When Amitabh Bachchan clarified his equation with Rekha amid alleged affair rumours: “We have nothing in common, when we were working together..."

During the interview, Amitabh was also directly asked about the persistent link-up rumours and his alleged romantic relationship with Rekha.

• Amitabh Bachchan denied any romantic affair with Rekha on Simi Garewal's show
• He relaxed noticeably when Jaya Bachchan joined the interview.
• Rumors about Amitabh and Rekha persist, fueled by their on-screen chemistry

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For decades, Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha have remained at the heart of one of Bollywood’s most talked-about and speculated relationships. While the two legends have largely stayed silent about the rumours surrounding them, one rare moment that continues to spark discussion is Amitabh Bachchan’s candid appearance on Rendezvous with Simi Garewal, where he addressed his equation with Rekha during a particularly turbulent phase of his life.

Amitabh appeared on the iconic chat show years ago at a time when he was facing one of the most challenging periods both personally and professionally. His production company, ABCL, was under severe financial strain, and his once-unstoppable film career was being questioned following a series of setbacks.

The episode stood out not just for Amitabh Bachchan’s solo interaction with Simi Garewal, but also for the joint appearance he later made alongside his wife, Jaya Bachchan. The shift in atmosphere between the two segments became one of the most memorable aspects of the episode.

In an earlier interview with Rediff, Simi Garewal reflected on the significance of that conversation and recalled, “We talked of everything under the sun. His childhood, adolescence, parents, ABCL, his flops, his return, his family, Jaya, the kids, the kind of women he likes, his professional decisions."

Simi also addressed the long-running debate about whether Amitabh Bachchan had been entirely truthful during the interview, especially regarding Rekha. According to her, doubts were raised by some viewers after the episode aired. “I think he was completely honest. There are people who, after that interview, said, ‘Amitabh Bachchan is not like that!’ Or ‘He was not telling the truth about Rekha!'" she quipped.

She further revealed that Amitabh Bachchan’s body language and demeanour noticeably changed once Jaya Bachchan joined him on set. The guarded seriousness gave way to ease and warmth.

Simi then said, “Once Jaya came on to the sets, he was more comfortable, he was completely himself. Then the wisecracks began and the witty side of his personality began to emerge."

During the interview, Amitabh Bachchan was also directly asked about the persistent link-up rumours and his alleged romantic relationship with Rekha. Addressing the speculation head-on, the actor firmly denied any affair and clarified the nature of their association.

He said, “She has been my co-star and colleague. And when we were working together, obviously we met each other. Socially, we have nothing in common. That’s about it. Sometimes we bump into each other at a function, which is, you know, an award function, for example, or at a social gathering. But that’s about it."

Despite Amitabh Bachchan's repeated denials, the alleged and highly publicised romance between him and Rekha has continued to fascinate generations of fans. The rumours are believed to have begun around 1976 during the filming of Do Anjaane, at a time when Amitabh was already married to Jaya Bhaduri. Their intense yet largely unspoken relationship reportedly stretched through the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Also read: When Rekha allegedly revealed she became a vegetarian because of Amitabh Bachchan, "I stopped living dangerously..."

Many believe the emotional undercurrents of that period found their way onto the screen in Silsila (1981), the last film Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha worked together. The film’s storyline—centred on a complicated love triangle—was widely seen as echoing real-life events, adding to its enduring intrigue.

Interestingly, Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, and Rekha have shared screen space in multiple films over the years, including Silsila (1981), Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978), Do Anjaane (1976), Khoon Pasina (1977), Mr. Natwarlal (1979), Suhaag (1979), Ram Balram (1980), and Alaap (1977).

Decades later, the story remains unresolved in the public imagination—part history, part myth—cementing its place as one of Bollywood’s most enduring emotional chapters.