Pages

▼

Dilip Kumar

Date of Birth
11 December 1922, Peshawar, NWFP, Pakistan 

Birth Name
Yusuf Khan 

Nickname
Legendary Khan 
Tragedy King 

Height
5' 10" (1.78 m) 

Mini Biography
Dilip Kumar is considered to be one of the greatest actors of Indian cinema. Starting his career in 1944, he has starred in some of the biggest commercially successful films from the late 1940s, 1950s, 1960s and 1980s. His performances have been regarded as the epitome of emoting in Indian Cinema. He was the first actor to receive a Filmfare Best Actor Award and holds the record for most number of Filmfare Awards won for that category. Though he has done all kinds of films - he balanced a wide variety of roles such as the intense Andaz (1949) with the swashbuckling Aan (1952), the dramatic Devdas (1955) with the comical Azaad (1955) and the historical romance Mughal E Azam (1960) with the social Ganga Jamuna (1961). In the 1970s roles dried up for Kumar and after 1976 he left films for a five year break. In 1981 he returned with a character role in the blockbuster film Kranti and continued his career playing central character roles in hits such as Shakti (1982), Karma (1986) and Saudagar (1991). He has retired from the Indian Film Industry in 1998.

He was born Muhammad Yusuf Khan in Qissa Khawani Bazaar in Peshawar Pakistan in a Pashtun family of twelve children. His father Ghulam Sarwar was a fruit merchant and owned large orchards in Peshawar and Devlali in Maharashtra near Mumbai. The family relocated to Mumbai in 1930s and in the early 1940s Yusuf Khan moved to Pune and started off with his canteen business and supplying dry fruits.

There he was spotted by a leading actress of those years Devika Rani who was also the wife of the founder of Bombay Talkies Himanshu Rai and helped his entry into the Bollywood film industry. She also gave him the screen name of Dilip Kumar.

His first film Jwar Bhata, was released in 1944 which went unnoticed. In 1947 he shot to prominence with the film Jugnu which was his first major hit. In 1949, he co-starred with Raj Kapoor in the romantic melodrama film Andaz, which went to become a huge success and made him a star. Throughout the 1950s he was one of the biggest stars of Bollywood along with Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand. He became known for playing tragic roles in popular films such as Deedar (1951), Amar (1954), Devdas (1955) and Madhumati (1958) which earned him the title of "Tragedy King".

He was also successful in playing lighthearted roles such as playing a swashbuckling peasant in Aan (1952) and a comic role in Azaad (1955). In 1960 he starred in the historical film Mughal-e-Azam which is as of 2008, the second highest grossing film in Hindi film history inflation adjusted in which he played the role of the Mughal crown-prince Jehangir the son of Akbar.

In 1961 he produced and starred in the hit Ganga Jamuna in which he and his Real Life brother Nasir Khan played the title roles. Despite the film success he did not produce any film after this. Dilip had a narrow brush with international fame in 1962 when British director David Lean offered him the role of Sherif Ali in his 1962 blockbuster, Lawrence of Arabia. However Kumar declined the part. The role eventually went to Omar Sharif the Egyptian actor. After a brief period of box office flops in the mid 1960s, he bounced back when he played a dual role of twins separated at birth in the film Ram Aur Shyam (1967) which was one of the biggest box office hits of the year. The success of Ram Aur Shyam spawned a number of remakes and imitators.

In the 1970s Kumar acted in fewer films as newer actors such as Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan had began to take the spotlight. Many of Kumar's films failed at the box office during this period and after the release of his 1976 film Bairaag in which he played triple roles, he took a five year break from acting.

He made a comeback in 1981 with the multi-starrer Kranti which was the biggest hit of the year. He went onto play character roles as an elderly family patriarch or a police officer in a string of box office hits including Shakti (1982) in which he starred alongside the reigining superstar of the time Amitabh Bachchan , Vidhaata (1982), Mashaal (1984) and Karma (1986). In his last major successful film, Saudagar (1991) he appeared alongside another legendary actor Raaj Kumar after three decades since they last appeared together in Paigham (1959). In 1992 he won the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award.

In 1996 he was attached to make his directorial debut with a film titled Kalinga but the film was shelved. In 1998 he made his last film appearance to date in the box office flop Qila where in a rare form he played a villainous role. He has since retired from the film industry although he has continued to receive film offers in recent years but the films have either been shelved due to his indifferent health or because he refused them.

