Rekha

The perfection of Rekha in Silsila

 

 

Released on the summer of 1981, 14 August to be precise, Rekha, then 26, was at the absolute peak of her prowess and peacock-ian beauty when the affairs-of-the-heart, musical melodrama Silsila released.

Empowered by fellow aesthete producer/director Yash Chopra, with the camera work of Kay Gee capturing Rekha in all her polished glory, no leading lady commanded screen space with such ease and elegance. Not a strand of hair out of place, her impeccable fashion (which deteriorated dramatically by the time Khoon Bhari Maang and Geetanjali released!), has to be studied as one does an unholy book of haute Hindi film fashion. 

Rekha when reigned in by writers and directors she admired -- Yash Chopra, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Gulzar -- didn't go completely off the rails. Lesser men who didn't have the courage to edit Re' fell folly to her over-the-top sartorial shenanigans. Yash Chopra had a more deft hand; be it Silsila or Faasle, Rekha looked polished, refined... just damn near perfect.

Rekha with Yash Chopra on the sets of Faasla - a rare pic 

The iconic blue prom dress on Jaya Prada: Stylist Edit Peak 80s fashion and accessories

The iconic blue prom dress on Jaya Prada: Stylist Edit Peak 80s fashion and accessories. A look so memorable, one look and instantly ya know its from Sharaabi for that incredible song De de pyar de by the aincredible Asha Bhosle. 

Jaya Prada was 22 and Sharaabi was one of the biggest hits of 1984 - however, it was Amitabh Bachchan's towering, award-winning performance that people mostly remember. Unlike Sridevi or Rekha back then, Jaya Prada didn't get as many title or double roles to bolster her Bollywood career. She was often the perfectly lovely accessory to the leading man, she did a few memorable dances (a flawless dancer and so gracefu) but never did that many impactful films in Bollywood. Her collabs with legendary K Vishwanath were incredible, but didn't always translate to great box-office. 

Once called the most perfect face in Indian cinema - by Satyatjit Ray no less, we still think she was incredible but her full potential was rarely tapped. 

Rekha

Rekha in the early 1980s in Bollywood. 
 

Rekha: Diary of a Show-Woman

An extraordinary life dedicated to Indian cinema, as often and as much as she's been featured in Indian film magazines, they haven't done enough honouring the incredible Rekha. 

Her range is beyond compare, her diction, her elocution, the finest in the history of Indian cinema. 

Someone who thoroughly enjoyed the glamorous aspects of her job and her stardom to the fullest. 
 

Bhanupriya and Jeetendra: 80s in Bollywood

 Bhanupriya and Jeetendra: 80s in Bollywood. 

 Sridevi once said in an interview that luck is also a factor in success in films. You can be talented, beautiful, a good actress and dancer, but if luck isn't with you, it means nothing. Bhanupriya had all the right ingredients, she even looked a bit like Sridevi in the early years, styled as such almost identically, but box-office didn't favour her. As fate would have it, she found great roles and career down south. And awards galore too. 

Rekha: Fashion icon for the ages

A classic Indian beauty, a the definitive Indian fashionista for decades... 
 

Rekha: Turban explorer

Rekha: Turban explorer 

Rekha: G magazine covera

 

Rekha: 80s Fashion Icon of Bollywood: Lady in Red

Rekha: 80s Fashion Icon of Bollywood: Lady in Red 

Rekha: If ever there was an Indian version of Dynasty...

 A very Joan Collins in Dynasty inspired look for Rekha. 

If ever there was a desi-fied version by Ekta Kapoor, who else but Re'?! 

Rekha, 34, in Khoon Bhari Maang (1988)

Rekha, 34, in Khoon Bhari Maang (1988)

The apex of 1980s fashion, gloss and glamour in Bollywood. 

After this.. she fell off the cliff and landed in the hot mess that was Geetanjali and Madame X... 
 

She was a good sport about recognising her own flaws in later years. She mentioned in an interview, "I looked like a cartoon in Geetanjali..."

It was hard for even her most hardcore fans to disagree.

Re' was camp before camp. Vogue India should do a desi Met Gala with Bollywood camp as theme and all the stars can pull vintage looks from a Rekha shoot. 

Those eyes, the jhumka, the chunri, the bindi, the face of Indian cinema.... Sridevi

Those eyes, the jhumka, the chunri, the bindi, the face of Indian cinema.... Sridevi 

A vintage, 1980s Gautam Rajadhyaksha portrait of Sridevi. 

More in the archives here - this is an outtake from a Showtime cover shoot Sridevi did.

Tamannaah channelling a vintage Rekha look - did the stylists know? 2021 vs 1986: 35 years of stylin'

When the image popped up on Instagram, first thought was... where have I seen this almost replica look before?! Scroll back to a vintage Rekha look from her hit Jaal (1986).  

While Tamannaah's look is studded with designer labels, Rekha did all her own styling way back then. 

Tamannaah's style is experimental and chic. Here, dressed in an animal-print jacquard sweater from Vero Moda (@veromodaindia), #Tamannaah's piercing gaze captures your attention. .

 

Rekha in the 1980s: She brought Vogue-ing to Bollywood

Rekha in the 1980s: She brought Vogue-ing to Bollywood 
 

Filmfare covers in the 1980s: Ladies take the lead

 

Jaya Prada, Sonam and Meenakshi Sheshadiri on the cover of Filmfare in the 1980s

Mithun and Bhanupriya

 

Mithun and Bhanupriya