Requires Perseverance And Passion: Waheeda Rehman On Wildlife Photography At 86

Veteran actress Waheeda Rehman, who has bagged several awards and honours, including a National Film Award, the Padma Bhushan, and the Padma Shri, for her outstanding acting skills, is now embarking on a new adventure. According to reports, the actress, who is currently 86 years old, is pursuing her hobby of wildlife photography after winning everyone’s hearts on the silver screen.

In a recent interview session, the actress shared the importance of following one’s hobbies and interests and expressed her love for wildlife photography. She said, “I have always loved taking pictures. When I was young, I would carry a small camera with me on the sets.” According to Rehman, successful wildlife photography requires perseverance, passion and luck. It’s also critical to truly understand and appreciate the craft, she added.

After taking a break from the film industry, she gave her full time to her passion for photography in a systematic way. She even showed her photographs from her trips across India including Maasai Mara (Kenya), Tanzania, Namibia, Arunachal Pradesh, and Assam in an exhibition among other well-known photographers. It was all made possible by the assistance of her friends and family.

Earlier, Waheeda Rehman also revealed that she is planning on taking up scuba diving next.

Waheeda Rehman made her acting debut in 1955 with the Telugu film Rojulu Marayi. But her work with Hindi filmmaker Guru Dutt on the movies Pyaasa (1957), Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960), and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962) helped her gain huge popularity.

The actress has worked in more than 90 feature films in a career spanning over five decades. Among her achievements are three Filmfare Awards and a National Film Award. She was also honoured with India’s civilian awards, the Padma Shri in 1972 and the Padma Bhushan in 2011. In 2021, she was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

In April 1974, Waheeda Rehman married Shashi Rekhi, who was commonly known by his screen name Kamaljeet. They had worked together in the 1964 film Shagoon. They had two children. After her marriage, they lived in a farmhouse in Bangalore, but after Rekhi’s death on November 21, 2000, Waheeda moved back to Bandra, Mumbai, where she currently lives.