Debut At 10 To Relationship With Gemini Ganesan, Little-known Facts About Rekha's Mother Pushpavalli

Bhanurekha Ganesan, popularly known as Rekha, is one of the most loved and adored actresses in the industry. Although she has predominantly worked in Hindi films, she is well-known in the South film industry because of her parents. Her mother, Pushpavalli, who was also an actress, is known for her work in the South.

Pushpavalli was seen in Tamil and Telugu films. She marked her fame prominently by playing the character of Sita in Sampoorna Ramayanam, which was released in 1936 when she was just 10. She went on to work in numerous movies, however, one of her biggest hits was a Telugu film Bala Nagamma, released in 1942. Later in 1947, a film named Miss Malini brought critical acclaim, however, it was a flop at the box office.

Besides garnering fame because of her acting projects, Pushpavalli made major headlines because of her personal life. She tied the knot in 1940, but after six years of her marriage, she had to live separately from her husband. Following the same, a major turn came into her life when she worked with actor Gemini Ganesan in Miss Malini. At the time of filming, she fell in love with him. Even though both of them were in a marriage, they entered into a relationship.

Although they were in a serious relationship, Gemini never gave Pushpavalli the status of being his wife. They together had two daughters, Rekha and Radha. While Rekha worked in Hindi films, Radha worked in Tamil movies like her mother. However, later she got married and moved to the United States.

Pushpavalli led the rest of her life as Gemini Ganesan’s girlfriend and breathed her last in the year 1991.

While she worked majorly in the south, she always dreamt about Rekha becoming a star in Bollywood. Because of her aspiration, Rekha marked her acting debut in the Telugu film Rangula Ratnam at the young age of 12 years. Later when Rekha turned 15, she worked for the first time in a Hindi movie, Anjaana Safar, which later was renamed Do Shikaari.

Similar to her mother’s personal life crisis, Rekha also went through several challenges. In 1990, the veteran actress got married to Delhi-based industrialist Mukesh Aggarwal. Sadly, he passed away the same year.