supposed to romance Rekha, he unexpectedly kissed the young actress during the take. There are several reports that the young actress was horrified at how she was treated and had to be cajoled to return to shoot more scenes. While the movie created a massive controversy due to the kiss, the makers still decided to keep the scene because it was loved by the audiences. Rekha and Biswajit were both praised for their performances in the film.
