Latest news with #Rekha:TheUntoldStory
Hindustan Times
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
When Biswajit, 32, defended forcibly kissing 15-year-old Rekha on set, laughed it off when told she was left in tears
In a day and age where intimacy coordinators are slowly becoming the norm on film sets and boundaries are respected more often than not, 'forcing' an underage actor into an intimate scene with a grown-up man would be a massive scandal, and rightly so. But alas, the 60s were different times. And due to the lack of agency most women had on Hindi film sets, many beloved stars would get away with a lot of transgressions that would get the average Joe reprimanded if not jailed. One such incident was when Biswajit, then 32, forcibly kissed his 15-year-old co-star Rekha and later laughed it off after being called out for it. While the film got stuck with the censors, a few stills from the shoot made their way to the Asian edition of Life magazine. This included a rather titillating shot of Biswajit kissing Rekha. In her autobiography, Rekha: The Untold Story, Rekha claimed that during one of the intimate scenes, Biswajit kissed her without her consent and continued to do so for 5 minutes even as she resisted. The actor added that the entire cast and crew whistled and cheered even as she was traumatised and left in tears. Years later, when Biswajit was asked about this incident at an event, the actor laughed off the controversy, saying the media had made a mountain out of a molehill. He said the kiss was necessary for the story, and he improvised. Biswajit maintained that he had spoken to Rekha after that and maintained cordial relations with her. The film, directed by Kuljit Pal, was stuck with the Censor Board for almost ten years. It was revived in the late 1970s after Rekha became a star. It was retitled Do Shikaari and released in 1979. Even as it also starred Vinod Khanna and Amjad Khan, both of whom had also become big stars by the release, the film found few takers and was a box office disappointment. Rekha and Biswajit never worked together again after this film.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Rekha was once forcibly kissed by co-star on set without her consent; He claimed, 'it was not for my enjoyment... but important for the film'
Veteran actress Rekha is one of the most talented and loved atcresses we have in Bollywood. Despite being the daughter of the legendary Gemini Ganesan , Rekha and her family faced financial struggles, and her lineage didn't guarantee her a smooth entry into Hindi cinema. Even after landing lead roles, she faced harassment on set, revealing the harsh realities behind her rise to stardom. The Controversial Scene in Do Shikari Yasser Usman's book Rekha: The Untold Story sheds light on a troubling incident from Rekha's early career. According to the book, actor Biswajeet, director Kuljeet Pal , and cinematographer Raja Nawathe conspired to have Biswajeet plant a kiss on Rekha's lips the moment the camera started rolling—without her consent. When the scene was shot, Biswajeet went through with the plan, leaving Rekha shocked and feeling betrayed. While Biswajeet acknowledged Rekha's anger, he insisted that his actions were not for personal enjoyment but were deemed necessary for the film. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thousands Are Saving Money Using This Wall Plug elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Click Here Undo Director's Conflicting Claim However, director Kuljeet Pal offered a different version, insisting that Rekha was fully aware of the kissing scene and had given her consent. He claimed that Rekha had no objections to the scene and was informed that since such scenes were rare for Hindi film heroines at the time, it would be better for her to publicly express her discomfort. Still, according to him, she knew about the scene from the start. A Career That Rose Against All Odds Although filming for Do Shikari began in 1969, the movie wasn't released until 1979. Meanwhile, Rekha made her official Hindi film debut with Sawan Bhadon in 1970. Throughout the 1970s, she appeared in popular films like Dharmatma, Ghar, Muqaddar Ka Sikander, and Mr. Natwarlal, steadily establishing herself as a leading actress of the decade. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Indian Express
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Rekha was ‘furious' when a co-star kissed her on set without her consent, he claimed it was ‘important for the film': ‘She felt betrayed'
Veteran actor Rekha has been a part of the film industry since the 1960s, when she was still a teenager. One of the first Hindi films she signed was titled Anjana Safar; it was later renamed Do Shikari, in 1969. Rekha and her family was experiencing some financial difficulty when she was made to work in Bombay (then Mumbai), and even though she was the legendary Gemini Ganesan's daughter, this didn't help her secure work in Hindi films. But even when she managed to find work as a leading star, she was harassed on set. Yasser Usman's book Rekha: The Untold Story revisits Rekha's early days in the Hindi film industry. As per the book, actor Biswajeet, director Kuljeet Pal and cinematographer Raja Nawathe hatched a plan where Biswajeet would plant a kiss on Rekha's lips as soon as the camera started rolling, without her consent. When the camera rolled, Biswajeet did what was planned and left Rekha shocked. Biswajeet later acknowledged that Rekha felt 'betrayed and furious' when this happened, but he maintained that he wasn't at fault. He was quoted in the book saying, 'It was not for my enjoyment, but important for the film. Rekha felt betrayed and was furious.' However, Kuljeet Pal had another story to tell as he insisted that Rekha was aware of the kissing scene and had consented to it. 'Rekha was there. She said that she has no reservations against a kissing scene. I only told her that since she is doing something which Hindi film heroines don't, it will be better if she said she absolutely did not like it. But she knew about this scene in all cases.' ALSO READ | When Rekha recalled her complicated relationship with father Gemini Ganesan: 'Didn't know what the word father meant, he didn't notice me' Although the filming of Do Shikari started in 1969, the film did not release until 1979. Rekha made her Hindi film debut with Sawan Bhadon in 1970. She was then seen in popular films like Dharmatma, Ghar, Muqaddar Ka Sikander, Mr Natwarlal across the decade.
