The one question I am often asked is why are you still single - Rekha : Bollywood News

Youve been highly acclaimed for the portrayal of strong female characters in many of your films. What inspired you to do these? I didnt consciously think of playing only strong female characters. To me every role is special, like every child is to his mother. Rather I would give extra attention to my weaker roles, nurture them, so that another unseen dimension is born out of them, through my performance, much like a parent would to their under-privileged child. I think everything in my life was pre-destined, and it was just meant to be that a strong character I played was more impactful and the audience appreciated me more as a woman of substance, rather that in a lighter role. I would credit this to my fans and audience whose point of view made me sit up and recognize this potential in me.

You are perhaps one of the finest actors in the industry for dubbing, and have dubbed for other actors as well, like for Neetu Singh in Yaarana, and for Smita Patil in Waaris, Sridevi, Jaysudha, Soundariya and many others. Please comment. As a child in school, I was called the clown of the class and buffooned around with my mimicry and had my family and friends in splits. Thats how I first discovered this talent to make people laugh. I was a podgy child. My friends used to tease me and called me little lotta or baby elephant. Though it hurt me, I chose to channelise it constructively instead of taking it personally. I later used this very interest of mimicry to dub for my friends when they required me to, like when Neetu got married, I did the needful and thoroughly enjoyed it, and Smita Patils Waaris I did as a tribute to her both as a fine person and a superb actor.

For the actors doing commercial cinema, art films are usually a complete No. What made you take the path less travelled and balance it well alongside the commercial cinema? I must confess that back then I barely knew the difference and wasnt familiar with the term art house. All I can say is that I was the chosen one and I couldnt be more thrilled about it. Like a rose is a rose, a good role is a good role and it can become a great one... and Umrao Jaan is a testimony to this.

In the course of your life of being a part of the industry, youve seen a lot of changes around you. In your opinion, how has the industry changed? The great actor Balraj Sahni once told me, be in the industry and yet out of it. Retain your individuality and never stop growing both as an actor and as a person. That has stayed with me and I maintain and practice it even today. To me, it doesnt matter if the times have changed, whats important is that I retain my real inner core.

I am learning now about the brand equity of being the Rekha. I never saw myself that way. I dont understand how it works these days, where it is so easy to make 10 crores in 10 days, doing almost nothing. But I am creating new original ideas and concepts to entertain and give back to the world. Ive always asked my creator to save me from what I want. He knows the right time for everything. He knows best. I dont question things anymore.

Courtesy: asiaSpa India