First ever exhibition of wildlife photographs of actor Waheeda Rehman

BHOPAL: Lights, camera, action and Waheeda Rehman would send the nation’s heart throbbing with her dignified allure. But there’s a best-kept secret about the starry-eyed actor, who ruled the silver screen in the Fifties and Sixties — Waheeda Rehman, the photographer. And this was revealed during an exclusive exhibition of her photography at Bhopal on Wednesday.
Photography has been a passion for the Bollywood star and she pursued this with similar verve while she would act before rolling cameras.The power, mystique and beauty of nature shot in the wilds of Kenyan safari of Masai Mara, South Africa and closer home in Bandhavgarh give a rare insight into her talent.
These 40 photographs — never-before-seen pictures — were clicked by her during her recent excursions.
"I have visited nearly every national park in India, including Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh," said yesteryears screen goddess. "I am still learning photography," she said.
By her own account, Guru Dutt was her mentor. However, for the elegant lady who took her own camera to the film set, said, "Noted Indian cinematographer Fali Mistry and his younger brother Jal Mistry and VK Murty (Guru Dutt's regular cameraman) taught me the finer points of photography."
Waheeda pursued her passion with an old standard 'Rolleiflex' (twin lens reflex camera). "Don't go crazy clicking, we were told. Those were the days of film rolls and we waited for developed shots to arrive. It is something youngsters today cannot relate to with everything digital," she said.
The veteran actress is admittedly not tech savvy or 'active' on social networking. However, she has kept pace with developments in photography. In short kurta and slacks, she boarded a jeep on a Kenyan safari, where one of her team members was a young 15 year-old-girl.
"Youngsters need to experience wildlife. It should be mandatory in school," she said, when asked if she considered herself an wildlife activist.
Photographs shot by Waheeda Rehman were displayed at Samanvay Bhawan. "We did not tell Waheedaji that her collection of photographs would be displayed," said Tigerland India film festival (TIFF) organiser.
"She was unable to email it herself. When we received wildlife photographs clicked by Waheedaji I was surprised. We decided to hold an exhibition and inform just ahead of the event," a TIFF organiser said.
TIFF is an initiative to promote wildlife conservation and awareness through visual media.
Nagaland principal chief conservator of forests M Lokeswara Rao received the first Tigerland India Bio-diversity Conservation Award here on Wednesday. Top forest official of Nagaland received the award in presence of Waheeda Rehman. TIFF recognised Nagaland forest department's contribution to conservation of migratory Amur falcons, which arrive at Nagaland's Wokha district during winter.
Enabling Amur falcons' migration pattern, the department used satellite, an intervention for which won them an international award. Few Amur falcons were tracked with 5gm transmitters.