WAHEEDA REHMAN

SUCCESS AND FAME IS TEMPORARY. THERE TODAY, GONE TOMORROW.

“I’ve Never Feared The Future”

Courage is something I learnt from my father (district collector Mohammed Abdur Rehman). As a child, when I was learning Bharat Natyam, my relatives asked him, “Kya Musalman ladki ko nachaaoge?” His answer was, “Art is never bad. It’s the human being, who errs. How you conduct yourself is important.”

I lost my father when I was 13. At 17, I came from Visakhapatnam to Mumbai with my mother (Mumtaz Begum) to do Guru Duttji’s CID (1956), directed by Raj Khosla. I laid down my conditions before signing the agreement. That I’d not change my name (the makers wanted a commercially viable name). That I’d only wear costumes, which I approved of. I told my mother that if they didn’t agree, we’d go back. Raj Khoslaji was taken aback that a young girl was so unbending. I told him I was ready to work for 24 hours if need be. But certain things would be in accordance to me. It’s not slavery. We respect you; you should respect us.

“Guru Duttji Was Extremely Sensitive”

I’m proud to be part of Guru Duttji’s films. Even 50 years later, they’re talked about. They’re classics. I’ve made no contribution towards them… I just happened to be part of his great films – Pyaasa, Kagaz Ke Phool (1959), Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960) and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962). Guru Duttji spoke little. He’d just observe. But he was extremely sensitive. If I had difficulty in saying the lines, he’d ask writer Abrar Alvi to change it. He believed no matter how beautiful the lines, the actor should be able to say it.