Top 75 Waheeda Rehman Quotes

While it’s great that some actors can do any character with conviction, I’d probably look odd doing anything unreal.

I never had any hang-ups about playing a secondary role.

I was quite adamant that I will not change my name as it was given by my parents.

Girl friends tend to drift away after marriage due to certain responsibilities but Nanda and I remained close friends even after I got married.

Guru Dutt was a serious person, yes. He used to be very impatient, not with the artistes, but with the technicians – especially the camera crew.

It’s exciting to work with new directors with new ideas.

After a certain age, when you are married and have kids your priorities change.

I love Huma Qureshi. She was amazing in ‘Gangs Of Wasseypur.’ I also love Richa Chaddha. She played a mother in ‘Gangs Of Wasseypur.’ And then I saw ‘Fukrey’ where she played a gangster, and I couldn’t believe it was the same girl.

My very first film in Hindi – ‘CID’ – was with Dev Anand. I was a big fan of his. So you can imagine my excitement and nervousness at doing a film with him. On the very first day on the sets, when I called him ‘Dev Saab’ he turned around and said ‘No no, call me Dev.’

I have always loved taking pictures. When I was young, I would carry a small camera with me on the sets.

It was the ill-fated Dil Diya Dard Liya in 1966, where she played my friend. Though the film didn’t do well, it is remembered for its powerful theme. Shyama was an entertaining friend during the shooting and we continued our friendship even after the film was over.

When it comes to wildlife photography, you need to have luck and patience.

I’ve remained somewhat active in the public sphere with various things, including the occasional film.

We Indians are musical- and dance-minded people. If a child is born or on a wedding, birthday, we dance. But when a song starts unreasonably, it irritates me.

Whether its the National Award, the Padma Bhushan, or several others, nothing will make an artiste happier than the appreciation from the man on the street.

I strongly feel, for me to act in any movie, the director of the movie should be known to me. Though this fact should not be important for most artists. But, you can either call me shy or traditional in my thinking – but this is an important aspect for me to sign movies.

I am extremely satisfied and content. I am happy and I think happiness is enough for everything.

I think it’s the most important thing, education. Because without education it’s difficult to face life.

It’s not just about learning the dialogue and facing the camera, you must somewhat live the role and not always be acting it.

I am highly impressed by Kangana’s performance and direction in ‘Manikarnika.’ She looks absolutely fabulous and beautiful. I am really happy and proud of her.

I am satisfied with my life.

If you want to do something and make up your mind about it, you do take out the time.

Satyajit Ray made films the way films should be made – from start to finish. So whether you’re needed on the set or not, you can spend your whole time thinking about your character.

Script is the most important thing and if the script is good, then whatever role you are doing, it’s fine.

For an actor, one doesn’t have to be a dancer. But because our Hindi movies have so many song and dance sequences, it is preferred if they are good dancers. It’s always advantageous to know dance. But if you don’t, it’s okay.

Initially, I didn’t want to watch ‘The Dirty Picture.’

When ‘Chaudhvin Ka Chand’ was released, it was a big success and very well appreciated. At that time, colour films had just started to be made, and Guru Dutt decided to take the title song of the film, shoot it in colour and rerelease it with new fanfare.

I am grateful to my fans, my directors and my colleagues.

I don’t believe in remakes.

It is strange, but directors have always shown more confidence in my abilities than I’ve in myself.

In the 1960s, songs were an integral part of film narration. I have been fortunate to have had some of the best songs of the era picturised on me, some of which gave me an opportunity to use my skills as a dancer too.

Yes, my acting was not stylised. I always underplayed, maybe because I never learnt acting.

I found myself playing Rajesh Khanna’s mother just nine years after I played his leading lady in ‘Khamoshi.’

Though films need retakes, I have always hated them because they tend to become mechanical.

There used to be no bound scripts and the dialogues were given to us on the day of the shoot. There were no proper makeup rooms.

When I entered the film industry, I hadn’t dreamt that I would work in so many movies and opposite so many reigning and future heroes.

