The vivacious Rekha, who was also hailed as the golden girl of the 1970s and 1980s, is still the diva of Bollywood. Even at the age of 70, Rekha can give tough competition to any leading actress of Hindi cinema. The charismatic actress made zillions of fans with her impeccable acting and beauty. However, despite such a successful professional career, there was a vacuum in her life.
Born as Bhanurekha to renowned Tamil actor, Gemini Ganesan and actress, Pushpavalli, Rekha never got her father’s surname. Since she was born out of wedlock, Gemini never acknowledged Rekha as his daughter. At the mere age of 13, she joined films because of financial constraints at home. But life threw many twists and turns at her and she faced all of them with a smile.
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Above everything, if she ever craved for anything, then it was her father, Gemini Ganesan’s surname, his attention. In a throwback conversation with Simi Garewal, Rekha reflected on her complicated relationship with her father, Gemini. Elaborating on the same, Rekha said:
“I was a baby when he moved out. I don’t remember that. We were not given the impression that something was out of the ordinary or dysfunctional.”
In the same conversation, Rekha talked about attending the same school as her step-siblings and seeing her father dropping them. When Simi asked whether she ever approached her father, Rekha responded:
“No. I never approached him. I never had the chance. He would just drop them and go. I don’t think he noticed me. I don’t think he saw me. Even looking at my father was enough. Looking back, maybe I did miss him. But when you haven’t tasted something, you don’t know what it means. I didn’t know what the word ‘father’ meant.”
Gemini Ganesan was always open about his relationships with co-stars, Pushpavalli and Savitri. He never hid his linkups with Pushpavalli and Savitri. Although, Ganesan was married to TR Alamelu and then Savitri, he never got married to Rekha’s mother, Pushpavalli. During her growing up years, Rekha had always yearned for Gemini’s attention but she had never got it. Pushpavalli had never gotten the title of his wife, even after begetting his two daughters, Rekha and Radha.
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Gemini’s daughter, Narayani Ganesan, is a journalist. In an excerpt from her book titled Eternal Romantic: My Father Gemini Ganesan, Rekha shared her thoughts about her father. She shared:
“Though he never lived with us, we “felt” his presence wherever we went, for whatever we did. My mother constantly spoke about him, his likes and dislikes. Whatever you wish to call it – love or affection- the feeling my mother had towards him was strong and positive that lasted throughout her life.”
Did you know about Rekha’s complicated relationship with her father, Gemini Ganesan? Let us know.
Also Read: Simi Garewal Reflects On Amitabh Bachchan's Iconic Interview, 'Wasn't Telling Truth About Rekha..'
