Waheeda Rehman once said to C Rajagopalachari, “Musalman ladki Bharatnatyam kar rahi hai”

• Waheeda Rehman recalled her first dance performance and shared her journey in the film industry.
• She made her acting debut at 17 movies.
• She delivered hits like Pyaasa, Kaagaz Ke Phool, Chaudhvin Ka Chand and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam.

Recently, seasoned performer Waheeda Rehman shared memories of her very first dancing performance. She appeared as a guest on the most recent episode of Arbaaz Khan’s talk show The Invincibles, where she discussed her experience breaking into the movie business and revealed a number of little-known facts. When she was just 7 or 8 years old, she stated that she wanted to learn how to dance.
At the age of 17, Waheeda Rehman made her acting debut in the Telugu film Rojulu Marayi (1955). Her career continued to be heavily reliant on dance. Pyaasa (1957), Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960), and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1960) are some of her best-known works (1962). Her most recent appearances were in the 2006 films Delhi 6 with Abhishek Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor and Rang De Basanti with Aamir Khan (2009).

The 85-year-old actor told Arbaaz that she had danced for India’s first viceroy, C. Rajagopalachari, when he inquired about her maiden performance. He was scheduled to visit Visakhapatnam, where her father was then stationed, she said, adding, “C. Rajagopalachari, unka program bana Visakhapatnam ane ke liye (He was to visit Visakhapatnam)”. Unhone kaha, MS Subbulakshmi ko bulao, Kamala Lakshman… And no kisses from Pata… Toh Delhi se ek telegram aya saying no one outside of Visakhapatnam; the artist must be local. They needed local performers for the show but were unable to get any other than a few sitar players. Fir bhi unhone idhar-udhar dhundha toh koi veena bajane wale mil gaye.

Waheeda’s father, Rehman, said, “Toh unhone kaha Rehman abhi toh tujhe karana hi parega apni beti se dance. Waheeda Rehman, toh Musalman ladki hai, C Rajagopalachari ne puch ye naam declare kia? They convinced my father to have me do Bharatnatyam. Maine aaj tak nahi suna Musalman ladki Bharatnatyam kar rahi hai. C Rajagopalachari questioned how a Muslim girl could execute Bharatnatyam dance when my name was announced during the performance),” she continued.

She added that C Rajagopalachari continued to praise the senior actor’s father, an IAS officer at the time, in his speech. She cited the Viceroy as stating, “I would like to meet him” in reference to her father. Extremely daring and brave of him.’ She remembered that her event-related photo was featured the following day on the front page of a newspaper. She is shown in the picture receiving a medal.

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