Dilip Kumar's younger brother Nasir Khan was also an actor and appeared opposite him in Ganga Jamuna (1961) and Bairaag (1976) as well as some other films in the late 1940s and 1950s. His career was not as successful however. He died in 1974. Nasir Khan's son Ayub Khan is also currently an actor in the industry. Nasir Khan's wife was 1950s actress Begum Para who recently made a comeback to films after 50 years in the film Saawariya in 2007.

Dilip Kumar married actress and "beauty queen" Saira Banu in 1966 when he was aged 44 and she was 22. At the time, gossip columnists predicted doom for the high-profile couple, but the union has been one of the longest lasting marriages in Bollywood.


Spouse
Asmaa(1982 - ?) (divorced)
Saira Banu(1966 - present)

Trade Mark
His deep, rich voice

Trivia
Formed a popular screen couple with Madhubala
Son-in-law of Naseem Banu.
Brother of actor Nasir Khan.
Bollywood first superstar to hail from Pakistan.
He is known as the "tragedy king".
Dilip Kumar was highest paid Hindi actor from 1950-1961 and 3rd highest paid Hindi actor from 1966-68.
Is uncle (by marriage to wife Saira Bano) of actress Shaheen, who is married to actor Sumeet Saigal, they have a 6 year old daughter named Sayesha.
During escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, he had agreed to accept an award from Pakistan, and was threatened by workers of an extreme right-wing political party in Bombay, India. He actually wrote to the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, for protection. The threat has now subsided with improved relations between India and Pakistan.
Has been a member of parliament.
At the time of marriage, he was 44 and Saira Banu was 22.
Hindi Megastar.
According to Dilip Kumar, the people who molded him into a star-actor were Devika Rani, Nitin Bose, Sashadar Mukherji, Bimal Roy, S S Vasan, Mehboob Khan.

Vyjayanthi mala

Date of Birth
13 August 1936, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Height
5' 3" (1.60 m)

Mini Biography
Vyjayanthimala was born to actress and dancer Vasundhara Devi in a Tamil-speaking family in Chennai, India, on August 13, 1936.

At the age of 4, she got the rare chance of performing a dance before the Pope. Then at the age of 15, while in her final year at school, she was signed-up by family friend, M.V. Raman, for a role in a Tamil film 'Vazhkai'. This movie was successful at the box office and was re-made in Hindi during 1951 and released as 'Bahaar'.

Since her entry into films from 1949, this actress, who is also proficient in Bharat Natyam, has appeared in approximately 62 movies, the majority of them in the Hindi language. Her career spanned from 1949 through to 1989. She has received a total of five awards for her performances in 'Devdas', 'Sadhna', 'Ganga Jamuna', and 'Sangam', as well as a lifetime achievement award during 1995.

Her dance numbers, such as 'Hothon Pe Aisi Baat Main Dabake Chali Aai...', 'Man Doley Mera Tan Doley...'; 'Chad Gaiyo Paapi Bichua...'; 'Main Ka Karu Ram Mujhey Buddha Mil Gaya' continue to be popular even today. She made waves when she appeared in a fire red swimsuit in 'Sangam'. She also paved the way for other South Indian actresses, like Hema Malini, Rekha, Sridevi, etc. to make a transition to Bollywood. Her career was managed by her grandmother, Yadugiri Devi.

She married Raj Kapoor's personal physician, Dr. Chamanlal Bali after he divorced his first wife and re-located to Chennai, where she gave birth to a son, actor Suchindra Bali.

After quitting films, Vyjantimala took up shrimp farming, opened up a dance academy, even took an active interest in politics, and with the backing of Indira Gandhi's Congress Party was elected Member of Parliament during the 1980s. She chose to quit politics due to principled differences during 1999.

After the passing of her husband, she now resides in Chennai, with her son, who is an aspiring actor in his own right, and has removed herself completely from Bollywood, in particular, and movies in general, though she could have easily continued on for another decade.

One of her hits 'Naya Daur', originally in Black & White, has now been colorized, and re-released.

In 2007, she published her autobiography titled "Bonding," where she revealed that she didn't have an affair with Raj Kapoor, her leading man and director from "Sangam" (1964).

In 2011, her son Suchindra and daughter-in-law Nandini presented her with a grandchild named Swara.

