Rekha and her many stormy affairs

After a series of affairs with co-stars Jeetendra, Vinod Mehra and Kiran Kumar, actress Rekha is said to have remarked, "It's is sheer fluke that I have not got pregnant..." Jeetendra, Vinod Mehra and Kiran Kumar were some the leading Bollywood men who came close to actress Rekha before her famous silsila with Amitabh Bachchan began. In a new biography, “Rekha The Untold Story,” (Juggernaut) author Yasser Usman claims Vin Vin (Vinod Mehra) and Kin Kin (Kiran Kumar)’s relationship could not last due to strong family opposition. Mehra's mother Kamla Mehra wanted a docile, traditional and cultured daughter in law. Rekha’s image in 1973 was exactly the opposite of that. Kamla was said to be shocked when she read Rekha as saying, “I am not just an actress, but I am a badnaam (notorious) actress with a rotten past and a reputation of being a sex maniac.” Around the same time, Rekha made another provocative statement, “Premarital sex is very natural. And all those prudes who say that a single woman should have sex only on her suhaag raat are talking bull.” Mehra’s mother was stunned to read in an 1972 issue of Star and Style magazine, “Vinod kissed me on my birthday, but in the morning and in the privacy of my bedroom.” The book claims Rekha got married to Vinod Mehra in 1973 at a temple in Calcutta’s Park Circus area where actress Moushumi Chatterjee’s husband Babu (Ritesh Chatterjee) had made all the wedding preparations. But when the young couple reached Khanna’s residence Nibbana in Bombay, a storm was waiting. “Kamla was livid, so angry that at one point she took over her chappal and almost beat up Rekha with it,” Usman, a producer with the ABP News said quoting Mehra’s relatives. Mehra, now dead, remained stuck between his mother and wife till Rekha began her affair with Kiran Kumar, son of character artist Jeevan. A Kashmiri Pandit, Jeevan did not approve of Rekha with industry folks frequently alluding to her 'scandalous' past. Kiran’s family decisively turned Rekha down and like Mehra, Kiran who Rekha lovingly called “Kin Kin”, did not stand for her. Prior to Mehra and Kiran Kumar, Rekha had fallen in love with actor Jeetendra, her first A-list co-star popularly known as ‘Jumping Jack.’ During the making of Ek Bechara (1972) in Shimla, Rekha and Jeetendra reportedly had a steaming romance in the cold mountains. “This was for the first time, perhaps, that she felt loved and respected. Jeetendra brought a sparkle to Rekha’s eyes. Rekha did not hold back and openly talked about their closeness,” Usman writes in the book quoting her, “You cannot come close, really close, to a man without making love.” According to the book, Jeetendra’s affair with Rekha ended when the actress heard him telling a junior artiste that “she” (Rekha) was “time-pass.” Apparently, Jeetendra was unwilling to part ways with girlfriend Shobha (subsequently Jeetendra’s wife) who was an air hostess then. The biographer claims actor Biswajeet forcibly kissed Rekha when she was barely 15 and a new comer to Bollywood. “The shooting of Anjana Safar was underway in Bombay's Mahboob Studio. As soon as the director Raj Nawathe said 'action', Biswajeet took Rekha in his arms and pressed his lips on hers. Rekha was stunned. This kiss had never been mentioned to her." "The camera kept rolling; neither was the director ordering 'cut' nor was Biswajeet letting go of her. For all of five minutes, Biswajeet kept kissing Rekha. Unit members were whistling and cheering. Her eyes were tightly shut but they were full of tears,” Usman writes, adding, “Recalling the day, Biswajeet referred to the incident as Raja Nawathe's idea. Raja had insisted that he kiss Rekha, not yet fifteen, catching her by surprise. Biswajeet maintained that it was not his fault, that he was merely working on the director's instructions. 'It was not for my enjoyment, but important for the film. Rekha felt betrayed and was furious,' admitted Biswajeet." In 1969, the Asia edition of Life magazine did a cover story on Bollywood, “India’s kissing crisis: To kiss or not to....” James Shephard, an American journalist came to do the story. Rekha agreed to be on the cover. Life magazine published two photographs of Biswajeet and Rekha kissing. “One was a still from Anjana Safar and other was taken specially for the magazine.” When Rekha’s affair with “Vin Vin” and “Kin Kin” ended, Usman quotes Rekha as making a confidential observation, “It's is sheer fluke that I have not got pregnant so far, though I would not mind having a baby without marriage – I love kids.” Disclaimer: The opinions, beliefs and views expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this website are personal and do not reflect the opinions, beliefs and views of ABP News Network Pvt Ltd.