There are so many fabulous heroine-oriented projects happening in Mumbai, whether it’s ‘Kahaani,’ ‘Bobby Jasoos,’ ‘Queen’ or ‘Mardaani.’

Blessed with intelligence, beauty and undeniable talent, Vidya Balan can work wonders if she receives the right script and a sensible director.

I felt Guru Duttji was miscast in ‘Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam;’ he looked older than the role. Shashi Kapoor had an innocent face; he would have looked young and vulnerable.

When I was young, I too enjoyed the charm of the glitzy world of movies. Life changed for me after marriage. My priority and focus was my family.

Working with stalwarts like Satyajit Ray, Soumitra Chatterjee and Rabi Ghosh is an experience I always cherish.

During those days, we formed working relationships that lasted beyond the workplace. So even after ‘Dil Diya Dard Liya,’ Shyama and I would meet often.

I know we’re public figures, but I strongly believe my private life should remain private. What ultimately matters and concerns the world is the work we leave behind.

I don’t have any complaints. I’ve had a satisfying career.

When I was offered ‘Abhijaan,’ I didn’t know any Bengali. But Satyajit Ray insisted, saying my character spoke a mixture of Bhojpuri, Hindi, Urdu and Bengali. I agreed only because he had faith in me.

When I am watching my films, I think I could have done this scene better and I tend to criticise myself. I have liked myself in bits and parts.

Everyone makes films that don’t work.

People come up to me and say that when I did films, that was the golden era, but I don’t agree with that.

I was always fond of giving good education to people.

I have had my innings. And in a way I am happy that I came in an era when a lot of attention was paid to different aspects of filmmaking.

I’m proud to be part of Guru Duttji’s films.

When she offered me ‘Arshinagar,’ Aparna’s interpretation of ‘Romeo & Juliet,’ my first instinct was to say no.

The one actress I can look at and say she could be the next Waheeda Rehman is Vidya Balan.

Both Guru Dutt and Kishore Kumar’s lives had lots of ups and downs… their lives were heavy and sad.

I never stopped myself from doing difficult roles.

I know I was successful, I was liked and loved and respected; so I was happy with that.

For ‘Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam,’ Guru Duttji wanted to cast Shashi Kapoor in the role of Bhootnath. However, Guru Duttji wanted bulk dates from Shashiji because he had already built a huge set and had acquired Meena Kumari’s dates. Shashiji couldn’t spare the required dates even though he was still a newcomer.

Cinema is a product of society.

I was lucky to work with some of the finest filmmakers – Guru Dutt, Satyajit Ray, Vijay Anand, Raj Khosla, Asit Sen.

In my time, if your performance was good, you would get the award. It would be a nail-biting experience. We would always be curious whether our name would be announced as the winner.

I feel lucky to have worked with Satyajit Ray.

Dev Anand was extremely cooperative towards a newcomer. He never made me feel that he was a big star and I, a newcomer.

Success and fame… both are temporary. There today, gone tomorrow.

I travel a lot, read a lot, meet my friends, like to cook occasionally.

I have never worn a sleeveless blouse ever in films or in my personal life, so there was no way that I would wear a bikini.

I always enjoy working with Aparna Sen. She is a dedicated and talented actress, writer, director.

When ‘Sahib Bibi… ‘ was being cast, I wanted to do Chhoti Bahu’s role, but Meena Kumari had been cast. So I didn’t think I would be part of the film.

Guide’ is not just my most iconic film. It is also Dev’s most celebrated work. But I almost didn’t do ‘Guide.’

As an actor, you want to do different things. You don’t want to do same kind of stuff. I like the characters I play to have a graph.

I like Bangalore because the climate is very good.

I’ve shot many films in Hindi and some in Bangla in Kolkata. It’s always a pleasure to be part of the city.

You cannot have lasting success if you are only looking for short term gains.

I got the role of a lifetime in Rajinder Singh Bedi’s ‘Phagun’ in 1973. I had to play Jaya Bachchan’s mother. That did it for me. I was suddenly flooded with mother’s roles.