Rekha, now a celebrated icon of Indian cinema with over 180 films to her credit, had a difficult start. She entered acting not out of passion, but due to financial struggles after her father left the family.A Shy Child with a Complex Family BackgroundRekha, often called an enigma today, was born Bhanurekha to Tamil legend Gemini Ganesan and Telugu actor Pushpavalli. A shy and introverted child, she grew up without her father’s presence and even left school to support her siblings’ education. Yet, in a past interview with Simi Garewal, she described her modest childhood as “wonderful.”When Simi Garewal asked about her parents’ relationship, Rekha described it as romantic but complicated. She revealed that her father left when she was just a baby, and she has no memories of him being at home. Despite his absence, Rekha never felt her family was dysfunctional. Instead, her mother often shared stories about him, deeply in love and enchanted by his charm.A Romantic Yet Complicated Parental RelationshipAlthough Rekha has no personal memories of Gemini Ganesan as a father, she vividly remembers being fascinated by his presence as a romantic hero—both in real life with her mother and in the films she watched. She described him as a captivating lover on screen and admired the charm he exuded.Early Encounters with Gemini GanesanRekha’s first impression of her father, Gemini Ganesan, came not at home but outside her school, where she once saw him dropping off her step-siblings. Despite attending the same school as several of his children from different marriages, Rekha recalled feeling unnoticed by him during those brief encounters. Though she recognized him as her father, they never had a personal interaction, and she believed he likely didn’t even realize she was there.When asked if it ever upset her that her father never acknowledged her, Rekha reflected that she might have subconsciously blocked it out. As a child, she was more preoccupied with everyday worries like homework or comparing herself to her siblings. While she admitted she may have missed having a father, she also noted that not experiencing it firsthand meant she never truly understood what it felt like. To her, the idea of a father was abstract—something she associated more with church than with her own life, as she had no real concept of a father’s love.Growing Up Without a Male Role ModelRekha spent much of her childhood in the care of her grandmother and aunt, as her mother was often away on film shoots. Reflecting on the absence of a strong male presence during those formative years, Rekha shared that the only figure she truly looked up to was God. Her elder brother, she said, relied on her rather than guiding her. It wasn’t until later in life that she found a father figure in filmmaker Mohan Sehgal, who became a significant influence as she entered the film industry.Rekha, often hailed as an ageless beauty, stands out among her contemporaries for her timeless grace. However, her entry into films wasn’t by choice. Facing financial hardships at home and with the responsibility of supporting her siblings’ education, Rekha stepped into acting at her mother’s insistence. What was meant to be a one-time project with Anjana Safar soon turned into a lifelong journey in cinema—one that carved her legacy as one of Bollywood’s most iconic stars.True to her resilient spirit, Rekha remains grateful for every twist and turn in her life. She believes that each chapter—no matter how difficult—played a role in shaping the person she is today. For her, life unfolded like a perfectly written screenplay, and she wouldn’t change a thing.