 Mini Biography By: rAjOo

Spouse
Dr. Bali (1968 - ?) (his death) 1 child

Trivia
Vyjayanthimala won the Best Actress Filmfare Award three times, for her roles in _Sadhana (1958)_, Gunga Jumna (1961), and Sangam (1964/I). She also helped pave the way for more agile and beauteous South Indian actresses, from Hema Malini to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, to conquer the Hindi film industry.

Was known as one of Bollywood's finest dancers of her time. Vyjayanthimala, trained in Bharatanatyam dance, performed some super-hit song and dance numbers in Hindi films, and her influence on films has been far-reaching: with her, semi-classical dance became an integral part of almost every Hindi film heroine's credentials.

Was launched by M.V. Raman, a family friend, in AVM's Tamil film, Vazhkai (1949). The film was such a huge hit that it continued its success when remade in Hindi as Bahar (1951), also starring Vyjayanthimala.

Once refused the Best Supporting Actress Filmfare Award, as she felt that her role as 'Chandramukhi' in Devdas (1955) was not a supporting one; the strong-headed actress felt she was as much the heroine of the film as Suchitra Sen, who played 'Paro'.

Formed a popular on-screen pair with both the intense Dilip Kumar in films like Devdas, and the jocular Kishore Kumar in hits like New Delhi (1956) and Aasha (1957).

Fell in love with Raj Kapoor's personal physician, Dr. Bali, who treated her for pneumonia after she fell into the lake while shooting for a film. The two grew close and later married and had a child, Suchindra Bali. Vyjayanthimala subsequently decided to leave films while still at the top, and immersed herself in raising her son.

Joined politics for a while, and was close to Indira Gandhi. Vyjayanthimala was elected twice to the Lok Sabha (Indian Parliament's House of the People) and was a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha (Indian Parliament's Council of States). She resigned in 1999, however, as she thought the party was drifting from its avowed principles after the death of Rajiv Gandhi.

Honored with the Sangeet Natak Akademi award by the National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama, and the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement award for her distinguished contribution to Indian cinema.

An excellent golf player, Vyjayanthimala was introduced to the game by her husband. She has even played in the National Golf Championship (15 Handicap).

Turned down the mother's role in _Deewaar, which later went to Nirupa Roy.

Vyjanthimala was highest paid actress in Hindi Cinema from 1962-65 with Sadhana and 2nd highest paid Hindi actress from 1966-67 with Mala Sinha,Nanda,Waheeda and 3rd Highest paid Hindi actress from 1955-1961.


Personal Quotes
Art has now become less spiritual because of the attempts to modernize it. I don't believe in fusion. East is East and West is West. I plan to continue dancing and doing social service.

I believe in the purity of art. I think you have to be pure at heart to depict divinity.

I am basically an emotional person. Otherwise, I wouldn't be an artiste. I always speak from my heart and that's the way I like to be.


Where Are They Now
(2003) Currently lives in Chennai, and rarely comes to Mumbai.

(2004) She has distanced herself from Bollywood, and Mumbai in general. Continues to play an active role in politics

Rakhee gulzar

Birth Name
Rakhee Mazumdar 

Height
5' 2½" (1.59 m) 

Mini Biography
Rakhee was born in a Bengali-speaking family in West Bengal, on India's Independence Day - 15th August, 1947. She has no connections with anyone in the film industry in India.

She achieved phenomenal success at her very first movie in Bengali 'Bandhu Baran' during the year 1967. She was then noticed by noted Bollywood actor, Sunil Dutt, who recommended her for a lead role in 'Reshma Aur Shera'. But before the release of this movie, Rakhee had already appeared in 'Jeevan Mritya' and 'Sharmeelee' opposite Dharmendra and Shashi Kapoor respectively.The on-screen pair of Rakhee Gulzar-Shashi Kapoor was very popular with audience and they did 9 films together. Four were critically acclaimed but box office flops and five were box office super-hits.

She has acted in a total of approximately 91 movies, in a career that spanned from 1967 through to 2003. A total of four awards have been bestowed for her performances in 'Daag', 'Tapasya', 'Ram Lakhan', and 'Shubhu Muhurat'. She is perhaps the only actress who has acted both as a lead heroine and mother with Bollywood actor, Amitabh Bachchan.

During her teen years, Rakhee was married to Ajoy Biswas, but the marriage was short-lived, and the couple divorced.

