Rekha is one of the most celebrated actresses in the Bollywood industry. She ruled the 70’s and 80’s with her beauty and presence and continues to do so. The legendary actress has left a remarkable mark in the industry. Rekha even at the age of sixty-six is giving tough competition to upcoming actresses. The evergreen actress seems to age backward as she keeps getting beautiful each year. Rekha’s beauty, fashion, and personality remain unmatched even to date. But the cards weren’t always on her side. Rekha had to go through a lot of hardships to reach where she is.
Rekha starred in movies such as Raampur Ka Lakshman (1972), Kahani Kismat Ki (1973), and Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye (1974) which were huge successes. But despite her talent, Rekha was in the news for all the wrong reasons. She was criticized for being obese and dark-skinned. Rekha once said, “I was called the ‘Ugly Duckling’ of Hindi films because of my dark complexion and South Indian features. I used to feel deeply hurt when people compared me with the leading heroines of the time and said I was no match for them. I was determined to make it big on sheer merit.”
Rekha transformed herself from a so-called ugly duckling to a beautiful swan. But the change wasn’t easy as it involved a restrictive diet, workout, Rekha also had to resort to skin lightening treatments to better her complexion. In an interview, Rekha revealed, “It took me two and a half years to quit the junk food and chocolate habit and lose weight and then slowly everything changed. Meanwhile, the film ‘Ghar’ was released and people saw my look, weight, and style that all this happened in one night, but it is not true. All this did not happen overnight, but it took two and a half years to change it.”
Rekha’s transformation was one one of the most epic transformations that the industry has witnessed. The legendary actress had to give up and go through a lot to get where she is today. Let us know what you think about Rekha’s transformation in the comment section.