While Amitabh Bachchan is regarded as a living legend and one of the biggest superstars Indian cinema has ever produced, his personal life has often been the subject of speculation. One rumour that has followed him for decades concerns his alleged relationship with Rekha. Although Bachchan was married to Jaya Bachchan, his on-screen pairing with Rekha in films such as ‘Do Anjaane’ and ‘Muqaddar Ka Sikandar’ fuelled speculation about their alleged romance. As the rumours grew increasingly bizarre, Bachchan once addressed the speculation and spoke about how such stories affected him.In a conversation with journalist Bhawana Somaaya for her 1999 book ‘Amitabh Bachchan: The Legend’, the actor addressed the speculation about his personal life. When asked why he did not seem concerned about being labelled a flirt amid rumours linking him to Rekha, Amitabh said he would respond if presented with credible and irrefutable evidence of any wrongdoing. He also suggested that reacting to unsubstantiated stories would only give the media more material to publish.He said, “If there are instances of my demeanour with the concerned lady which have been publicly seen and were offensive, let them be brought to my notice, with specific and unchallenged proof and I shall deal with it. But don’t throw unmitigated accusations just to make good copy and expect me to retaliate, so you can make even better copy. Let’s not go very far. How many times have you seen us together, let alone behave offensively in public?”Amitabh also recalled a magazine report claiming that Rekha had moved into his bungalow, Pratiksha. He expressed concern that readers might mistake such reports, particularly when accompanied by photographs, for factual accounts of his personal life.“Recently, a prominent film magazine insinuated that I have moved in with the concerned lady in my other home, Pratiksha. Gullible readers view such stories accompanied with photographs of my bungalow, as concrete proof. The outcome is damaging and misleading.”The actor said he found it demeaning to have to issue clarifications about such rumours. Reflecting on why he was repeatedly targeted by speculation, he suggested that his public image and perceived success might have contributed to it.“I wonder if it’s because I’m perceived as someone who has everything, even if this isn’t a reality. What the cynics don’t realise is that their beliefs are a fantasy. I have been fortunate in some spheres and unfortunate in many others,” he said.Around the same period, Amitabh appeared on Simi Garewal’s talk show alongside Jaya Bachchan, although the opening portion of the episode featured an individual conversation with the actor. During the interview, he was asked directly about the rumours linking him to Rekha and whether the two continued to meet regularly.Amitabh dismissed suggestions of a close personal relationship, explaining that their association was primarily professional and that they had little in common socially.“She has been my co-star and colleague. And when we were working together, obviously we met each other. Socially, we have nothing in common. That’s about it,” he said.He added that they had not worked together for “donkey’s years”, though they occasionally crossed paths at award ceremonies and social gatherings.The actor also recalled being particularly taken aback by tabloid reports claiming that he and Rekha had moved into each other’s homes. He dismissed the allegations as baseless and said the reports had even included photographs to support their claims.“There were claims that I had moved in with her at her house and that she had moved into my house. They had photographs of the house where I had been keeping her, so to say, which is just a big joke,” he said.Amitabh further clarified that Pratiksha was his family home, which he shared with his parents, including his ailing father and mother.While Amitabh consistently dismissed rumours of a romantic relationship, Rekha has openly expressed her admiration for the actor. In a 2004 appearance on Simi Garewal’s show, she was asked whether she was in love with him. Her response was emphatic, as she spoke about the extent of her admiration for her former co-star.“Absolutely. Duh, that’s a dumb question. I have yet to come across a single man, woman, child who can help but fall completely, passionately, insanely, desperately, hopelessly in love with him. So why should I be singled out? What do I deny? I’m not in love with him? Of course I am. Take all the love that exists in this world and add some more – I feel that for that person. Bottom line.”
