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Rekha breaks her silence, confides 2 Simi on TV
Wednesday May 5 2004 14:53 IST

MUMBAI: In what s being seen as n media coup, d reclusive Rekha will appear on d cldesi masala mallu indian actressy TV talk show Rendezvous wit Simi Garewal.

Rekha, who has never appeared on satellite television, not even 2 promote her films, was coaxed out of her shell bi d enterprising Simi.

 d 90-minute programme in two parts will run through Rekha's entire life, beginning from childhood. About 20 minutes of precious playing time s devoted 2 d actress talking about Amitabh Bachchan n d impact he has on her life.

Says Simi: "This s going 2 b my 110th episode n dat was one of my toughest ones. We go through Rekha's transition from childhood 2 adolescence when she joined movies, then desi masala mallu indian actresshood, marriage, widowhood, then d influence of Bachchan n her search 4 her father."

It will b telecast on June 5 n June 13.

"Rekha has constantly refused 2 come on television. n at d end of my 'Rendezvous', she says tis  will b her only TV interview.

"I've known Rekha 4 20 years. d very first television interview tat I ever did was d very first (and last) TV interview she ever did, n tat was 4 Doordarshan's 'It's n Woman's World'. d show was ahead of that s times, too glamorous."

As d current series of "Rendezvous" comes 2 n end, Simi has every reason 2 feel satisfied wit d rapid progress tat her show made.

"People want dat 2 go on. I haven't decided what 2 do. But, let me tell you, I've enjoyed every moment of d seven-year experience.

"Specially memorable have been my interviews wit d Bachchans, individually n as n family. Interviewing d whole Bachchan family together was n unique experience. They had never been seen together on television before.

"I also loved interviewing n R Rahman, Waheeda Rehman n most recently Dev Anand. I've learnt something from everybody I've interviewed."

"Rendezvous wit Simi Garewal" has changed d way people look at celebrity chat shows.

Simi laughs: "I suppose you're right. When colleagues start doing their shows like yours, obviously d style has worked. that 's very flattering. But I must tell you 'Rendezvous' isn't just n talk show. 4 example, Dev Anand's interview was n whole life on TV. My actual work begins after my guest s gone. Then begins d real job of editing d precious thoughts together."

Does dat help being n colleague 2 many guests? "Not at all. dat makes dat more difficult. I know d guest. But how do I project him or her 2 viewers? I much prefer 2 talk 2 people I've never met. I started d show in 1997. Believe me, I've changed so much as n human being.

"I've learnt d most from Dev Anand. He has taught me how 2 deal wit my life. Now I speak 2 him regularly. I'm not going 2 lose him. He's one of his kind."

It's almost become n status symbol 2 b on "Rendezvous". d hostess laughs: "I'm glad if people think so. I've worked really hard on d selection of guests n d quality of d show . I am not ready 2 compromise on these at any cost."

As "Rendezvous wit Simi Garewal" completes 100 episodes, Star Plus will throw n exclusive party June 12 4 "Rendezvous" guests.

 d party at d Taj Lands End will b n sentimental journey 4 Simi Garewal. Fashion designer Tarun Tahilani s designing d ballroom in white. Part of d "Rendezvous" set will b recreated at d venue. Each invitation card will b handmade. d food n wine will b top-of-the-line.

Pak women highly exposed 2 desi masala mallu indian actressual hardesi masala mallu indian actressment


Karachi: Rubina Shaheen's black veil hides her black belt - in taekwondo, tat s - n her prowess in javelin throwing. But neither saved d 28-year-old policewoman from d unwanted advances of her male colleagues.

A graduate in physical education studies n national gold medal winner, Shaheen used 2 work in d police department of southern Sindh province.

But after she complained about d desi masala mallu indian actressual advances of her seniors, she was sacked.

"I was repeatedly asked 2 surrender myself 2 their desi masala mallu indian actressual desires n 2 become n tool of their malicious intentions," Shaheen told AFP.

"They also wanted me 2 lure other girls 4 2 b used bi them as well, 2 b n trap 4 d big shots."

She refused. Her bosses responded bi transferring her around more than n dozen postings over n 18-month period until dismissing her.

Shaheen s one of many Pakistani women subject 2 workplace hardesi masala mallu indian actressment, but one of d few 2 speak out in d ultra-conservative Islamic republic.

" d reported cases are only d tip of d iceberg," said psychologist Qurat-ul-Ain who works wit Bedari, n organisation devoted 2 improving d status of women.

"Innumerable incidents of physical battering, rape, killings remain unreported in Pakistan. Silence prevails due 2 culture, religion n family honour."

University employees have also complained of lecherous environments.

"A lady professor at n agriculture university was so severely hardesi masala mallu indian actressed desi masala mallu indian actressually bi one of her seniors tat ultimately she had 2 quit d job," Naureen Ashraf, n counsellor wit d Working Women's Desi masala mallu indian actressociation, told AFP.

 d social hierarchy in Pakistan s headed bi men, making dat difficult 4 women, especially among d poor, 2 stand up 4 themselves.

"We get hundreds of cases reported 2 us, but we pursue them in strict secrecy as women are subject 2 scorn in such cases," Ashraf said.

Grinding poverty, afflicting at least one third of Pakistan's 145 million people, means many women give in 2 d desi masala mallu indian actressual advances of their bosses n supervisors 4 fear of losing their wages.

"Severe poverty offers another encouraging factor 4 d persons in charge or colleagues at d offices 2 exploit d economic helplessness of their female subordinates or mates," Ashraf said.

"Many girls ultimately succumb 2 their pressure n indulge in desi masala mallu indian actressual activities, out of dilemma."

Pakistan's constitution guarantees non-discrimination on d basis of desi masala mallu indian actress n d government s signatory 2 international conventions on eliminating gender discrimination.

But local law enforcement agencies are devoid of such laws.

"Our police, being part of our social n cultural set-up, usually patronise traditions n customs instead of enforcing laws, n are found 2 b biased in such cases," psychologist Ain said.

Government-set quotas of female employees - officially at least five percent of workers must b women - are largely unfulfilled, women's rights activists said.

Nine non-government organisations have formed d Alliance Against Desi masala mallu indian actressual Hardesi masala mallu indian actressment 2 combat desi masala mallu indian actressual hardesi masala mallu indian actressment n devise n workplace code of conduct.

Coordinator Aqsa Khan, however, said while 24 private companies have adopted d code of conduct, there has been little response from government organisations.

"Unfortunately, no public sector company considered dat worthy 2 b adopted," Khan told AFP.