When Rekha mentioned reuniting with Big B on screen: He’s my inner conscience

Veteran actors Rekha and Amitabh Bachchan were last seen together in the 1981 film Silsila. The duo, despite their hit on-screen chemistry, never reunited on the screen after the YRF film about relationships. In an interview later, Rekha spoke about the possibility of working again with Big B.
In a 2006 interview with Filmfare on Bachchan’s 64th birthday, the popular Bollywood superstar credited Big B for shaping her as an actor and a human being. She also mentioned fans reaching out to her, asking her about her possible screen reunion with him. Rekha said, “When fans write to me and question why we haven’t worked together after Silsila, the only rational answer that I can think of is that the wait to be able to co-star with Amit ji is worth it. That everything happens for the right reason at the right time.”
She talked about the filmmakers with the potential of offering her and Bachchan the kind of work which would seem worthy of their reunion. Rekha, who is 70 now, never denied the possibility of working with Bachchan again despite all the theories suggesting the same. She asked people to believe in the fact that good things take time to happen.
She added, “And I’d attribute that to the better judgement of the directors, who believe that they have yet to come across something worthy of our calibre. I truly believe that sabr ka phal meetha hota hai (patience’s fruit is sweet). In this case, time is not of the essence. That I know for sure. ”
Appreciating Bachchan for his talent as an actor, Rekha said, “Whatever I am as an actor, I owe 100 per cent to him. I just soaked in whatever he had to offer, just observing him.”
The evergreen diva of the film industry further mentioned that Big B never had an idea about the kind of impact he had left on her life and career choices. She explained, “The irony is that he was totally oblivious of the impact he had on mine or anybody else’s life. Just his presence and spirit contributed to my métier as an actor and as a human being. He’s like my inner conscience, which guides me through life and my performances.”
She went on to talk about the time when she got the opportunities to dub for Bachchan’s other female co-stars, and she took joy in those moments. “My loss is that I didn’t get a chance to share the phenomenal growth of Amit ji as an actor. So would you blame me for being thrilled when his producers requested me to dub for Neetu Singh in Yaaraana, Sridevi in Aakhri Raasta, Jayasudha and the late Soundarya in Sooryavansham?,” she concluded.
Rekha and Amitabh Bachchan worked together in many iconic movies, including Do Anjaane (1976), Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978), Mr Natwarlal (1979) and Alaap (1977). While Bachchan continues to work with a regular dedication, Rekha has stepped away from the movies, it seems. However, she is seen actively participating in social events, awards functions, festive soirées and private gatherings at friends’ places.