When Rekha said Vinod Mehra kissed her on her birthday, denied marriage rumours with him: 'To his mother I'm a badnaam actress'

Actor Vinod Mehra remembered for movies like 'Anuraag', 'Ghar', 'The Burning Train' among more. While unfortunately, he passed away too soon, he continues to be remembered. However, memories of his cinematic legacy often intertwine with recollections of his much-discussed personal life — particularly his rumoured relationship with Rekha. At one point in Hindi cinema, their names were almost inseparable in gossip columns, especially after they shared screen space in films like 'Ghar'.

Even the songs from the film and their chemistry continue to remain talked about.Rekha was believed to have grown close to Vinod during an emotionally fragile period, reportedly after her alleged split from Jeetendra. As mentioned in Yasser Usman’s biography 'Rekha: The Untold Story', their bond strengthened over time, fuelling murmurs of a secret wedding. However, Rekha had denied these rumours. During an interview on Rendezvous with Simi Garewal, the host said, “You were married in 1973 with Vinod Mehra,” prompting Rekha to respond sharply, “Excuse me?” She then dismissed the claim, adding, “Like I was married to Faruq Abdullah, you mean? No, anybody can say anything.

Are you asking me?… But I don’t want to (answer), it is not important. Vinod Mehra was always a well-wisher, he was always very very close to me.”Years earlier, she had been more forthright about a deeply personal moment. In an interview with Star and Style magazine, Rekha had revealed, “Vinod kissed me on my birthday but in the morning and in the privacy of my bedroom.”For the conservative entertainment press of the 1970s, such candour was startling.

Actresses were expected to remain guarded about their private lives, not publicly recount intimate gestures. The remark stirred controversy, yet Rekha, known for challenging societal expectations, did not shy away from speaking her truth. Reports from that era described the pair going on long drives, dining at Mumbai’s Taj hotel, and exchanging affectionate nicknames.

She was said to call him “Vin Vin.”Much of the tension surrounding their relationship was often attributed to Vinod’s mother. Rekha herself addressed this in another interview, stating, “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,” she had said.Vinod Mehra passed away on October 30, 1990, at just 45 due to a heart attack.