In the glamorous yet secretive world of Bollywood romances few stories are as layered as the one involving Rekha Bindiya Goswami and Vinod Mehra. Each of these actresses once claimed a place in his heart — but only one was publicly called as “Rekha’s sautān” Bindiya Goswami: The Unseen Rival Bindiya Goswami a prominent actress of the 70s and 80s was known for her innocence large expressive eyes and roles in Gol Maal Shaan Khatta Meetha and notably Bindiya Chamkegi where she starred opposite Rekha and Mehra. Early in her career she connected deeply with Vinod Mehra eventually eloping with him in 1980. Their marriage lasted only four years. Years later she eloped a second time to marry film director J.P. Dutta — proving she lived life on her own unorthodox terms. Rekha: The Queen and Her Hidden Love Rekha the evergreen icon who often played the misunderstood heroine also had a deep connection with Mehra. According to her unofficial biography by Yasser Usman they were even rumoured to have married secretly in Kolkata. When Rekha visited Mehra’s Mumbai home his mother’s anger reportedly reached a painful climax — she refused to accept Rekha pushing her away and shaming her. A Shared Lover and Two Bold Paths Bindiya and Rekha never directly confronted each other but when Bindiya first called Rekha “sautān” she laid claim to Mehra’s affection — a claim rooted not in scandal but genuine love. Despite both actresses’ fierce devotion Vinod’s heart did not belong to either in the long run. His marriage to Rekha reportedly collapsed under familial pressure and Bindiya ultimately moved on with J.P. Dutta. Behind the Scenes Beyond the Spotlight Yet their stories diverged publicly. Rekha continued to rule the screen and shrugs off whispers of scandal while Bindiya faded from Bollywood reinventing herself as a costume designer and devoted wife-mother. Why This Still Captures Us This tale is more than a love triangle — it’s a glimpse into an era when real emotions clashed with the family honour codes of Bollywood’s elite. Despite ambition or celebrity these women’s choices were shaped by love — but also by society ego and the mysterious pull of the spotlight.