Rekha Throwback Interview: "I don't believe in celebrating life on Diwali, Eid, Christmas or birthdays, every single day is a blessing and a boon"

Legendary actress Rekha turned 70 yesterday. She once spoke at length about her thoughts and philosophies about life. Have a look at that throwback interview on the special occasion.

 

Rekha Throwback Interview: "I don't believe in celebrating life on Diwali, Eid, Christmas or birthdays, every single day is a blessing and a boon"

 

Is it true you don’t celebrate your birthdays anymore?

 

Why just one particular day? I don’t believe in celebrating life on Diwali, Eid, Christmas or birthdays. For me every single day is a blessing and a boon. And I want to squeeze every drop of life out of every single day. For me, every day is a celebration. Every moment a blessing from God. I don’t need to visit temples on my birthday. There’s a temple right here in my house and that’s where I’ll pray, as I do every day. I don’t believe in star signs and horoscopes. I feel I’m bonded with the whole universe.

 

How do you manage to remain so positive in spite of so much negativity around you?

 

I don’t think about negative things. There’s so much beauty, so much love and excitement to be savoured every day. Hum negative cheezon ko itni ehmeeyat kyun dete hain? People can get to us only if we allow them to. Besides I don’t believe people are negative without reason. Even the cobra that bites you has reason to do so.

 

You have always conducted yourself with great grace?

 

Sorry, beautiful music is conducted... Lives cannot be conducted. At least, I’ve always gone with the flow, risen and fallen with the rhythms of existence without, ha ha, tripping over seriously. My current high is bonding with Shah Rukh Khan. Of course, I’ve known him for years. But lately we’re connecting more profoundly. I’ve done a blink-and-miss appearance in Om Shanti Om and that’s when I got to know him seriously. He has a sharp mind.

 

So, you are finally reaching out to people?

 

It isn’t as if I don’t want to reach out to people… Of course I do. I’m a normal healthy woman. But to me, reaching out to people, making demands over their time and attention is an encroachment. I’d rather connect once in while. That’s enough to keep me going. Some selected few like Hemaji always have access to me. She and I go back a long way. And we’re very fond of each other… I’ve heard that she wants to direct me. She just has to ask. There’re some people whom I can never say no to. We may speak once in a while. But I’m deeply connected to these people.

 

Director Mohan Sehgal who introduced you in Sawan Bhadon passed away

 

I’ll say one thing about Mohanji. He was God’s own child. So frail and small and yet so full of positivity and joy. Mohanji just made you feel so good about life. He could recognize good human beings because he was so good himself. I met him for the last time two years ago at his son Deepak and daughter-in-law Bela’s place. His health was failing. But his spirit was completely alive. When I look back on my life, I feel some people were decisive to my career. Mohanji was certainly one of them.

 

You inspire many women

 

I’m glad. Because I inspire myself all the time… Life never ceases to amaze me. Life makes me feel I’m the luckiest person on this earth. At one time, I used to be fascinated by the thought of how this world began… how did the creator think of making this beautil qaayanat (universe) and who created the creator?…The searching was endless. Today, I’ve stopped questioning. I’ve started living. The only way to start enjoying the beauty that surrounds you is to stop questioning and start living life. One lifetime isn’t enough to imbibe and savour all the marvels of Nature. Where’s the time to keep asking questions? I’d rather enjoy the laughter of a child, or the voice of Lata Didi…. Ek pal jo abhi hai who nikal jata hai hamesha ke liye. I’ve wasted years questioning the creator. I’ve so much more to do.

 

You sound philosophical

 

I’m not. I’ve accepted everything in life. My mother taught me to take everything in life from age to criticism with humility. You’ve to have the confidence to carry your age without self-consciousness. I’m proud even of that wrinkle which appears on my face. It’s a symbol of all that life has taught me for years. Aging is so inevitable. All the choices I’ve made, all the people I’ve met, all the hurt and all the happiness… they’ve all carved every contour on my face. And I’m proud of them all. I don’t give that much importance to physical beauty. My looks are only a small. Looks are just a reflection of who you are from within. No amount of expensive sarees, diamonds and makeup cannot make you look beautiful unless you at peace inside.

 

Are you are at peace with yourself?

 

Lots of worldly wrongs have happened to me. But I didn’t wallow in them and let them affect me in a negative way. Every day, I go through the bad and the good. There’s an angel and devil within me. It’s up to us to choose who rules our lives. We all have a choice in life. We can make something positive happen in every situation. That’s the key to my life. I’m always asked why I’m so calm all the time. Is it a façade? I agree I’m a great actor on screen. But no one can live a lifetime of lies. I don’t believe in living a lie. But I know a lot of people think I live a lie. If that’s how they feel about me, so be it.

 

You had once famously called yourself God’s chosen one

 

I don’t believe any longer that I’m the chosen one. Nowadays, I believe I’m one of the chosen ones. Because there’re so many others… I’m happy being who I am, doing what I’ve to do. It’s such a blessing to pick up any role and try to do justice to it. You know, being a character actor isn’t a huge blessing in India. Abroad even an actor like Al Pacino is treated like a character actor and given his rightful place.

 

But you can’t be deemed a character actor?

 

Mujhe koi mushqil se actor bol de to main badi khush hoon.

 

Now look who’s being over-modest?

 

No no, I’m not. The thing is, too much importance has been given to my glamour, clothes, whatever. Today I think I’m in the best stage of my life and career. No matter what I do, people are responsive and, to my good fortune, appreciate. I’ve felt this way for the past ten years. And I say this with utmost humility and sincerity. There’s nothing else I can do on this earth to earn a living except acting. The fact is, and this will shock you, I don’t say no to any offer except when I feel the producer or director’s intentions aren’t honest and he’s just trying to fire the gun from my shoulders.

 

Do you regret doing any of the films?

 

Everything I’ve done has taken me higher. Everything that has happened to my life has been a blessing. I consider myself the most fortunate person I know. For me, no film has been mediocre. It’s been my baby…. Whether handicapped or sick, you don’t reject your baby. I’ve nurtured them all. Every night when you sleep, you are dying for the day, only to wake up the next morning with a new life. Hence every day is an udhaar. Because you never know about the next moment. You can be on the set shooting a rain sequence, and you can be electrocuted.

 

You seem to be ageless

 

Funny that you call me ageless. Ironically birthdays are about age. And that’s one aspect of life that I do not associate with life. If anything, birthdays should be a reminder that there’s so much more in life to explore, and so much magic waiting to happen. I’d rather spend each day of my life trying to correct the mistakes and improving the quality of my existence rather than cutting a cake and whooping it up. According to me every day is a reason to blessing and a reason to celebrate.

 

Your birthday wish?

 

I only want to speak only if what I say makes the other person feel good. Otherwise, I might as well shut up. We all need to get a life of our own and set our house on order. Do I really have the time to criticize others when I’d rather improve myself?  Life has so much to offer. There’s no need to abuse it. You’ve to make your list of dos and don’ts. A successful life isn’t to be measured by how many successful films you’ve done and how much money you’ve accumulated in your bank account. It’s to do with the number of smiles you’ve brought on faces, including your own.

 

Also Read: Happy Birthday Rekha: Muzaffar Ali on his Umrao Jaan, “Rekha Ganesan is not born every day. She is born to create and be remembered”

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