Rakhee then got married to Music Director/Lyricist/Film Director, Sampoorna Singh Gulzar. They have a daughter named Megha alias Bosky. Rakhee quit acting in movies during the year 2003, and her last appearance was in 'Shubhu Muhurat'.


Spouse
Gulzar(? - present) 1 child
Ajoy Biswas(? - ?) (divorced)

Trivia
Mother of Meghna Gulzar.
Born on Indian Independence Day.
Rakhee was the 2nd highest paid Hindi actress from 1970-1974, along with Asha Parekh, and continued to be the 2nd highest paid Hindi actress from 1975-1982. She shared the same tag with Reena Roy and Parveen Babi from 1975-1980.
The on-screen pair of Rakhee Gulzar-Shashi Kapoor did 10 films together. 4 were box office flops and 6 were box office super-hits.One more film Ek Do Teen Chaar is unreleased.
Rakhee worked with Rajesh Khanna in 3 films - Shehzada, Daag and Aanchal and all of them were super-hits.
Rakhee's films with Amitabh Bachchan included 5 hit films - Kabhie Kabhie (1976), Muqaddar Ka Sikander, Kasme Vaade, Trishul, Kaala Patthar - and 3 flops - Jurmana, Barsaat Ki Ek Raat, and Bemisal.
Her close friends were Sunil Dutt and Shashi Kapoor.
Rakhee dared to accept female oriented scripts where there was no big star-actor in the film at the peak of her career like the award winning 27 Down (1974), Tapasya (1975), Humkadam(1980), Shradhanjali (1982), Dil... Akhir Dil Hai (1982). All these film were critically acclaimed and of them Tapasya was major box-office success.
Rakhee automatically became the 2nd highest paid actress in Hindi Cinema when her first Hindi film Jeevan Mrityu became a hit.
She was paired opposite Dev Anand in 3 hit films Heera Panna, Banarasi Babu, Lootmaar and had one flop in Joshila.
Rakhee worked with Shashi Kapoor in 10 released films and the pair gave 6 hits - Sharmelee1971), Jaanwar Aur Insaan (1972), Kabhi Kabhie (1976), the critically acclaimed Trishna (1978), Baseraa (1981) and Pighalta Aasman (1985) and had 4 box-office flops - Bandhan Kuchchey Dhaagon Ka (1983), Bandh Honth (1984, Zameen Aasmaan (1984) and Doosara Aadmi (1977).Another film of the pair Ek Do Teen Char was shelved.
She did 2 films with Parikshit Sahani as lead hero - Tapasya and Humkadam both of which were critically acclaimed hits.
With Sanjeev Kumar she had 3 hits - Paras, Hamare Tumhare and Shrimaan Shrimaati.
Rakhee automatically became 2nd highest paid actress in Hindi Cinema when her first Hindi films Jeevan Mrityu became hit.
Rakhee said famously in an interview in 2012 that Rajesh Khanna brought good films into Indian Cienma and continued to propagate only good films from 60's to early 90's. But Amitabh Bachchan brought bad films after 1977 and Amitabh was not versatile actor right from 1970-2000 as he did only angry young man films and propagated violence from his films. Rakhee argued Amitabh was successful doing only angry young man films from 1975-1984 and after that even that failed. Rakhee was of opinion that Amitabh turned versatile only after 2002.
Rakhee's favorite co-stars are Shashi Kapoor and Rajesh Khanna and her favorite senior actors were Dev Anand, Ashok Kumar and Pran.
She regards Blackmail to be her best film though its was not a box-office success and she regards her best films were Sharmeelee, Kabhi Kabhie, Tapasya , Trishna, Aanchal, Humkadam, Baseraa, Shradhanjali, Dil... Akhir Dil Hai , Pighalta Aasman , Bengali film Paroma .
When she was shooting at the TOI building Satyan Bose slapped her when she didn't get a scene right in Jeevan Mrityu.
She refused to shoot a scene in Gulmarg because of a lump of poop was lying there. Hrishikesh Mukherjee himself picked it up and threw it away and then shooting resumed.
Gulzar and Rakhee were always in touch though they lived separately. Rakhee lived in her farmhouse near Panvel and Gulzar at his home in Bombay side.
Regarded Rajesh Khanna as the best actor and most versatile from among the crop of lead heroes who started working from 60's or 70's and said none of the actors who came after him were better. The next actor she placed in terms of versatility was Shashi Kapoor and Sanjeev Kumar,both who were seniors to Khanna.
She did not like any of the Hindi films being made after 1995 other-than the films she did herself and Aamir's films post 2000 Lagaan and Taren Zameen Par. She did not like any of Sharukh Khan's films after year 2000 or Aamir Khan's films from 1989-2000 other than Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander and Hum Hai Rahi Pyar Ke.
Rakhee shocked film industry when she decided to play Rajesh Khanna's sister-in-law who is accused of having affair with her bro-in-law played by Khanna in 1980 film Aanchal at the peak of her career as a heroine.
1971 was landmark year as Sharmeelee, Paras , Lal Patthar - all 3 films of Rakhee were major hits.
There was a film Ek Do Teen Chaar where Rakhee was paired with Shashi again but it never got released.
Rakhee's films with Amitabh Bachchan include 5 hit film Kabhie Kabhie (1976), Muqaddar Ka Sikander, Kasme Vaade, Trishul, Kaala Patthar and 3 flops - Jurmana, Barsaat Ki Ek Raat, and Bemisal.

