‘Sridevi brought me here’

Rekha, who was in Hyderabad recently to receive the ANR National Award, spoke in fluent Telugu as she recalled her association with the legendary actor and the city.

On Sunday evening, Bollywood actress Rekha was the cynosure of all eyes at the ANR National Awards function in Hyderabad. The actress, who surprised the audience by speaking for more than 15 minutes in fluent Telugu, virtually stole the entire show!

When Nagarjuna erred about her debut Telugu film, Rekha immediately corrected him and said, “I made my debut with the Telugu film Intiguttu when I was just a year old.” She added that she got her first break in Telugu with Amma Kosam, thanks to her mother and popular yesteryear actress Anjali, whom she fondly referred to as ‘Athiah’. Rekha went on to narrate how she lent her voice to Sridevi for one of her films. Correcting Nag for a second time for saying that Sridevi did not know Hindi, the actress clarified, “She knew Hindi, but she was busy at that time, so I gave my voice to her.”

Recalling the early days of her career, the actress said, “My uncle Vedatham Raghavayya garu used to often talk about a person who was smart, focused, funny and also quite shy, but who would magically transform once the camera was on. My mother revealed that he was Akkineni Nageswara Rao, and that’s how I heard about him initially.”

Interestingly, the very first film that she saw was Suvarna Sundari, starring ANR and Anjali. “I saw that film nearly a hundred times and directly or indirectly, both Nageswara Rao garu and Anjali aunty influenced my career. Today, I am standing in front of you because of those two personalities,” said the most glamorous and enchanting women in the movie industry, who admitted that every actor has ups and downs in life.

“The early ’80s were very sedate. At that time, I got offers from here (Hyderabad) from  Rama Rao, Poornachadra Rao, Dasari Narayana Rao and K. Viswanath. I used to stay at Banjara Hills. Every day, I would walk from my house to Annapurna Studios, and pass by ANR and Subbarami Reddy’s houses. I always wished that I could meet the legend and seek his blessings. My dream came true when he invited me for lunch one day and gave me valuable advice that I cherish till today,” she recalled, adding, “I know each and every spot in Annapurna Studios and would watch the sunset every day.”

Apparently, Rekha’s mother’s last wish was to see her in a Telugu film. “When my mother was in hospital, she asked me to do a Telugu film,” said the actress.

Addressing the late actress Sridevi as her younger sister and praising one of the greatest actresses, Rekha said, “I am receiving an award alongside my chinnari chellayya. ‘Because of you (Sridevi) I am here, you are the one who brought me here’,” adding, “I came here once for my mother, and I will come here again for her.”