Ranjeet recalls Rekha's tantrums and style of working. (Photo: Ranjeet/Instagram)

Rekha, 70, is known for her versatility and is among the most acclaimed actresses of Indian cinema.

She was among the highest paid actress of her time, and was on demand after delivering several hits. Recently, Ranjeet, who once signed her for one of his films, recalled how after a point he had to ask her to return his signing amount as he couldn't put up with her tantrums.

This was the time when Ranjeet was frustrated with the sort of roles he was being offered and wanted to make his own films. He said in an interview with Vickey Lalwani, "I didn't sign films for almost a decade. I used to get frustrated. When I started to make films, irrespective of the bond I shared with the actors, I would pay them for their work. Although they used to hesitate to take money from me, I would insist. Similarly, I told Rekha too, that you are my friend and everything but if I am signing you for a film, I want you to quote me an amount and I will pay you and she did. Later, I realised that someone else who also signed her for one of their films were paying her Rs 5 lakh less than what she had quoted to me."

This was just the beginning, he claimed, "I knew she would make producers line up outside her house and wouldn't meet them. When I was narrating the story to her, I had my whole team waiting outside, she didn't let them in. I talked to her about it, but she said, 'let them all wait outside'. Only Farzana would go take messages from them and convey it to her, she wouldn't meet anybody."

The problem started when Rekha refused to shoot during evenings. Ranjeet recalled, "She was doing a film at this time so she told me we will do day for night shoot. I brutally told her, I am making this film for me and not you. I realised that she would soon treat me like the other producers. So, before she could get to that point, I politely asked her to return my signing amount. I said, 'Rekha, please return me my money, I can't make this picture with you.' It all happened on a friendly note."

Giving more details, Ranjeet shared, "The reason was that she was not on good terms with Amitabh Bachchan, later they got back to being friends. Then she wanted to stay back in Mumbai. But I wanted to shoot at the farm, which was out of Bombay. She wanted to return home in the evenings, but my songs were scheduled for evenings. She said, 'let's shoot this at day, I want to return home at night'. She also had issues with choreographer, she said she was not comfortable with him. We changed that too. She had a lot of tantrums."

Ranjeet still shares a friendly bond with the veteran actress, but he never signed her for any of his films to avoid professional conflict. Ranjeet made two films as a director, Kaarnama (1990) and Ghazab Tamasha (1992). He was also the producer of the latter film.