Personal Quotes
Rajesh was the most versatile among heroes with whom I have worked. Rajesh was like one of the seven wonders for the industry. There was magic in his face and mannerisms. He was shy and conservative but misunderstood.He did not use any make up ever. Would anybody from the current crop of actors do a film like Bawarchi?

Hema Malini

Date of Birth
16 October 1948, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India 

Birth Name
Hema Malini R. Chakravarty 

Nickname
Dream Girl 

Height
5' 6" (1.68 m) 

Mini Biography
Hema was born in the Tamil-speaking Chakravarthy household on October 16, 1948 in Ammankudi, Tamil Nadu. Her dad's name is V.S.R. Chakravarthy and her mom, Jaya, was a film producer. She was enrolled in the Chennai-based Andhra Mahila Sabha.

After performing as a dancer in a 1961 regional movie, she was rejected by Tamil Director, C.V.Sridhar, during 1964 when she first attempted to act, on the grounds that she was too thin to be heroine in Venniradai and the role went to Venniradai Nirmala. Later Hema performed in the song Singara Therukku Selai sung by Seergazhi Govindrajan and L.R.Eshwari as a supporting actor from the 1963 Tamil film Idhu Sathiyam starring S.A.Asokan as the hero. Sridhar was proved wrong when Hema persisted, debuted opposite Raj Kapoor in 'Sapnon Ka Saudagar' just 4 years after her rejection but the movie was a flop.

Thereafter there has no been looking back for this attractive Libran, who went to star in close to 155 movies; who also produced and directed two movies, and also directed a TV serial 'Noopur'.

After turning down marriage proposals from Sanjeev Kumar and Jeetendra, she met with hot fellow actor, Dharmendra, both were attracted to each other and wanted to get married. Dharmendra, who was already married to Prakash Kaur, and had two sons, Sunny and Bobby, could not marry Hema as Prakash refused to divorce him. According to the Hindu Marriage Act, a Hindu cannot marry a second time while the first wife is still alive. Dharmendra belongs to a Arya Samaj Hindu Punjabi Jatt family.

She had a hit on-screen pairing with Dharmendra, Shashi Kapoor and Dev Anand in the 70's and, post-marriage, she had 8 hits opposite Rajesh Khanna in 1980-87. Interestingly Rajesh Khanna-Hema Malini pair had 2 hits in early 70's and then 3 unfortunate flops in late 70's after which pair was written off but in eighties they gave 8 blockbusters as a pair. In all Hema has 10 hits with Rajesh Khanna. After 2000, her pairing with Amitabh became popular.

On August 21, 1979, both Hema and Dharmendra converted to Islam, changed their names to Aisha Bi R. Chakravarty and Dilawar Khan Kewal Krishn respectively, and got married in accordance with Islamic rites. Three years after their marriage, Hema subsequently gave birth to Esha and then later to Ahana. Esha is an actress in her own rights. The trio, well proficient in the arts of Bharatnatyam dance form, have performed together at a number of dance events and concerts.

Hema is a member of the right-winged Bharatiya Janata Party, and became a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament.

She was amongst the first actresses to wear bell-bottom and shirts in Hindi movies, and is also amongst the few who have kept their word of not wearing any revealing outfits in public. Hema, who is also called 'Dream Girl' continues to act in movies, with her latest being 'Baabul' in 2006.


