Waheeda Rehman Family Tree: The Story Behind Bollywood's Silent Star

Waheeda Rehman, born 3 February 1938 in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, British India, is a Bollywood actress of the 1950s-70s — 90+ films; iconic in Pyaasa (1957), Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960), Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962), Guide (1965), Teesri Kasam (1966), Neel Kamal (1968), Khamoshi (1970), Reshma Aur Shera (1971); Padma Shri (1972), Padma Bhushan (2011), Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2021).

The Family's Roots: A Tamil Muslim District Collector Family

The Rehman family was well-educated; father was a British-era District Collector.

Her Parents

Father: Mohammed Abdur Rehman — Tamil Muslim; District Collector (British India Civil Service).

Mother: Muthulakshmi Rehman — Tamil Muslim.

Her Sisters

Waheeda has 3 elder sisters (family had 4 daughters).

Her Husband: Shashi Rekhi (Kamaljeet)

Kamaljeet (Shashi Rekhi) — Bollywood actor (Shagoon 1964 — Waheeda's co-star). Married Waheeda in 1974. Died 2000.

Their Children

Sohail Rekhi, born 1974 — son; hotelier.

Kashvi Rekhi, born 1977 — daughter.

The Rehman Family Tree at a Glance

Father: Mohammed Abdur Rehman — District Collector.

Mother: Muthulakshmi Rehman.

Sisters: 3 elder.

Husband: Shashi Rekhi (Kamaljeet) (d. 2000; m. 1974) — actor.

Children: Sohail Rekhi (b. 1974) — hotelier; Kashvi Rekhi (b. 1977).

Waheeda Rehman:

  • Born 3 February 1938, Chengalpattu
  • Trained in Bharatanatyam classical dance
  • Telugu film debut: 1955 (Rojulu Marayi — as dancer)
  • Bombay debut: CID (1956) discovered by Guru Dutt
  • Pyaasa (1957) — career-defining; frequent Guru Dutt collaborator
  • Filmfare Best Actress: 1966 (Guide), 1969 (Neel Kamal)
  • National Film Award: 1971 (Reshma Aur Shera)
  • Padma Shri (1972), Padma Bhushan (2011), Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2021)
  • Still working occasionally in 2020s

What the Rehman Family Story Teaches Us

A District-Collector father. Three elder sisters. A brief but treasured marriage to actor Kamaljeet (died 2000). Two children. A career that produced Bollywood's most-loved Guru Dutt heroine and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award at 83.

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Waheeda story carries the same lesson. Some careers still receive Dadasaheb Phalke Award at 83.

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