Rekha’s friend Bina Ramani says she was shocked when actress married Mukesh Aggarwal despite having Amitabh Bachchan in mind

When Rekha married Mukesh, her ardent fan

Veteran actor Rekha has long been known in the headlines not just for her illustrious career, but also for her enigmatic personal life. Among the various moments that stunned people, it was the time when she tied the knot and was seen putting on sindoor.

According to Bina Ramani (Rekha's friend) Rekha was deeply attached to Amitabh Bachchan, even though he was married to Jaya Bachchan. Over time, she realised that he would never publicly acknowledge their relationship, especially after stepping into politics.

In a conversation with ANI, Bina Ramani—fashion designer, author and entrepreneur—opened a window into the emotional space Rekha was in when she chose to marry Delhi businessman Mukesh Aggarwal.

According to Bina Ramani, Rekha was deeply attached to Amitabh Bachchan, even though he was married to Jaya Bachchan. Over time, she realised that he would never publicly acknowledge their relationship, especially after stepping into politics. Feeling heartbroken and adrift, Rekha confided during a visit to New York that she wanted to marry “someone important”.

It was Bina Ramani who later heard about Mukesh Aggarwal, described by a friend as an ardent devotee of the actor. “My friend described Mukesh as the most die hard, ardent fan of Rekha. She told me he could recite any dialogue of Rekha from any movie and he knows her entire life.” she recalled.

Her own first impression was that he seemed unremarkable at first glance, yet warm and earnest once he opened up. “He was not descriptive. Nothing much, he was short and dark, but when you got to talking and engaging with him, he was very nice, but he could pass you like six times and you would not recognise him. She, on the other hand, was a diva.”

What struck her most was his sincerity. “With so much sincerity in his eyes, he told me if he could just speak to Rekha. He said, ‘If there is a possibility that I could meet her someday, you have no idea what it would mean to me, and what you would have achieved, she would be the happiest person on earth.”

Their introduction happened over the phone. “She spoke to him for 2-3 minutes and told me to give his number to her.” Soon they were talking often, even as Rekha voiced doubts. “Can you see him standing next to me?” she asked, still holding on to memories of Amitabh Bachchan.

Yet, emotionally bruised, she longed for affection. “Perhaps she wanted that obsessive love,” Bina Ramani reflected.

Also Read: Rekha felicitated at Red Sea Film Festival during international premiere of Umrao Jaan

Not long after, Rekha and Mukesh Aggarwal married—news that stunned even Bina Ramani. But the fairytale was short-lived. Seven months later, Mukesh Aggarwal died by suicide, leaving Rekha devastated.

She later described the emotional storm to Simi Grewal: “One went through the whole gamut of feelings. The initial shock and then denial that ‘no, this can’t be really happening to me’ and later on, this intense anger and then you go on this self pity trip that ‘what did I do wrong? I never meant to hurt anybody’. Then trying to understand it, in vain, of course, because you never understand it. And then, finally, of course, acceptance.”