Waheeda Rehman

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rom Guru Trichunder Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai and Guru Jayalaxmi Alva, both considered the doyens in their art. Once there was a grand cultural event in their home town and the governor of the state was the Chief Guest. During the event, young Waheeda Rehman, who was just 4 years old, did a dance performance that was much applauded. The Governor pleased by young Waheeda Rehman’s dance predicted that she would make a good name in the field of arts. The prediction turned true as after her father’s death at the age of 6 she was forced to earn bread for her family by joining South Indian films.

How Guru Dutt discovered Waheeda Rehman Once Guru Dutt and his close friend Abrar Alvi (Story writer cum director) were in Hyderabad for finalizing the remake rights of a Telugu hit film. The producer called them to their office. While they were discussing, suddenly there was chaos on the road as people rushed behind a young and beautiful heroine. Dutt was wonderstruck and asked who the lady was. The producer informed me that she was nobody special but a mere dancer who had become popular through her single dance performance in the Telugu film Rojulu Marayi. Guru Dutt was excited and went to see the film in a theatre nearby. He was so mesmerized by Waheeda Rehman’s dance and beauty that he asked his assistants to hunt her and within a week he found Waheeda Rehman and gave her a break in his film C.I.D. Waheeda Rehman proves her versatility; over scores the heroine in her debut film What makes Waheeda Rehman admirable is that Geeta Dutt introduced her in his home production C.I.D. (1956) as a vamp. She overscored the heroine! Almost 60 years have passed since C.I.D. was released but still, film buffs remember the seductive song Kahin Pe Nigahein Kahin Pe Nishana….where Waheeda Rehman seduces the villain and indirectly gestures the hero (Dev Anand) to escape. The superlative facial expression and the exceptional dance movements made her an instant favourite of the masses. The movie became a box office success thanks to her song Kahin Pe Nigahein Kahin Pe Nishana…and Guru Dutt immediately escalated her from vamp to heroine in his next film Pyaasa (1957). The Guru Dutt – Waheeda Rehman Jodi becomes popular Under the ace direction of Guru Dutt, Waheeda Rehman got the opportunity to explore her acting skills. Further, her on-screen chemistry with Guru Dutt became successful among the masses. In Guru Dutt's masterpiece Pyaasa she stunned the audience with a powerful performance of a prostitute pouring the right nuances of love, desire and despair. In Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959) she played a film star, who falls in love with her mentor. The film was an autobiographical account of a love affair between Guru Dutt and her. In Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960) she played a Muslim character speaking chaste Urdu. Jodi’s last film was Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962) as Tinsel Town was set ablaze with her and Dutt’s romance and this created a gulf between Dutt and Mrs Geeta Dutt. Her association with film legend Satyajit Ray The silver lining in Waheeda Rehman’s career came when she was approached by none other but the legendary film wizard Satyajit Ray. Working under Satyajit Ray is regarded by every actor as a lifetime opportunity. Hence despite being a huge star in Bollywood Waheeda Rehman cancelled all her dates to work with Satyajit Ray in his Bengali film Abhijan (1962). Though the film was not a great success Waheeda Rehman had the grand pleasure of working with her idol filmmaker.