When Rekha's Father Gemini Ganesan Left Her When She Was A Baby: 'Don't Think He Noticed Me, He Was...'

Veteran actress Rekha is among the most prolific names in Indian cinema. As the actress turns 70 on Thursday, October 10, fans are interested to know more about her personal life. Besides her films, Rekha’s personal relationships have also often been in the news and her relationship with her father, Gemini Ganesan, is among the more complicated ones.

Rekha’s father, the late actor Gemini Ganesan, left her mother, Pushpavalli when Rekha was just a baby. Pushpavalli was also a famous actress. On an appearance on Simi Garewal’s show, Rekha said, “I had a wonderful childhood. Whatever little that was, because I grew up very fast.”

Reflecting on her parents’ relationship, Rekha said, “It was a romantic relationship, and anything that has romance involved isn’t easy.” When asked if Rekha had lived with her father growing up, she said, “I was a baby when he moved out. I don’t remember that… We were not given the impression that something was out of the ordinary or dysfunctional.”

Gemini Ganesan went on to marry Savitri soon after he left Pushpavalli. When asked if this second marriage affected Pushpavalli, Rekha said, “If it did, she didn’t tell us. She was just so dizzy in my father’s love, and that’s what I saw.” Rekha recalled how she went to the same school as her step-siblings and saw her father drop them off.

When asked if she ever approached him at school, she said, “No. I never approached him. I never had the chance. He would just drop them and go.” She added, “I don’t think he noticed me. I don’t think he saw me.” “Even looking at my father was enough,” she reflected.

Rekha reflected, “Looking back, maybe I did miss him. But when you haven’t tasted something, you don’t know what it means. I didn’t know what the word ‘father’ meant.”

Rekha is considered one of the finest actresses in the Indian cinema industry. She has starred in more than 180 films. From strong to complicated, she has effortlessly adapted to each role to deliver her best performances. Some of the notable films of the actress include Kalyug, Vijeta, Utsav, Umrao Jaan, Khoon Bhari Maang, Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi, Dharma and others.