Rekha says no to Umrao Jaan sequel?

Yesteryear actress Rekha immortalized the Indian courtesan on the silver screen in the film Umrao Jaan. Rekha even walked away with the National Film Award for Best Actress (1981).
Now director Muzaffar Ali is planning a sequel sans Rekha. In an interview to TOI, one of the film’s writers, Javed Siddiqui was quoted saying, “"Two years back, we started working on the second installment.And Rekha was more than glad to do the film. But now, the plan has changed." When contacted, Ali said, "Rekha doesn't fit into my scheme of things now."
However, according to a contrary report, it was Rekha apaprently who turned down the sequel.
According to Mid-Day, insiders from the industry say that Rekha was not keen to be a part of this sequel.
Umrao Jaan not only gave Rekha recognition but made her iconic. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan tried to reprise Rekha’s role in JP Dutta’s remake of Umrao Jaan but the film bombed at the Box Office.