Spouse
Dharmendra(2 May 1980 - present) 2 children

Trivia
Mother of Esha Deol and Ahana Deol. Step-mother of Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol. Daughter of Jaya Chakravarthy.
The second South Indian actress after Vyjayanthimala to become a major Hindi film star. Ironically, Hema's career almost ended before it began. Her first director threw her out of a Tamil film he was directing, saying she had no star appeal. Hema resolved she would make it big where it mattered the most: Bollywood.
Hema Malini began her film career opposite Raj Kapoor in Sapnon Ka Saudagar (1968) where she became labeled the "Dream Girl". She had a glorious reign as a leading actress during the 70's, even winning the Filmfare Best Actress award for Seeta Aur Geeta (1972), but in the early 80's, she decided to concentrate on 'character' roles, often those with feminist undertones.
In the book "Hema Malini: The Authorized Biography," (2007) she revealed that both actors Jeetendra and Sanjeev Kumar proposed marriage to Hema, but it was Dharmendra, with whom she formed a hugely successful on-screen couple, that won her hand in the end. She defied the conventional norm at the time by becoming his second wife and continuing to work after having children.
In an effort to re-establish herself as a classical dancer (she is an expert Bharatnatyam dancer), she directed TV serials such as "Noopur"(1990) and "Women of India" in 1996.
Hema Malini was awarded the 'Padma Bhushan' in 1999 for her contribution to Indian Cinema.
Born in the village Ammankudi, located in the District of Trichy, Tamil Nadu, to V.S. Ramanujam Chakravarti and Jaya Chakravarti.
Set up a Natya Vihar Kalakendra, an institution dedicated to create, spread and present the age old Indian mythological themes from the epics like Ramayana, Mahabharata and other ancient scriptures through the medium of dance.
In 2003 was nominated to the Rajya Sabha (Parliament of India), serving on the Committee of External Affairs as an MP. In 2004, actress-turned-politician Hema formally joined the BJP (Bhartiya Janata Party).
Served as Chairperson of the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) from 2000-2003.
Converted to Islam, changed her name to Aisha Bi R. Chakravarty, and married Dilawar Khan Kewal Krishn Deol alias Dharmendra on August 21, 1979.
Rajesh Khanna-Hema Malini pair had 2 hits in early 70's, but due to 3 failures in the 1975-1970 period, the producers were reluctant to cast them as a pair. After Hema got married, her only box office hits in the eighties were opposite Rajesh Khanna and Dharmendra only. Hema Malini had 8 blockbusters opposite Rajesh Khanna as a pair in the 1980's Bandish, Kudrat, Dard, Rajput, Hum Dono, Babu, Sitapur Ki Geeta and Durgaa where Khanna had special appearance.
Hema Malini had 6 hits of the 11 she did opposite Jeetendra from 1970-87.
Hema Malini was highest paid Hindi actress along-with Zeenat Aman from 1976-1980 and 2nd highest paid Hindi actress with Zeenat from 1982-85 and 4th highest paid Hindi actress from 1971-1975.
Hema performed in the song Singara Therukku Selai sung by Seergazhi Govindrajan and L.R.Eshwari as a supporting actor from the 1963 Tamil film Idhu Sathiyam starring S.A.Asokan as the hero.

Personal Quotes
My interest was dance and, in the beginning, I didn't enjoy acting at all. It was my mother who brought me into films and who looked after my career. I remember each time a producer came to meet her, my only reaction was, 'Oh God, another year of my life gone.'
I became famous with audiences and various producers thanks to Jhony Mera Naam and Andaz. I remember how difficult it was to shoot for the song Zinagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana because Kaka's fans would turn up in heavy numbers wherever he went. I am very lucky to have done 15 films with the superstar and to have 10 commercial hits with him.

Waheeda Rehaman

Date of Birth
3 February 1938, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, India 

Height
5' 1" (1.55 m) 

Mini Biography
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.

Rekha

Birth Name
Bhanurekha Gemini Ganesan 

Nickname
The Bollywood Queen 
Re 
Madame X 
Rekhaji 

Height
5' 7" (1.70 m) 

Mini Biography
Bhanurekha was born in the Tamil-speaking Ganesan household on October 10, 1954. Her dad was the popular Tamil actor, Gemini, while her mom was a popular Telugu actress, Pushpavalli. She has seven sisters and one brother. One of her sisters is Dr. Kamala Selvaraj, while another one, Radha, lives in San Francisco with a son named Naveed, who is being readied to act in Bollywood movies.

