Love they say is the noblest of sentiments in a man and a love between a man and a woman is the stuff of Shiva and Shakti so beautifully presented in the sculptors at Khujaharo. Now when we look back at the Mumbai film industry we are reminded of a love that blossomed between Amitabh Bachan and the siren Rekha
There was a time when both were inseparable and starred in film after film together giving the patrons hits and gossip. Yes, Gossip it was for Amitabh maintained a studious silence, even when the affair was hot and industry walas
Both broke up and now we cannot pinpoint who the culprit was. Maybe marriage was the reason and one of them decided to act holier than the other.
But one can only see the uncomfortableness of Amitabh in the presence of Rekha to realize that some thing much, much more joined both of them.
Rekha wore a Bindi and a mangal sutra then. Did they marry ? Perhaps not, it was a case of emotions.Amitabh after the break up went through a traumatic phase. Illness and bankruptcy was his nemesis, before he rose up like the proverbial phoenix and like the angry young man re appeared again, but now he was much older and maybe wiser.
Rekha also had her share of ups and downs. She dieted, did yoga and faced the ravages of time with aplomb. But there is a studious silence from both about the affair. Amitabh would not like to talk about it and Rekha is too good a woman to throw mud. So we know there was an affair, but who broke it and why will never be known. Some loves are unrequited and doomed to heartbreak and failure; perhaps that was Rekha’s lot.
