By: Vidya SM

Waheeda Rahman, the epitome of grace, is a favourite among many people including the Big B. The talented actress was born on 14th May 1936 in Hyderabad and brought up in Madras. She is a trained Bharatnatyam dancer. Born in a broadminded Muslim family the danseuse could nurture her ambitions of making it big.

She made her debut in a Telugu film titled Jasimha followed by Rojulu Maravi, which was a huge success. It was this film that Guru Dutt noticed her and offered her a negative role in his film CID (1956). She went on to star in many of Guru Dutt's future films including the most popular one, Pyaasa where she played the role of a prostitute. After Pyaasa, she acted in films like Solva Saal, Twelve O' Clock and Kaala Bazaar. By then she got involved in the 'infamous' relationship with the actor-director Guru Dutt, which was partially reflected in his film Kaagaz Ke Phool.

After the Dutt phase, Waheeda moved on with her career in Satyajit Ray's Aghijaan, which didn't seem to do very well. Later she acted with the veteran Dilip Kumar in Dil Diya Dard Liya and Aadmi. Her career graph soared again when she enthralled the audience in her role as an adulteress in the film Guide opposite Dev Anand, marking the pinnacle in her career with this Classic.

Subsequent hits like Patthar Ke Sanam (1967) and Neelkamal (1968) enhanced Waheeda's star status. Some of the most captivating films she did are legends like Pyaasa, Kagaz Ke Phool, Ram Aur Shyam, Kabhi Kabhi, Bees Saal Baad, Neelkamal, Prem Pujari, Mujhe Jeene Do, Kohra, Teesri Kasam, Khamoshi, Reshma Aur Shabnam, Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam and of course the immensely popular Chaudvin Ka Chand.

In 1974, Waheeda quit the film industry due to her marriage with the actor and businessman Kamaljeet and shifted to a sylvan farmhouse in Bangalore along with their two children Sohail and Kashvi. After almost two decades she made her comeback into tinsel town with films like Kabhi Kabhie, Adalat, Namak Halal, Chaandhi and Lamhe. She was supposed to star opposite the Big B in Karan Johar's Kabie Khushie Kabhie Gham, but the sad demise of her husband prevented her from taking up the project. But after a much-awaited break she made her comeback in Anupam Kher's film Om Jai Jadgish, playing the mother of Anil Kapoor, Fardeen Khan and Abhishek Bachchan. She is currently busy shooting for the film Brides Wanted where she dons the role of lively grandmother matchmaking for her grandson.

The Rosy in Guide, Jabba in Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam , Radha in Khamoshi, Gulab in Pyaasa or any other name, any other character, Waheeda has carved a niche of her own. Young or old Waheeda Rehman still has the energy, the zest and the transcendental appeal of her own. The woman who inspired Shakeel Badayuni to write, "Chaudhvin ka chand ho yah aftaab ho"