Bollywood diva Rekha turns 60

Bollywood screen diva Rekha, who mesmerised audiences in the '70s and '80s with hits like 'Muqaddar Ka Sikander', 'Do Anjaane', 'Khoobsurat' and 'Umrao Jaan', turned 60 today.

Rekha says there would not be any celebration around her birthday as she feels every day is special.

"I actually visit the temple every day but I genuinely don't understand the importance that people give to their birthdays or any special day, be it a festival or a birthday. I believe that every day is a celebration and every day I'm born anew and genuinely try to live every day differently," she said in an interview to a radio channel.

Rekha said she remembers her mother Pushpavalli, whom she fondly called 'amma' on her birthday.

The actress attributes her glow to the immense love she continues to get over the years from people and the good genes that she inherited from her parents-- Gemini Ganesan and Pushpavalli.

The extremely private actress, who has acted in 180 films in a career spanning over 40 years, continues to enthrall her fans with her occasional Bollywood outings, most recent being 'Koi... Mil Gaya' (2003), 'Krrish' (2006) and 'Sadiyaan' (2010).

Rekha is now gearing up for her next Bollywood release 'Super Nani', in which her character of a grandmother is unappreciated by her children and husband. With the help of her grandson, played by Sharman Joshi, she transforms into a glamorous model.

She will next be seen in Aditya Roy Kapur and Katrina Kaif-starrer 'Fitoor'. Directed by Abhishek Kapoor, the film is an adaptation of 'Great Expectations' and will see Rekha playing the infamous character of Miss Havisham.

Her other role is in Amitabh Bachchan starrer and R Balki directed 'Shamitabh', which is slated for a February 6 release next year. It is not clear whether she is sharing screenspace with Bachchan in the film but it is their first movie together after 'Silsila' (1981).

Hailed as one of the finest talents of Hindi film industry, Rekha started her career in 1966 at the age of 12 in National award-winning Telugu film 'Rangula Ratnam'. Four years later, she made her debut as the lead actress in Bollywood film 'Sawan Bhadon' opposite Navin Nischol.

Though many of her early movies were box office successes, Rekha got recognition as a leading actress only in mid 1970s.

'Do Anjaane' in 1976 opposite Bachchan was her first performance-oriented film, where she played an ambitious and greedy wife who ditches her husband for a career in films.

It was followed by 1978 film 'Ghar', co-starring Vinod Mehra, which earned her accolades for her sensitive portrayal of a rape victim. In the same year came 'Muqaddar Ka Sikander', again opposite Bachchan, which was an instant success. They starred together in films like 'Suhaag', 'Ganga Ki Saugandh', 'Ram Balram' and 'Mr Natwarlal'.

The diva's on-screen chemistry with Bachchan is touted as one of the best in Bollywood and they starred in many films together including Yash Choopra's romantic saga' Silsila', which was the pair's last movie together and is said to be inspired by Rekha and Amitabh's relationship in real life.

Rekha's one of the best performances is considered in the 1980 comedy 'Khoobsurat', where she played a young vivacious girl, who tries to bring joy to a family, reeling under strict norms set by the matriarch of the house.

She won her maiden National Award for her film 'Umrao Jaan' in 1981, where she played the titular role of the courtesan and poetess from 19th century luscknow. Her other notable films are, Shyam Benegal's 'Kalyug' (1981), Govind Nihalani's 'Vijeta' (1982), Girish Karnad's 'Utsav'(1984) and Gulzar's 'Ijaazat' (1987).

She starred in lesser films in 1990s and 2000s, with the notable ones being 'Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi' (1996), 'Zubeidaa' (2001), 'Koi... Mil Gaya' (2003) and 'Krrish' (2006)

Rekha was awarded with a Padma Shree honour in the same year for her contribution to cinema. She is also a Rajya Sabha member.