Eternal enchantress of Indian cinema

Dada Saheb Phalke Awardee Waheeda Rahman is a star-studded actress who defined an era in Indian cinema with her combination of beauty and talent. She's a heroine who has managed to avoid controversies and rumours.

The song 'Chaudvin ka Chand Ho' in which Waheeda performed with Guru Dutt is timeless even today in the minds of the audience and music connoisseurs. Hailing from Chengalpettu in Tamil Nadu, Waheeda Rahman has been a perennial figure in Bollywood for almost five decades.

Waheeda entered the hearts of fans alongside great filmmakers like Guru Dutt, Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Vijay Anand and Rajesh Khanna.

She made her debut on the silver screen with the Tamil film 'Alibaba and 40 Thieves.' In 1955, the Telugu film 'Rojulu Marayi' marked her first appearance in theaters. The renowned filmmaker Guru Dutt brought her to Bollywood after witnessing her performance. In the crime thriller 'C.I.D.,' she played the role of Kamini under Guru Dutt's guidance. Her first leading role was in the super hit movie 'Pyaasa,' which is considered one of the best Indian movies of all time. With Guru's blessings, Waheeda won the hearts of Bollywood audiences. Classics like 'Chaudhvin Ka Chand,' 'Kagaz Ke Phool,' 'Twelve O'Clock,' etc., with Guru, solidified her place in the hearts of the audience. 'Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam' was her last film with Guru Dutt in which she played a supporting role.

Films with Dev Anand further elevated Waheeda's stardom. 'C.I.D.,' 'Sola Saal,' 'Kaala Bazaar,' 'Baat Ek Raat Ki,' 'Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja,' 'Guide,' and 'Prem Pujari' became hits. She also acted opposite Soumitra Chatterjee in Satyajit Ray's 'Abhijaan,' and her role in 'Khamoshi' alongside Rajesh Khanna was also highly acclaimed.

Born on February 3, 1938, she is the youngest of four daughters of District Magistrate Abdur Rahman and Mumtaz Begum. Rahman supported his daughter's desire to study Bharatanatyam despite opposition from the community. Her husband is Shashi Shekhar, with whom she acted in the film 'Shagun' in 1964. They have two children: Sohail Rekhvi and Kashvim Rekhvi. Their daughter Kashvim supervised the script of the 2005 release 'Mangal Pandey.' A philanthropist, Waheeda is an ambassador for Rang De, an organization that advocates for education for all.