There are a few films that transcend time, etching themselves into the very soul of Indian cinema — and only a rare few actors can boast of being part of not just one, but a dozen such cinematic masterpieces. Waheeda Rehman is undoubtedly among those select legends.
With timeless classics like Pyaasa (1957), Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960), and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962) — all in collaboration with the maverick filmmaker Guru Dutt — Waheeda’s contribution to cinema is both iconic and enduring.
On the occasion of Guru Dutt’s 100th birth anniversary today, Waheeda Rehman, who was still in her late teens when she rose to fame under his direction, opens up to HT City about the filmmaker’s unparalleled legacy — one built on vision, aesthetics, and emotional depth. “There’s a beauty in the fact that people still remember it’s been 100 years,” she reflects. “When I began working with him, none of us — not even Guru Dutt himself — knew the kind of classics he was about to create. I feel truly fortunate to have been part of that journey. Even today, people speak about Pyaasa, which is also my personal favourite of his films.”
Waheeda fondly recalls her early days, more than just a director, Guru Dutt was a mentor who helped shape her career and on-screen persona.
As talk swirls around a potential biopic on the auteur, with reports hinting at Vicky Kaushal in the lead, Waheeda has her own thoughts on who could do justice to the role. “Pankaj Tripathi, Naseeruddin Shah , or Pankaj Kapur — all three have maturity in their expressions and performances. Today’s younger actors are very talented, but it takes a certain emotional depth and gravitas to portray Guru Dutt. The younger ones may not be able to bring that level of understanding yet,” she shares candidly.

One of her most vivid memories of Guru Dutt’s brilliance, she says, came during the success of Chaudhvin Ka Chand. The film was originally shot in black and white, but with colour cinema just emerging, Guru Dutt made a bold decision mid-run. “He thought, ‘What if we reshoot the title song in colour and add it to the already-running film?’ He did exactly that — and it worked! People went back to the theatres again and again just to see that one colour sequence. That was his instinct — so ahead of his time.”
Today, decades later, Guru Dutt’s films continue to be studied in film schools across the globe, revered for their poetry, pathos, and cinematic genius. And Waheeda Rehman remains one of the most cherished witnesses and contributors to that golden chapter in Indian film history.