Stubbornness `Guided' my career, says Waheeda

JAIPUR: “What's in a name?“ Almost everything, especially for Waheeda Rehman. At an era when actors were asked to change their names, a 16-year-old girl stood up against this trend. Bollywood biggies, including Yusuf Khan was rechristened as Dilip Kumar and Mahjabeen Bano was renamed as Meena Kumari. But the young Waheeda stood ground and finally got her way . This was revealed by the 76year-old veteran actor at Jaipur Literature Festival on Thursday .
“Main bahut akadu thi ( I was very stubborn),“ she said amid applause by the audience. Even as rain played spoilsport and her session Mujhe Jeene Do, was shifted from Front Lawns to Baithak, her session was jam-packed. People grabbed every corner of the venue and many of them were seen standing on chairs to get a glimpse of the 'Guide' star.
As she took centrestage and the moderator was busy announcing her arrival, the song `Aaj Phir Jeeney Ki Tamanna Hai' was played in the background and the graceful Waheeda received huge applause. Biographer and film historian Nasreen Munni Kabir and writer and mythologist Arshia Sattar also participated in the session. On her 'Guide' experience: “It was an offbeat flick for the 60s,“ she grinned and said. “I think 45 years ago Rosy's character was pretty progressive. The film had a nice story and bold characters. All of them were selfish yet loving people.“
Been part of films like `CID', `Pyaasa', `Kagaz Ke Phool', `Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam', `Mujhe Jeene Do', `Reshma Aur Shera', `Khamoshi', `Om Jai Jagdish', `Rang De Basanti' and `Dilli 6', she was asked about her experiences of working with the style icon and legendary Dev Anand.“First I had met him on the sets of CID. I could not believe that I was working with him. Since we were taught to respect seniors and elders, I started calling him `Dev sahab' but he immediately urged me to call him `Dev'. He ignored when I again called him `Dev sahab'. Gradually , I scaled down to Dev.“
On why she was adamant not to change her original name, she said, “I remember Guru Duttji invited me to sign a film contract. I was told to change my name. I asked them what was wrong with my existing name given by my parents and I clearly said that I would not budge from my stand. They had even told me that actors of that era too had changed their names like Dilip Kumar, Madhu Bala and Meena Kumari. It was unbelievable for them how a 16-year-old girl was possessive and adamant on not changing her name and finally they surrendered to my demand to retain my name.“
On working with Guru Dutt and Satyajit Ray: “Guru Dutt used to go in for take after take and it was difficult to see a smile on his face. However, Ray was very clear on what he wanted, he was an editor.Guru Duttji was also an editor but Ray also told me since the Bangla flim industry budget was very limited, he did not have the luxury of taking take after take.“
Asked whom she trusted among the heroines during her times, a very philosophical Waheeda said, “We all accepted destiny and remained satisfied. That is very important. However, my best friend was Nanda since I met her during filming of `Kala Bazaar'.“
On her experience acting in `Sahib, Biwi Aur Ghulam': “Guru Duttji clearly told me that he will not give me the lead as I did not look like a married woman, instead I resembled a school girl, the maestro said. Then, the director of the film Abrar Alvi convinced me to do the role of Jaba. Guru Duttji was not keen to let me do that role, still I was adamant and did that.“
Her session ended with numbers like `Paan Khaaye Saiyaan Hamaar', `Raat Bhi Hai Kuchh', `Kahin Pe Nigahen'.