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told audiences would never accept Rosie, time, Nargis, Meena Kumari, Madhubala,
and it would end Waheeda Rehman’s Vyjayanthimala, Nutan were at their peak,
career. The film was a success, however, and doing significant roles in their films.
and did not even cause a tiny dent in They also had their own strengths and fan
Waheeda’s career. following.
Other actresses had done films in which
they had careers, Nutan, Nargis, Sharmila
Tagore had worn swimsuits on screen
to indicate their modernity, but Rosie
was one of the earliest feminists in Hindi
cinema, before the word was even in
common usage. And Waheeda Rehman
personified, with tremendous power, a
woman who values her career and her
dignity and does not let a man dictate Rehman’s professional (and personal)
terms to her. The story was about Raju’s relationship with Guru Dutt meant
spiritual redemption, but Rosie discovers that she got to play roles that were very
herself too, even if it is to end up on the side different from the usual romantic leading
of Raju, who is now a changed man. lady. Actresses of the time would have
Winner of this year’s Dadasaheb Phalke balked at playing a streetwalker, which
Award for lifetime achievement, and she did in Pyaasa (1957), or the actress who
deservedly so, Waheeda Rehman’s name leaves her mentor behind in Kaagaz Ke
is included in the short list of women who Phool (1959), Guru Dutt’s most personal
have been selected for the honour for their film set in the Bombay film industry.
“outstanding contribution to the growth It is not as if she did not do popular
and development of Indian cinema.” The love stories like Solva Saal, Ek Phool
first award that was instituted in 1969 to Char Kaante, Chaudhvin Ka Chand, but
honour the father of Indian cinema, went directors obviously did not select her to
to Devika Rani. Since then, only six other sing a few songs and prop up the hero.
women have been conferred with this In 12 o’ Clock (1958) she played a murder
award, Ruby Myers (Sulochana), Kanan accused, in Neel Kamal (1968) for which
Devi, Durga Khote, Lata Mangeshkar, she won her second Filmfare Award (after
Asha Bhosle, Asha Parekh and now Guide) she played a woman haunted by a
Waheeda Rehman. past life.
When she was introduced to the Hindi She played a courtesan, Chameli Bai,
film industry, with a small ‘vampy’ role who marries a dacoit (Sunil Dutt) in the
in Guru Dutt’s CID (1956), the role of the masterpiece Mujhe Jeene Do (1962), and
heroine in Hindi cinemas had not yet been follows him into a rough life in the ravines
devalued, as it was later in the Seventies, of the Chambal; she played a very different
when leading ladies were given merely kind of nautch girl in Basu Bhattachary’s
decorative roles, because the hero had Teesri Kasam (1965) opposite Raj Kapoor, a
to have a romantic interest with whom more sprightly and playful woman.
to sing songs. In Waheeda Rehman’s The other film, which remains a jewel
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #52 | OCTOBER 2023 7
