When Rekha Left Ranjeet's Dream Film, Said, 'I Want My Evenings Free For Amitabh Bachchan'

The relationship between Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha continues to be one of the most talked-about chapters in Bollywood history. Whether it was their amazing on-screen chemistry or their off-screen dating rumours, the two have remained in the limelight even years after they last appeared in a film together. While their on-screen chemistry created magic on the silver screen, their real-life connection sparked countless stories, some of which were confirmed and some assumptions.

One such story was told by actor-turned-director, Ranjeet, in 2015, in a candid interview. He shared how a personal request from Rekha during his directorial debut, Kaarnaama, disturbed the entire schedule of the film.

Ranjeet’s dream project, Kaarnaama

After building a name for himself as an iconic villain, Ranjeet decided to switch sides and turn into a director. For his first film, he wrote a script titled Kaarnaama and thought of a cast as amazing as Dharmendra, Rekha, and Jaya Prada. Ranjeet shared that Rekha was his very good friend as he gave the first shot of his life with Rekha in his debut film, Sawan Bhadon (1970). This long-time friendship was also the reason by which Rekha happily agreed to work in Ranjeet’s Kaarnaama. Ranjeet said:

"After I quit acting, I wrote a script and decided to direct a film with Dharmendra, Rekha and Jaya Prada. Rekha and I were good friends since I gave the first shot of my life with her in Sawan Bhadon."

Rekha’s request that changed everything for Ranjeet and Kaarnaama

The shooting of the film started and the entire first schedule of the film was an evening shift. Ranjeet recalled that on one such day of shoot, Rekha came to him and requested him to change the shift from evening to morning. The reason being, that she wanted to keep her evening free and spend it with Amitabh Bachchan. Ranjeet explained to her that changing schedules would disturb the entire logistics and even affect other actors, so he politely refused. Rekha respected his decision but prioritising her time with Amitabh Bachchan, she chose to leave the film and returned the signing amount back to Ranjeet. This was not very loudly talked about at that time, but today is a well-known and often repeated story in Bollywood. 

How did Rekha’s exit affect Kaarnaama?

Rekha’s exit brought a halt in the production of the film. Dharmendra who signed the film considering the cast, soon opted out due to scheduling conflicts. Ranjeet had no option left and had to restart the film from scratch. Eventually, Kaarnaama was made with Vinod Khanna, Farah, and Kimi Katkar and when it was released in 1990, the film didn’t perform as expected and had only an average run at the box office. Later, Ranjeet tried again with Gajab Tamasha (1992), but that too failed to impress the audience.

The magic of Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha together

Considering their on-screen presence, Amitabh and Rekha had given Hindi cinema some of its most memorable films. Their chemistry was unmatchable in Silsila (1981), a film that confirmed real-life rumours and added fuel to the ongoing gossip. Films like Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Mr. Natwarlal, Suhaag, and Do Anjaane showed their range in romance, drama and action. Their comfort level and chemistry made every scene come alive. The fans loved them together and they were featured in almost every hit film of the late 70s and 80s. 

While their on-screen pair was a hit, their personal equation was never really confirmed. Neither Amitabh nor Rekha has ever openly confirmed their relationship but it was pretty evident. Rekha had hinted quite some times about her likeness towards Amitabh Bachchan, but he remained silent (probably because he was married). Their last appearance together was in the film, Silsila, that starred Jaya Bachchan as well, Amitabh’s real-life wife. This casting made headlines that started speculations about it being a replication of what is happening in real-life between the three.

Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha’s personal life

After walking away from Kaarnaama, Rekha continued to focus on her acting career. She gave powerful performances in films like Utsav, Khoon Bhari Maang and Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi. Later, she married Delhi-based businessman Mukesh Agarwal in 1990 but within a few months, Mukesh Agarwal committed suicide. Since then, Rekha has stayed away from marriage.

Amitabh Bachchan, on the other hand, maintained a stable personal life. He got married to Jaya Bhaduri in 1973 and the couple has two children now, Abhishek Bachchan and Shweta Bachchan. Professionally, Amitabh Bachchan gave films like Mohabbatein, Black, Paa and more. He also gained a lot of popularity as the host of Kaun Banega Crorepati.

The story of Rekha’s request during the making of Kaarnaama may seem like a small incident, but it reflects the strong bond she shared with Amitabh Bachchan at that time. What do you think about their relationship? Let us know.

Next Read: Jaya Amitabh Bachchan's Anniversary: When Bengali Priest Protested Secret Intercast Marriage Of Pair

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