In the golden era of Bollywood where the film industry was still dominated by men refusing the directors demand was nothing less than a career suicide.  Saying no to the director could not only potentially create career repercussions but it could also jeopardize it. Maintaining a boundary or staying firm on their ground was a risk that required courage and determination that not every actress possessed. Not just the actresses of yesteryears but even renowned actresses like Madhuri Dixit and Rekha who are still celebrated today have spoken out about experiencing outrage from the director when they refused to comply with their demands. However a top actress of the 60s and 70s showed resilience and stood her ground when she refused to wear a revealing outfit at the directors demand. This story was not just about an outfit for her but it was more about her self-respect and values and she was quite headstrong in an era where saying no was rare. Especially for a woman. The actress that we are talking about is none other than - Waheeda Rehman. This incident happened while Waheeda was still new in her acting career. During the shoot of the film Solva Saal the director of the film Raj Khosla asked Waheeda to wear a revealing outfit for a particular scene According to the script her character was supposed to be drenched in water requiring her to change into a more exposing outfit. Waheeda besides the fear of patriarchal norms stood her foot down and refused to wear the outfit stating that her characters shy nature ( Lajwanti)  didnt align with it. This refusal didnt sit well with the director of the film Raj Khosla who reportedly was fumed. He even warned her that if she didnt comply with his demand it could be the last film of her career. But despite the threat Waheeda stayed immovable from her decision.  She went with a modest and comfortable outfit that also resonated with her characters personality. The director lost his temper and even halted the shoot for a day and sent everyone home. But during this time when she was an alone warrior in a male-dominated industry her co-star Dev Stand was there to take her back. Initially he didnt get into the matter but later he stood up for her and even approached the director to support Waheedas decision. He also validated Waheedas decision by saying that the character was indeed a shy girl and revealing clothes wouldnt align with her personality. Dev was very sweet. He took my side. He told the director that whatever she is saying is absolutely correct. Her character is of a shy girl. Her name in the film is Lajwanti. She should not wear revealing clothes. Whatever she is saying is correct. You got angry without any reason. Waheeda recalled. Besides the disagreements and tensions of the set the film went on to become a super hit especially its music Hai Apna Dil To Awara which remains engraved in peoples memory even today. Waheeda Rehmans determination and clear demarcation helped her to navigate her way in a male-dominated industry. Waheedas firm nature made her known as the  Simplicity of the statue Graceful Queen and Grace with Talent.  In an industry that is all about pomp and show Waheedas story serves as an example that true elegance isnt in clothes but more about stay firm to your ground.