Bollywood has no dearth of glamorous stars but very few carry an aura that refuses to fade with time. Rekha is one of them. Even at 71 her name still sparks excitement and nostalgia in equal measure. And now after years of silence whispers about her comeback have grown louder thanks to a revealing remark from celebrity designer and close friend Manish Malhotra. For more than a decade Rekha has stayed away from films. No lead role no cameo nothing. Her last full-fledged appearance dates back to Super Nani (2014) followed by a brief glimpse in Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se (2018). Yet despite this long break Manish Malhotra insists that the evergreen icon is far from retired. In fact he suggests she still wants to work if the script is worthy of her presence. Was Rekha supposed to appear in ‘Gustakh Ishq’? During promotions for Gustakh Ishq featuring Vijay Varma and Fatima Sana Shaikh Manish Malhotra revealed an interesting detail—Rekha was initially considered for a special appearance in the film. According to him she would have added a timeless charm to the narrative. However director Vicky Puri didn’t feel the role matched her stature. Vijay Varma explained that the director believed Rekha deserved a much stronger more substantial part and that offering her a minor guest role would have fallen short of the respect she commands. Why did Rekha eventually not come on board? Manish clarified that although she was almost finalised he himself stepped back because the role felt too small for an artist of her legacy. He stated that Rekha should only be part of a film where she shines not where she is merely inserted. But the good news? Manish says he fully intends to cast her in the future. “When the right script and character come along Rekha ji will definitely be part of it” he said. The wait it seems is only for a role that does justice to her iconic screen presence. How has Rekha stayed relevant despite an 11-year break? Rekha began her career as a child artist and delivered her first major hit with Saawan Bhadon (1970). Across five decades she worked in nearly 200 films pairing with the biggest superstars and delivering unforgettable performances. Even today she is believed to have an estimated net worth of Rs 332 crore despite being away from full-fledged acting for 11 years. Her legacy remains untouched. Her mystique is unchanged. And her charm evergreen. Highlights Manish Malhotra says Rekha still wants to act and is waiting for the right script. Rekha skipped Gustakh Ishq as the offered role was considered too small. Despite a long break Rekha holds an estimated net worth of Rs 332 crore.