Films of the great Waheeda Rehman that moved us

Her effervescent acting and charm is still captivating

Subtle expressions, the slow raising of her eyes, and the emotions with which Waheeda Rehman delivered her dialogues made every watch of hers enjoyable. An actress par excellence and a dancer of exception, there is no match to her finesse. She is noted for her contributions to different genres and roles from the 1950s till the 1970s.

Pyaasa
This film never gets old and is one of the greatest classics of Indian cinema. The story of a struggling poet played by Guru Dutt, his life struggles after being disowned by the family and then finding shelter at a brothel and finally finding an admirer in Gulaboo aka Waheeda Rehman is a must-watch. This black-and-white masterpiece is remembered for its compelling performances, music, and lyrics by Sahir Ludhianvi.

Kagaz Ke Phool
A film on film making, with Guru Dutt playing the depressed director and Rehman the newfound actress is an enchanting tale. A cult classic, the film follows a celebrated film director who is uninspired by the glitz of studio era Bollywood but then he discovers a new face, who tends to be his muse helping him ease his restlessness.

Guide
Talking about WaheedaRehman’s film and not mention Guide will be incomplete. Directed by Vijay Anand and Tad Daneilwski under the Navketan Films, it stars DevAnand and WaheedaRehman in lead roles. The film is based on R K Narayan novel of the same name and explores a transformation from materialism to a release from worldly attachments. Apart from the story, its beautiful soundtrack and stunning sets are mesmerizing.

Chaudhvin Ka Chand
This film is the last of Guru Dutt’s great works. The film revolves around a Muslim social drama set in Lucknow of two best friends who fall in love with Jameela played by Waheeda Rehman. The film’s title track, Chaudhvin ka chand ho ya aftab ho is still used today to describe Rehman’s classic beauty and grace. This film was a box-office hit then and was one of the top-grossing films of 1960.

Sahib Biwi aur Ghulam

Directed by Guru Dutt, the film provides a nostalgic look into the decaying Bengali feudal system at the same time unraveling a murder mystery. The film is based on the Bengali novel, Saheb Bibi Golam by Bimal Mitra that shows the tragic fall of the haveli-dom and feudalism in Bengal during the British Raj. The story explores a platonic friendship between a lonely wife of an aristocrat and a servant.

She is a recipient of a National Film Award, two Filmfare Awards, a Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award and the Centenary Award for Indian Film Personality. Rehman is and will always be cited as one of Bollywood’s greatest and beautiful actresses.