A personification of grace and talent, Waheeda Rehman, reigned supreme over Indian filmdom for three long decades. She was the quintessence of classic Muslim beauty with a truly transcendental appeal. Age has not dimmed her aura: the brilliance in her eyes and the attractive smile she wears across her lips have survived the ravages of time. Born on May 14, 1936 , in Hyderabad Kashmir on her filming assignments, and today she is here after a gap of 26 years. Kashmir has always been on her mind since her last visit, the versatile actress says in an exclusive conversation with Kashmir Observer chief correspondent M Farooq Shah.
FAROOQ SHAH: You've said that you've visited Kashmir around 26 years before. Do you feel any difference between 'the Kashmir then' and 'the Kashmir now'?
WAHEEDA REHMAN:
FS: How would you compare your times with the present, given the fact that a lot of indecency, vulgarity and obscenity have crept in to the Indian movies?
WR: Ours was the golden period of Indian cinema. There has been a strange change the world over with a sharp decline in morality. Indian cinema, too, has been overwhelmed by this change. I particularly get cheesed off on remixes wherein something else plays in the background and something else is being shown. I personally don't like that at all. Whatever's is happening in the film industry today can never be regarded as good film making.
FS: Have you ever been invited to hold some position on the censor board to have some real scissoring done on the tape?
WR: I've never held any position on the censor board.
FS: In your times, films were replete with good lyrics, good music and good themes. That seems to have vanished into thin air.
WR: In our times, love stories were being made abundantly which had good lyrics. The new trend, with the emphasis on violence, has marred the poetry as well. Moreover, Urdu speaking people have dwindled over a period of time, therefore the decay and decline in the lyrics.
FS: If you were to rank three of your films, which would you name as first, second and third?
WR: Guide is the crowning glory, followed by Mujhe Jeenay Do and Khamoshi.
FS: Have you said adieu to films?
WR: I wish I could. I get occasional offers to work, and having spent so much time in the industry, I can't muster the courage to say 'No' to them. I've recently worked in a film Om Jai Jagdish directed by Mr. Anupam Kher. Right now, I'm busy with another film with Girish Karnad.
FS: Apart from films, which you've said you do occasionally now, what're your other engagements that keep you busy?
WR: I'm working with a charity by the name Pratham. It looks after the underprivileged and less fortunate, especially to cater to their educational needs. Pratham means the first thing and education should be the first thing on one's mind.
FS: Tell us something about your family. Are your children too working in films?
WR: I've a son, Suhail who's done his MBA and works for a private company and a daughter Kashvi who is a jewelry designer.
FS: If you were to wish for one single thing , what would you ask for?
WR: I would definitely wish that peace returned to Kashmir as soon as it can. I'd like Kashmir to thrive the way it used to a long time ago.
FS: You've worked with a number of stars of the yesteryears, such as Guru Dutt, Raj Kapoor, Rehman, Mehmood and several others, who've left us for good. Do you miss them?
WR: It tears me apart to see people I have worked with leaving one after the other. You see, Mr. Sunil Dutt passed away recently. Sometimes a strange silence takes over whenever I think about them, and then it all appears to have been a dream. I think it's my turn now.
(The interview appeared in Kashmir Observer)
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