Veteran actress Rekha has always sparked curiosity among fans for appearing at public events wearing sindoor, a traditional mark commonly associated with married Hindu women. Over the years, Rekha’s decision
to continue applying sindoor despite her husband’s has remained one of Bollywood’s biggest mysteries. Let’s decode the reason behind Rekha’s big step and why she has been following this even 36 years after her husband’s death:
Who Applies Sindoor?
In Hindu tradition, sindoor, which is a red or orange vermilion powder applied along the hair partition, is traditionally worn by married women as a symbol of marital status. The ritual is considered deeply significant in many Hindu households and is often applied during the wedding ceremony by the groom.
As far as Rekha is concerned, the Bollywood actress was married to the Delhi-based industrialist and television manufacturer Mukesh Agarwal. The two tied the knot in 1990 but their wedding did not last more than seven months as Agarwal died by suicide while Rekha was away in London.
Why Does Rekha Apply Sindoor?
In June 1982, Rekha was honoured with the Best Actress National Award for her performance in Umrao Jaan. At that time, the then president of India, Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, asked her, “Why do you have sindoor in your maang?” To this, the actress replied, “In the city I come from, it’s fashionable to wear sindoor.”
While this was before Rekha’s marriage, she was spotted with the sindoor even after her husband Mukesh Aggarwal’s death in 1990. In 2008, the actress was speaking to Hindustan Times when she touched upon the subject and said, “I don’t worry about people’s reactions. By the way, I think it looks rather nice on me.. sindoor suits me.”
Does Rekha Wear Sindoor For Amitabh Bachchan?
In March 2025, film historian Hanif Zaveri claimed that Rekha, who is often linked to Amitabh Bachchan, still has a soft corner for the Bollywood superstar. “There is a softness—if something goes wrong with Amitabh Bachchan, she feels it shouldn’t happen. Similarly, if something happens to Rekha, Amitabh Bachchan also feels it shouldn’t happen to her. That is an attachment,” Hanif said, as quoted by ETimes.
