Barring an old heartache, hearts stopped in the House of Elders on Tuesday when Bollywood’s most glamorous star Rekha sashayed into its august precincts as a nominated member.
Dressed in a light golden silk sari and minimal jewellery ( and still looking stunning), the 57- yearold actress was given a VVIP welcome when she arrived in the morning for her oath- taking ceremony.
She was ushered in through the gate reserved for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh— to avoid getting mobbed by a gaggle of photographers jostling for that perfect snap.
Accompanied by minister of state for parliamentary affairs Rajiv Shukla, she first exchanged pleasantries with the PM and Rajya Sabha chairperson Hamid Ansari. As the House assembled at 11 am, Ansari announced her name for the oath and besotted MPs greeted her with enthusiastic thumping of the tables.
“ I Rekha Ganeshan swear in the name of god,” she started in English and completed the paraphernalia by signing the House register for MPs.
She then greeted the PM, the leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley and other senior leaders before walking to her allotted seat: No. 99. She intently listened to the debate during Question Hour for 20 minutes and then quietly left the House — but not before stoking the embers of an old rivalry.
Seated on No. 143 was Jaya Bachchan, her so- called reel and real life rival since the 1981 film Silsila . In fact, the Samajwadi Party MP used to occupy seat No. 91 prior to Rekha’s nomination. She got it changed, refuelling the legendary gossips about the Jaya- Rekha- Amitabh love triangle.
Reports claimed that she got her seat shifted to avoid being in the same camera frame as Rekha. However, she said she wanted to change her seat because of the demise of party colleague Brij Bhushan Tiwari, who used to sit next to her.
On Tuesday, Jaya played her part to kind of demonstrate what an MP’s role should be. Carefully projecting her intellectual side complete with salt- and- pepper hair, she participated in a debate on Congo. The cold vibes were clear as she buried herself in papers and Rekha hogged the limelight.
Of course, the two Bollywood queens did not greet each other despite seating on adjacent rows ( Jaya on the third row, while Rekha on the adjoining number two). Probably some other time in the next six years! Bachchan family friend Amar Singh refused to comment on Jaya’s seat change. “ It’s her own Silsila. Amitabh Bachchan is my friend and I have seen Rekha in his films. I congratulated her when I met her on Tuesday. I don’t have any personal equation with her though,” he said.
Rekha was nominated to the Upper House on April 26 along with Sachin Tendulkar and social worker Anu Aga, who sat next to her on Tuesday.
RAJYA SABHA GOES GLAM
THE INDIAN Parliament has always been dangerously deficient in the glamour department, but finally it’s got a much needed facelift thanks to the newest member of the Rajya Sabha, actress Rekha.
The superstar was the perfect picture of poise, elegance and attitude while being the centre of attention as she took oath in Parliament on Tuesday. All eyes were on the timeless beauty who was dressed in a traditional gold silk Kanjeevaram sari. The actress was welcomed by a thumping of desks, a sign of approval by other members as she stood to take oath.
There was much excitement in the corridors awaiting her arrival that could only be matched by the display of enthusiasm shown when the star reached Parliament.
Because of the frenzied anticipation shown by both media and members at the entrance, the actor was taken to the special entrance which is reserved only for the PM. Not only does Rekha join the ranks of a list of celebrities from tinsel town who have joined politics including Jaya Bachchan, Hema Malini, writer Javed Akhtar, Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi, Shatrughan Sinha, Govinda and Dharmendra to name a few but, she is also India’s answer to global faces such as Carla Bruni and Michelle Obama who share international political limelight.
Courtesy: Mailtoday.in