Rekha was once forcibly kissed by co-star on set without her consent; He claimed, 'it was not for my enjoyment... but important for the film'

Veteran actress Rekha is one of the most talented and loved atcresses we have in Bollywood. Despite being the daughter of the legendary Gemini Ganesan, Rekha and her family faced financial struggles, and her lineage didn’t guarantee her a smooth entry into Hindi cinema. Even after landing lead roles, she faced harassment on set, revealing the harsh realities behind her rise to stardom.

The Controversial Scene in Do Shikari
Yasser Usman’s book Rekha: The Untold Story sheds light on a troubling incident from Rekha’s early career. According to the book, actor Biswajeet, director Kuljeet Pal, and cinematographer Raja Nawathe conspired to have Biswajeet plant a kiss on Rekha’s lips the moment the camera started rolling—without her consent. When the scene was shot, Biswajeet went through with the plan, leaving Rekha shocked and feeling betrayed. While Biswajeet acknowledged Rekha’s anger, he insisted that his actions were not for personal enjoyment but were deemed necessary for the film.



Director’s Conflicting Claim
However, director Kuljeet Pal offered a different version, insisting that Rekha was fully aware of the kissing scene and had given her consent. He claimed that Rekha had no objections to the scene and was informed that since such scenes were rare for Hindi film heroines at the time, it would be better for her to publicly express her discomfort. Still, according to him, she knew about the scene from the start.



A Career That Rose Against All Odds
Although filming for Do Shikari began in 1969, the movie wasn’t released until 1979. Meanwhile, Rekha made her official Hindi film debut with Sawan Bhadon in 1970. Throughout the 1970s, she appeared in popular films like Dharmatma, Ghar, Muqaddar Ka Sikander, and Mr. Natwarlal, steadily establishing herself as a leading actress of the decade.
Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”