As she turns 51 on Tuesday, the incomparable Rekha speaks To Subhash K Jha.

Q: Javed Saab thinks you've touched new chords in your performing prowess in Krissh?
A: What can I say? I'm really honoured and touched. He had felt the same way about me in Lajja. These days I'm lucky if I'm noticed for my roles. I just breeze in and breeze out on screen.

Q: Why do you say that?
A: That's how brief my appearances are both on and off screen. I'm blessed because people notice me even if I appear at a function for two minutes. My appearance in Krissh too is rather brief. Simiji (Garewal) saw the film and said she can't bear to see me as a Daadi.

Q: That thought is unacceptable to me also.
A: You forget that I'm an actor. For the past ten years I've reached a stage where I could do justice to any role that came my way. It could be Maa ka role, bhabhi ka role....negative or positive. I've done it all with equal sincerity and passion. I was asked why I did a negative role in Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi or soft-porn like Basu Bhattacharya's Astha?

Q: Soft-porn?!
A: Yes people have always said a lot of things about me. After Astha people had a lot to say about my role of a wife who moonlights as a prostitute. I don't have problems playing anything.

Q: Why this democratic attitude for an actress known to be super-selective?
A: I was never selective. Nor do I believe any longer that I'm the chosen one. Nowadays I believe I'm one of the chosen ones. Because there're so many others.. I'm happy being who I am, doing what I've to do. It's such a blessing to pick up any role and try to do justice to it.

You know, being a character actor isn't a huge blessing in India. Abroad even an actor like Al Pacino is treated like a character actor and given his rightful place.

Q: But you can't be deemed a character actor.
A: Mujhe koi mushqil se actor bol de to main badi khush hoon.

Q: Now look who's being over-modest?
A: No no I'm not. The things is, too much importance has been given to my glamour, clothes, whatever. Today I think I'm in the best stage of my life and career. No matter what I do, people are responsive and, to my good fortune, appreciative. I've felt this way for the past ten years.

And I say this with utmost humility and sincerity. There's nothing else I can do on this earth to earn a living except acting. The fact is, and this will shock you, I don't say no to any offer except when I feel the producer or director's intentions aren't honest and he's just trying to fire the gun from my shoulders.

Q: I don't believe you!
A: Come on, the fact that I did Bachke Rehna Re Baba is proof of what I'm saying. Anything that comes my way, I do it ...Because I've the confidence and belief in myself and my fans. We share a symbiotic relationship.

I also share a similar relationship of give-and-take with my directors. Lekin han, sirf neeyat se kaam nahin chalta hai. I'm doing my best as an actor. If tomorrow I know better I'll try harder.

Q: How could you do Bachke Rehna Re Baba?
A: Why don't you talk about a long list of other so-called bad films? What about ....let's not take names. Even my family has been embarrassed by some of my films.

They say, 'Didi why do you have to do this?' When I feel the vibrations to be positive, who am I to say no to an offer? Main bhookhi-pyaasi ....who am I to refuse that morsel of food that touches my lips?

Q: So do you think you haven't been too fortunate with the roles?
A: Noooooo. On the contrary, everything I've done has taken me higher. Everything that has happened to my life has been a blessing. I consider myself the most fortunate person I know. For me no film has been mediocre. It's been my baby....whether handicapped or sick, you don't reject your baby. I've nurtured them all.

Q: So Krissh?
A: When Gudduji (Rakesh Roshan) called and said, 'I'm doing a sequel to Koi...Mil Gaya ' I immediately said yes...naturally! I was Hrithik Roshan's mother in Koi...Mil Gaya. So I had to be his character's son's Daadi. As simple as that. I didn't ask Gudduji how much he was going to pay me or how many days he required.

If I had to make an impact I can do so in one scene, one shot or even with my voice. If I feel a film is right then I don't question anything about it—not even the script, though I must confess that's a very important aspect of a film.

Q: You seem to trust your own judgement completely?
A: I've used my instincts so well and so continuously, I trust it completely. I don't know whether Krissh is going to be a major hit. But it'll be a very important film. It has such phenomenal success behind it, there're huge expectations from the sequel.

Q: Have you see it?
A: Not yet. Even if I do I'll make sure I don't expect too much of myself in the film.

Q: You and Rakesh Roshan go back a long way.
A: Yesssssss. We do! He reminded me of how I had agreed to do Khubsoorat with him and how grateful he was. I told him, 'I don't remember you in that film'. Hell, all I remember is how Hrishida used to pamper me on the sets.

Q: Okay make a true confession.
A: I LOVE my profession. It's my first love, and that's a true confession. Everything else came later. My profession has been totally true to me as long as I've been true to it. Every time I falter in a performance, dialogue, shot or look I've come out with one positive lesson or another.