No stranger to the tinsel screen, Bhanurekha acted in a Telugu movie 'Rangula Ratnam' as Baby Bhanurekha along with her mom during 1966, which was subsequently re-made and released in Hindi during 1976 as Rangila Ratan (1976). She acted in one more Telugu as well as one Kannada movie (Amma Kosam and Goadalli CID 999 respectively) before re-locating to Bombay.

Due to her background, she ended up being very gloomy and pessimistic during her early years. She get a chance to debut in Bollywood movies during 1970 with Sawan Bhadon (1970) opposite Navin Nischol with a screen name of Rekha. Inability to speak Hindi, a dusky complexion as well as her weight did not exactly add to her assets in a predominantly fair-skinned, Hindi-speaking North-Indian film industry.

She decided to take matters seriously, took Yoga, shed those extra pounds, learned Hindi and dancing, and thus was born a new and much improved Rekha - who went on to deliver one box office hit after another for example Nagin (1976), Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978), Mr. Natwarlal(1979), Khubsoorat (1980), Umrao Jaan (1981), Khoon Bhari Maang (1988) amongst others. In her later years she has taken up character roles and appeared as a mother, even a grandmother in Krrish (2006) during 2006.

Her slim, slender looks got her many admirers, including well established Bollywood actors such as Kiran Kumar, Jeetendra, Vinod Mehra, andAmitabh Bachchan. Her marriage to Vinod ended in a divorce, and she ended up getting married to a businessman, Mukesh Aggarwal. This marriage also resulted in a divorce, with Mukesh killing himself shortly thereafter.

She likes to surf the Internet, has written biographies of actresses like Zeenat Aman, and Salma Agha on IMDb, likes to collect old photographs and postcards, mimic people, watch movies, and practices Yoga regularly, read comics like Archie and Dennie the Menace, and is a vegetarian. She now lives with her Secretary, Farzana, and pets in a self-owned bungalow in Bandra (West)in Mumbai.

Sanjeev Kumar

Birth Name
Harihar Zariwala 

Nickname
Godfather of Indian cinema 
Doctor Kumar 
Haribhai 

Height
5' 8" (1.73 m) 

Mini Biography
Harihar Jariwala a.k.a. Sanjeev Kumar was born in a Gujrati family in 1938. He portrayed many roles irrespective of the age or the type of chararcter. The actor ballooned in size in later years of his life due to the gastronomical pleasures he had inherited by sleeping in a kitchen while he was a child (which became the cause of his death in 1985 when he died of a heart ailment). Interestingly the actor was one of the very few who didn't have any competition within the industry. Sanjeev's notable performances were in films like Sholay, Parichay, Aandhi, Angoor and the Satyajit Ray masterpiece Shatranj Kay Khiladi.

Jaya Bachhan

Mini Biography
In April 1948 Jabalpur-based, Bengali-speaking Indira and Tarun Kumar Bhaduri were blessed with a child they named Jaya, and enrolled in the St. Joseph's Convent School in Bhopal.

Her acting career started when she was 15 in a Bengali film Mahanagar. She became an actress in her own right in Bollywood after the release of Guddi. She went on to star in many Hindi language films, including blockbusters like Jawani Diwani, Uphaar, Anamika, Abhimaan, Sholay, Bawarchi, Chupke Chupke Zanjeer just to name a few. Her acting spanned from 1963 to 1981. She also wrote the script of Shahenshah.

She married Amitabh Srivastav alias Bachchan, and subsequently gave birth to Shweta and Abhishek. Amitabh is the son of Sikh-Hindu parents, namely Teji and Harivansh Rai Srivastav alias Bachchan.

Jaya quit acting after 1981. Then her married life faced considerable upheavals especially with the much-publicized affair of her husband with Bollywood actress, Rekha. Then their lives were disrupted when Amitabh was seriously injured by a blow from actor, Puneet Issar, while filming 'Coolie', which almost took his life.

The family suffered another setback in 2005 when her asthmatic husband was admitted in Lilavati Hospital after complains of severe pains in his abdomen.

Her husband did recover, and both husband, wife, Abhishek, and his new bride, continue to dominate Bollywood with their screen presence. Jaya has also received a number of awards recognizing her talents in Bollywood.