Waheeda Rehman: An unforgettable screen presence

"I am lucky to have become popular. Things just happened to me," said Waheeda, who is also an accomplished dancer. Going back to her early days, she reminisced, "I was only 13 when I first performed in front of the then Governor-General C Rajagopalachari at Vishakhapatnam.

Among Waheeda's memorable films are as Pyaasa, Kagaz Ke Phool, Bees Saal Baad, Neelkamal, Ram Aur Shyam, Tesri Kasam and Reshma Aur Shera.

Waheeda has not settled for blissful retirement. Among her recent works is the comedy Brides Wanted. Her co-stars are Girish Karnad (who enacts the role of her husband) and Anuj Sawhney (as their grandson). Directed by Girish Acharya, a young graduate of the New York Film Academy, the film tells the story of an elderly non-resident Indian couple looking for a perfect bride for their grandson Aakash. A series of comical incidents later, they realise that times have changed considerably in India. The end result: they end up finalising not one but seven prospective brides for their grandson.

The film is made in both Hindi and English. According to one film critic, "Rahman plays a chirpy grandmother with dignity and more than a bit of devilish fun as she brings loads of attitude into her role."

Here's hoping that Waheeda will continue to play a stellar role in Bollywood.

Compiled by Cultural Correspondent