Wife Punam brings about truce between Shatrughan and Rekha

One of Bollywood's oldest dushman is has ended. Rekha and Shatrughan Sinha have kissed rather hugged and made up.

Wife Punam brings about truce between Shatrughan and Rekha

One of Bollywood's oldest dushmanis has ended. Rekha and Shatrughan Sinha have kissed rather hugged and made up.

When digs die...

The 30-year-old cold war between the two has finally ended, thanks to the actor's wife Punam, who took upon herself the task of pacifying the reclusive diva after the endless spate of barbs and digs Shatrughann has been making at her.

Says Shatru, "Rekha would complain to my wife about me constantly making digs about her. So I decided, 'Jao maaf kiya.' She complained about me to the high command, so I had to give in. Rekha and I hadn't spoken to each other for years. When we met, we spoke so much that we could't stop."

Adds the actor, "She plays a chatterbox in my wife's film Aaj Phir Jeena Ki Tamanna Hai. It is Rekha's best performance to date," says Shatru.

Barb bigad gayi

Shatrughan Sinha, who's currently in Delhi, admits Rekha and he had a major problem.
"In fact, when we did Khoon Bhari Maang 20 years ago, we weren't even on talking terms although we were cast opposite each other!

Woh kehte hain na bante-bante baat.... or shall I say, barb bigad gayi. She was influenced by people she was close to at that time (Amitabh Bachchan) and she thought I was influenced by people around me. But I hold no grudges against her and I'd presume she too has forgotten whatever happened in the past."

In retrospect, the actor-politician admits his barbs got unreasonable. "I admit that my sense of humour crossed its limits. I took potshots at her, and she never retaliated. Maybe because she didn't have anything much to hit back at me with."

Now that they're friends Shatru indulgently admits, "For all her faults, she's God's own child. Her problem is, she has taken good noble act beyond limits, just like my sense of humour, which tends to go overboard. She started taking her larger-than-life image much too seriously.

But she's into meditation and yoga and is much calmer, but too much of a recluse. In today's day and age of constant media attention and recession, her work-to-rule policy is ill-advised."

Play it again!

The Rekha-Shatru film will be directed by veteran Ramesh Talwar. It's based on the play Pati Patni Aur Main which Shatru did some years ago. Says Shatru proudly, "It's my only experience on stage. Right from Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Sonia Gandhi to L K Advani to Jyoti Basu to Laloo Yadav everyone saw it. Sushma Swaraj and Yashwant Sinha saw it four times. I intend to return to theatre."

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels