Rising star of the 90s, Rukhsar, chose motherhood over career, returned to the silver screen in the 2000s and rebuilt her career with resilience and hard work.
Rukhsar is an Indian film and television actress, known for her roles in both Bollywood movies and TV shows. After making her debut in the early 90s, she took a long break from acting and made a comeback in the 2000s. Her life is nothing short of a movie in itself, given the kinds of troubles that have come her way over the years. However, she went past them through her willpower and continued to impress the audience with her craft.
From her exit from the Salman Khan-starrer, Sanam Bewafa, to her reunion with him 17 years later in God Tussi Great Ho, Rukhsar has come a long way. Her journey of navigating personal and professional challenges with maturity can serve as a powerful source of inspiration to many women.
Rukhsar Rehman was initially cast as the female lead opposite Salman Khan in the 1991 film Sanam Bewafa, but exited the project due to unavoidable circumstances. Talking to ANI, the actress revealed that her father was not agreeable to the terms of the contract offered for the film. She expressed her wish to act as Salman's leading lady back then; however, she respected her family's opinion and ultimately withdrew from the project. According to Rukhsar, she had already filmed for 3-4 days when her family asked her to leave the film. Regarding her missed role in the blockbuster, she said:
"I was to do that film [Sanam Bewafa], but that film had a contract, and my father was not okay with that contract. He said, 'We won't be able to do it.' I had already filmed for 3-4 days before the things changed. Interestingly, the makers went ahead with the character's name Rukhsar only."
After Rukhsar's exit, the role of Sanam Bewafa's female lead went to actress, Chandni. With that, she debuted opposite Salman Khan and rose to overnight stardom after the film's success. Interestingly, the makers kept the character's name as 'Rukhsar' even after the cast change. Viewers really liked Chandni as "Rukhsar" in the movie, and the film was a massive box-office hit.
Although Rukhsar missed the opportunity to star as the lead in Sanam Bewafa, she later reunited with Salman Khan after 17 long years in the 2008 romantic comedy movie, God Tussi Great Ho. The actress played the role of his sister, Madhu Prajapati, in the movie. In the same interview, Rukhsar expressed happiness in being able to work with Salman, saying:
"But years later, I got the opportunity to work with Salman again. I played the role of his sister in 'God Tussi Great Ho'. Had a great time working on that film."
Rukhsar began her career in the early 1990s, starring in films like Yaad Rakhegi Duniya and Inteha Pyar Ki before stepping away from acting. She returned to the industry in 2005 and has since appeared in numerous Bollywood films like PK, Uri: The Surgical Strike, 83 and Khuda Haafiz: Chapter 2 – Agni Pariksha. She also appeared in several television shows and web series, including Kuch Toh Log Kahenge, Tumhari Paakhi and The Gone Game. She last appeared in the Disney+ web series, The Night Manager, also starring Aditya Roy Kapur and Sobhita Dhulipala.
During her career break, Rukhsar entered an arranged marriage with her then-husband, Asad Ahmed, and became a mother by the age of 19. The marriage was troubled to the extent that she had to flee with her 8-month-old daughter, Aisha Ahmed. Following her divorce, she opened a garment boutique in her hometown to support herself and her daughter. She tried giving love a second chance through marriage with Faruk Kabir; however, that did not work out as well. When asked if she regrets quitting acting to start a family, she replied with a definite no. Although she dedicated herself to motherhood, she kept her fire for acting alive and proved herself through her triumphant comeback in the industry.
Rukhsar continues to showcase her talent in Hindi films and web series, and lives a relatively private life. She wholeheartedly embraces the roles she's offered, even if they are for characters significantly older than her real age. Besides rebuilding her own career, she also supports her daughter, Aisha Ahmed, who is also an actress. You might know Aisha as 'Nikhat Rizvi' of the popular teen series, Adulting, or for her frequent link-up with actor, Rohit Saraf. Just like her mother, Rukhsar, she showcases a similar passion for acting.
Rukhsar's experiences highlight the importance of taking initiative to overcome life's obstacles and working towards a better future.
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