The 'carefree' girl of Bollywood who changed the 'script' of Indian cinema

There are few actors in Bollywood who have left a mark on the industry like Rekha. Rekha turned 70 on October 10 and on this occasion film writer Yasir Usman wrote this article about Rekha's career.

Rekha is one of India's most glamorous figures, a woman who has captured the headlines and imaginations for decades and blazed a trail for women in Indian cinema.

In the 1970s, she was identified as a loud and carefree young girl from South India, who later turned into a mature, National Award-winning actress, who spoke Urdu and Hindi with great confidence.

But excessive public attention on Rekha's personal life resulted in her staying away from public life for years to protect her privacy.

Yet over the past few decades, Rekha has proven time and again that the mystery surrounding her makes fans eager to know more about her.

They still capture hearts and go viral on the internet when they come out in public.

Rekha was born in 1954 in Chennai (then Madras) and was named Bhanu Rekha at birth.

The struggles of his mother (actress Pushpoli) and the absence of his father (Tamil film star Gemini Ganesh) had a profound effect on him.

Rekha started acting when she was still in her childhood and the main reason for this was the financial problems faced by her family.

In Bombay (now Mumbai), the 'home of Hindi cinema', she was able to grasp an unintelligible language as well as confront the male-dominated industry.

Rekha once said, 'Bombay was like a jungle and I was walking here unarmed. It was the scariest phase of my life. People used to try to take advantage of me.'

As her early work began to gain attention, she also faced a lot of body shaming. Apart from viewers, journalists and even co-actors also made fun of her weight and complexion.

Later in some interviews, Rekha also talked about how she had to record some scenes, which she felt uncomfortable playing.

Everything seemed to be stacked against them but Rekha then changed the 'script'.

Rekha became a headline for the gossip magazines of the film world with her interviews and statements in 1970s India. A young Rekha's opening up about her sexuality was nothing less than a revolution.

Rekha used to talk openly about her relationships with her co-stars, but Rekha was often criticized for not coming out with a public statement or response from the men. The media even used unethical headlines to describe Rekha.

Rekha underwent a dramatic transformation in the mid-70s and started fitness trends. They started using the makeup that worked for them.

Rekha, who pioneered fitness trends, has also made diets that are not solids the talk of the town, became an ambassador for aerobics and embraced yoga long before it became a celebrity craze.

Derided and criticized for her unorthodox looks, Rekha managed to redefine beauty and fitness standards and create a more democratic industry for actors of all colors.

But it was Rekha's reinvention of the craft that truly made her an 'ambassador of change'.

Along with appearance, he also worked on improving his acting.

Her performance in critically acclaimed films such as Ghar (1978), where she played a rape victim, was well received.

Rekha transitioned to comedy roles with ease in the 1980 film 'Khoobsurat' and her captivating performance in the 1981 film 'Salsla' further increased her mainstream demand.

In the same year, her role in the film 'Amrao Jaan' made her one of India's most famous actresses and she was awarded the National Award.

Rekha's stellar performances in the films Kal Yug (1981), Utsyu (1984) and Uttu (1987) demonstrated her ability to adapt to a variety of roles. This talent of Rekha came to the fore in the 1988 action film 'Khon Bhari Maang'.

The ability to quickly adapt to different roles has been a hallmark of his career.

Rekha ushered in a new era in the Hindi film industry, where she had a narrative of her own and was rightfully crowned a 'Diva'.

In 1990, she married Mukesh Agarwal, a businessman, but soon they separated. In the same year, she was in America when her ex-husband took his own life.

On his return to India, he faced headlines like 'Horrifying Truth Behind Mukesh's Suicide' and 'Black Widow'.

The posters of his film 'Sheesh Naag' were torn down and the film industry boycotted him for some time.

When Rekha was left alone overnight, her final phase of transformation began.

For almost a year, he devoted all his energy and attention to the action film 'Phool Bane Angare' and this film also performed well at the box office.

But despite fans' love and her successful comeback, Rekha, who was once known for her upbeat and outspoken persona, now portrays a more subdued, melancholic and philosophical demeanor.

In an interview to the BBC, Rekha had said that the media kept writing anything about me with its pepper masala. I used to get very angry and hurt and whenever I was hurt I would become silent. So that's exactly what I did, I stopped talking.'

It was perhaps his final transformation that gave him the identity of the 'mysterious deva' that we know today.

Since then, not much information has been revealed about his personal life and his presence in films has also reduced considerably.

However, if she is still seen in her 'diva look' sometimes, like in the song 'Kisi Pahele Ziangdani' from the 2005 film 'Pareanta' or when she takes to the stage to dance to a song from her old hits. If they are, their fans are excited.