Rekha Denied Secret Wedding Rumours With Vinod Mehra, Said His Mother Thought Of Her As 'S*x Maniac'
As Rekha turns 71, revisit how she denied marrying Vinod Mehra in secret and recalled his mother allegedly calling her a 'badnaam actress' and a 's*x maniac.'
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleBollywood's 'It' girl, Rekha, celebrated her 71st birthday on October 10, 2026, but her timeless beauty, iconic style, and remarkable screen presence continue to fascinate fans. Apart from her successful career, the personal life of the veteran actress has always been of interest to the public, especially her alleged relationships with high-profile names in the industry, including Vinod Mehra.
The two stars worked together in films such as Ghar and Aurat Aurat Aurat, and their on-screen chemistry fuelled speculation about a romance off-screen. Over the years, reports claimed that Rekha and Vinod had secretly married in 1973, only for the relationship to run into opposition from his mother. Rekha, however, later denied that she had married the actor, while once recalling the harsh words she believed his mother used to describe her.
Rekha recalled Vinod Mehra's mother calling her a 'badnaam actress'
According to Yasser Usman's biography, Rekha: The Untold Story, Rekha and Vinod reportedly grew close after her alleged breakup with Jeetendra. Their relationship became a frequent subject of entertainment gossip, with accounts suggesting that the two had considered marriage. However, reports also claimed that Vinod's mother, Kamla Mehra, disapproved of the actress.
Rekha addressed the alleged hostility in an interview, recalling how Vinod's mother supposedly viewed her reputation. As quoted in reports, she said, "To her (Vinod's mother), I am not just an actress, but I am a badnaam actress with a rotten past and a reputation for being a sex-maniac.' For Vinod's sake, she tolerated me in the beginning. Now she won't tolerate me at all.'
The comment gave a glimpse of the social scrutiny that Rekha faced in the initial days of her film career. Her strong screen image and the constant speculation about her personal life made her a frequent subject of gossip, and her alleged relationship with Vinod Mehra was another topic of public interest.
Some accounts of their rumoured romance also described a dramatic confrontation at the Mehra family home after an alleged secret wedding in Calcutta. However, these stories have circulated largely through biographical accounts and entertainment reports, and the marriage itself was later denied by Rekha.
Rekha reacted sharply when asked about her alleged secret wedding with Vinod Mehra
In 2004, Rekha appeared on Simi Garewal's talk show, Rendezvous with Simi Garewal, where the host brought up the long-running rumour that she had married Vinod in 1973. When Simi said, "In 1973, you married Vinod Mehra,' Rekha looked taken aback and responded, "Excuse me? Excuse me?'
Simi pressed her for an answer, asking whether she had married him for even two months. Rekha then dismissed the claim, saying, "No. Like I was married to Faruq Abdullah, you mean? No, anybody can say anything.'
She added, "Are you asking me?… But I don't want to (answer); it is not important.' Despite her irritation at the question, Rekha spoke warmly about Vinod, describing him as someone who had remained close to her. "Vinod Mehra was always a well-wisher; he was always very very close to me,' she said. But the actress's response did little to end public curiosity about their relationship.
Their alleged romance remained a popular subject in Bollywood gossip, and accounts of their relationship have not all agreed on whether the two ever really married. Tabassum, who was reportedly close to Vinod, was quoted in a television programme as saying that the actor had loved Rekha but did not marry her.
Eventually, Vinod went on to marry other women, including Meena Broca and Bindiya Goswami, before marrying Kiran. He died of a heart attack on October 30, 1990, at the age of 45. Rekha, meanwhile, married businessman Mukesh Agarwal in 1990. Their marriage ended tragically when Agarwal died by suicide later that year, only months into the marriage. Rekha never married again.
Despite her marriage ending in widowhood within less than a year, the Umrao Jaan actress has continued to wear sindoor on various occasions. According to her, it's more of a fashion choice now, as Rekha believes it really "suits" her, especially when she walks out in her iconic saree looks.
Decades later, the rumours surrounding Rekha and Vinod continue to draw Bollywood's attention, partly because the actress has rarely discussed her private life in detail. On her 71st birthday, the story remains a reminder of how closely her public image was scrutinised all her life, even as she built a lasting legacy as one of Hindi cinema's most recognisable stars.
Her love life has been anything but a fairytale, but in her professional career, Rekha remains an ever-enigmatic diva.
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