One looks at Raakhee and are immediately drawn to her gaze. There is a melancholy there, an exquisite languid beautiful sadness. Her oval face, doe shaped honey colored eyes and perfectly shaped royal Begali nose captures the attention. In the 70s, what close-ups she could take! ("Sharmilee" [1971] , a star vehicle entertainer for her and Shashi Kapoor had in it's length over 1/2 an hour devoted to close-ups and medium shots of her face.) She was truly a photographers dream.

Raakhee starred and co-stared in 5 Yash Chopra films from the 70s, notably "Daag" [1973] "Kabhi Kabhie" [1976] and "Trishul" [1978] that are all considered great classics of Hindi 'Bollywood' cinema. In Yash Chopra's "Kaala Patthar" [1979] the love story sequences between Raakhee and Amitabh Bachchan in their quietly subtle and naturalistic delivery are some of the most touching acting moments in Bollywood film. "Kaala Patthar" was Amitabh and Raakhee's third film together under Yash Chopra's direction and marked acting peaks for both actors.

In a film and social culture where marriage often means retirement for an actress. Raakhee who was already married and divorced by the time she was 18 was one of the few married woman to become a star in Bollywood. In fact she took the retirement route after her second marriage to the script writer/ director Gulzar. She had a child but Raakhee couldn't stay away from acting and made a film comeback that strained and eventually ended her second marriage.

Raakhee became an alcoholic and for a time drank heavily. During this mid-career period Raakhee excelled in dramatic roles and was compared to the 'queen of tragedy' Meena Kumari. Ironically both of her ex-husband's reportedly had affairs with Kumari. This comparison rankled Raakhee to no end and must have caused her great angst as Raakhee was a great dramatic actress in her own right.

Raakhee has won three Fimfare acting awards and unlike most all of the actress' who were beauty queens of the 60s and 70s she continues to act in films to this day. She is a true troubadour with over 30 years in the film industry.

(Insider tid-bit; Raakhee's daughter is a film director in Bollywood. In 2002 'Bosky' had her directorial debut with the film "Filhaal" staring Tabu and Sushmita Sen.)

 

Raakhee Photo Galleries

Raakhee publicity stills

Raakhee in "Sharmilee" (1971)

Raakhee in "Kaala Patthar" (1979)

Raakhee in "Laawaris" (1981)