Rekha

 Rekha on the cover of Filmworld, Star, Star & Style magazines - shame the publications have shut shop - but Rekha is still going strong. 

Rekha's denim series: Cap, glasses et al

 Rakesh Shreshta captures Rekha in denim... 90s shoot 

Rekha poses for Filmfare

Easily one of Rekha's finest photoshoots. The iamge of her mother in the background just the chef's kiss touch to this gorgeous series. 

And that makeup perfection of Re'.... 

Damn 

 

The Stylist Edit: Rekha / Sridevi

 

The desi costume, the pardesi hat... everything done, has been done before. Rekha in the 80s. Sridevi in the 90s!

Rekha in Silsila

Rekha in Cine Blitz

 

The high priestess of 80s glitz and glamour; Rekha on the cover of Cine blitz. 

A throwback to May 1989. 

The excess of the glamorous 80s 

Rekha's 1993 bob-cut and perm

Rekha's cover shoot for Filmfare back in March 1993. A new look for Re'... 

A wig - Re' always keeps her real hair long - very Tamilian style with her rich brocade Kanjeevarams, and temple jewellery. She mostly experimented with looks and styling for unique photoshoots. 

Rekha in August 1981: Cine Blitz cover shoot

 

In August 1981, Rekha was 26 years old (she was born on October 10, 1954, and turned 27 two months later). 

Coincidentally, August 1981 was a landmark month in her career—Yash Chopra's iconic romantic drama Silsila was released in theaters on August 14, 1981. By all accounts, Rekha has never looked better on the big-screen. 

Rekha: Crown and glory of Filmfare

Unlike any other star in Bollywood, Rekha worked on her photoshoots like a project. Thinking of accessories, makeup, styling, lighting, and exhausting many a photographer who couldn't keep up with the icon.

Rekha often does her own makeup - sit down Mickey Contractor! 

She discusses at length with a chosen photographer - she chooses them, not the other way around, no matter what his credentials - and yes, its mostly been men who have photographed Rekha. Not sure any woman has captured Re'.... 

Femina and Rekha

 

For over six decades, Femina has served as a cultural bellwether for the evolving Indian woman. Launched in July 1959 by The Times Group, India’s oldest English women’s lifestyle journal transitioned from a domestic guide into a glossy modern institution, championing women who choose to "Be Unstoppable."

Unlike traditional film glossies like Filmfare or Stardust, which thrive on industry gossip and set reports, Femina intentionally maintains a distinct editorial identity. When Bollywood stars grace its cover, the lens shifts entirely. Actors are not framed as cinematic commodities, but as high-achieving women, fashion icons, and wellness pioneers. Legends like Rekha appear not to answer movie-set rumors, but to discuss personal philosophy, ageless style, and self-reinvention.

Over 1,500 issues later, Femina’s journey reflects India's social transformation. Under legendary long-serving editors like Vimla Patil - who steered the publication for two decades while building the flagship Femina Miss India pageant - and Sathya Saran in the 1990s, the magazine balanced high fashion with social consciousness, personal finance, and career independence.

While initially published as a fortnightly, Femina adapted to modern media consumption by shifting to a monthly print schedule alongside a massive digital ecosystem. Today, under current Editor-in-Chief Ambika Muttoo, the brand commands millions of digital readers via femina.in and powers major industry events like the Femina Beauty Awards.

Femina remains an enduring symbol of female empowerment in India, a lifestyle magazine that defined what it meant to be a modern Indian woman long before the mainstream caught on. 

Vogue invested millions in archiving all its print editions - sadly, Femina hasn't done that yet. Several memorable covers and feature and photoshoots, lost in some archive somewhere. These are the only few and far between cover shots of Rekha on the cover we could find online - we are hunting for more...