When Rekha's brief chat with Big B made Jaya cry

The 1970s- 80s were a time when Bollywood wasn’t just about films and songs—it was also about drama, glamour, and unforgettable moments. One such moment happened at the grand wedding of Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh on 22 January 1980. The couple was moving from reel-life romance to real-life marriage, and their wedding was packed with big stars. Among the guests were Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan.

But it wasn’t just the bride and groom who made headlines that night. It was Rekha’s surprise entry that grabbed all the attention.Rekha walks in and turns headsRekha, who was already a famous actress by then, walked into the wedding wearing a stunning white saree, a bright red bindi, and sindoor in her hair. Cameras that were focused on the couple quickly turned towards Rekha. Her entry caused a stir and became one of the most talked-about moments in Bollywood history.As described in Cine Blitz, Rekha walked straight to the centre of the garden at RK Studios, where the reception was held. She stood there, her eyes moving now and then towards Amitabh Bachchan, who was speaking with director Manmohan Desai. After a while, she went up to Amitabh and spoke to him.“Everyone wanted to know: had Rekha married?”As per Indian Express, author Yasser Usman, in his book ‘Rekha: The Untold Story’, described the scene in detail. “Dressed in a magnificent white sari, Rekha had a bright red bindi on her forehead. But what caught everyone’s eye was the generous dabbing of sindoor in her hair. The cameras instantly pivoted away from Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh, and frenetically photographed Rekha’s curious new look. The dull drone of everyone murmuring and whispering filled the evening air; everyone wanted to know: had Rekha married?”Rekha and Amitabh’s brief chatAfter congratulating the couple, Rekha had a short chat with Amitabh.

It was only a formal exchange, but the timing and setting made it impossible to ignore. As per Cine Blitz, she “stood ‘bang in the middle’ of the garden” before walking over to Amitabh. Though nothing unusual was said between the two, their meeting became the highlight of the night.‘Tears roll down’While Rekha’s sindoor look caught everyone’s eye, it was Jaya Bachchan’s emotional reaction that added to the drama of the evening.

According to a Stardust magazine report, “Jaya tried to keep a stoic front for a long time, but eventually she had to bend her head and let the tears roll down.”Rekha explained the real reasonLater on, Rekha gave an interview to Hindustan Times to clear up the rumours. She explained that she had come straight from a film shoot and simply forgot to remove the sindoor and mangalsutra. The ‘Umrao Jaan’ actress also told that she wasn’t bothered by the gossip adding, “I think it looks rather nice on me. Sindoor suits me.”