Waheeda Rehman

From Bharatpedia, an open encyclopedia


Waheeda Rehman
Waheeda Rehman (cropped).jpg
Rehman in 2019
Born (1938-02-03) 3 February 1938 (age 85)
OccupationActress
Years active
  • 1955–1991
  • 2002–present
Works
Full list
Spouse(s)
(
m. 1974; died 2000)
Children2
Honours

Waheeda Rehman (born 3 February 1938) is an Indian actress. Regarded as one of Hindi cinema's most accomplished actresses, she has worked in more than 90 feature films, in a career spanning over five decades. Her accolades include a National Film Award and three Filmfare Awards. She was honoured with India's civilian awards; the Padma Shri in 1972 and the Padma Bhushan in 2011.[1][2] In 2021, she was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest award in the field of cinema.[3][4]

Rehman made her acting debut with the Telugu film Rojulu Marayi (1955). She rose to prominence by her collaborations with Hindi filmmaker Guru Dutt in the dramas Pyaasa (1957), Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960), and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962). She had success with the romantic drama Guide (1965), for which she won her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress. She won the award again for her performance in the romantic thriller Neel Kamal (1968), and additionally earned nominations for her roles in the comedy Ram Aur Shyam (1967) and the drama Khamoshi (1970). For portraying a clanswoman in the crime drama Reshma Aur Shera (1971), she won the National Film Award for Best Actress.

Since the 1970s, Rehman has worked primarily in supporting roles, appearing in Yash Chopra's romantic dramas Kabhie Kabhie (1976), Chandni (1989) and Lamhe (1991), and action films Trishul (1978) and Mashaal (1984). Other notable supporting roles were in the 1982 films Namkeen and Namak Halaal. In 1994, she was honoured with the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award. Following a hiatus, she has worked intermittently, appearing in the social dramas Water (2005), Rang De Basanti (2006) and Delhi 6 (2009).

Apart from her acting career, Rehman is a philanthropist. She is an advocate for education and is an ambassador for RangDe, an organisation combating poverty in India.[5] Template:Toc limit

Early life[edit]

Waheeda Rehman was born on 3 February 1938[6][7][8] to a Deccani Muslim family in Chengalpet of present-day Tamil Nadu, India. It is a common misconception that Rehman was born in Hyderabad instead of Tamil Nadu.[9] Her father was Mohammed Abdur Rehman and her mother was Mumtaz Begum, and she was the youngest out of 4 daughters.[10] As a child, she and her sisters were trained Bharatanatyam in Chennai.[11] She studied in St. Joseph's Convent in Visakhapatnam when her father was posted there in the then-Madras Presidency. Her father, who worked as a district commissioner, died in 1951 while she was in her early teens.[12][13]

Rehman's dream was to become a doctor, but due to her family's circumstances emotionally and financially, alongside her mother's illness, she abandoned her goal. In order to help her family, she accepted movie offers that stemmed from her dancing abilities.[14]

Acting career[edit]

Beginnings and breakthrough[edit]

Rehman made her film debut with the Tamil film Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum as a dancer. However, the Telugu film Rojulu Marayi (1955) released prior to that; where she again performed to in a dance. The same year, she also played the lead role opposite N. T. Rama Rao in the film Jayasimha. Subsequently, her cameo appearance in Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum released in 1956. Based on the folktale Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, it was the first Tamil film to be colourised.[15] In the mid-1950s, she established a working relationship with Dev Anand wherein they had a number of successful films to their credit which include Solva Saal (1958). Suresh Kohli of The Hindu writes on her performance in Solva Saal; "Though barely 20 then and only in her fourth Hindi release, Rehman demonstrates her class: both in serious scenes demanding intensity and through sparkling, mischievous eye movements during lighter moments."[16]

Collaborations with Guru Dutt[edit]

Waheeda in Pyaasa (1957)

Rehman's performances caught the eye of Hindi filmmaker Guru Dutt, whom she considered her mentor.[17] Dutt brought her to Bombay (present-day Mumbai) and cast her as Kamini in the crime thriller C.I.D. (1956). Because of the trend set of the then popular actresses such as Madhubala, Nargis and Meena Kumari, Waheeda was asked to use a stage name, reasoning that her name should be "something sexy", which she refused and continued with her birth name.[18] Dutt would next cast her in her first lead role in Hindi films in the drama Pyaasa (1957), where she portrayed a prostitute. The film was a commercial success, and it has been regarded by critics as one of the greatest films ever made.[19][20] She continued collaborations with Dutt which include the noir film 12 O'Clock (1958),[21] the romantic drama Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), and the Muslim social film Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960); all of which earned her critical praise.[22] Rehman and Dutt's last collaboration was the romantic drama Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962), which starred Dutt, Kumari, and Rehman herself in a supporting role.[23] The film was a major success, being lauded by both Indian and international critics.[24] This earned Rehman her first Filmfare nomination in the category of Best Supporting Actress,[25] meanwhile the film itself received nominations for the Golden Bear at the 13th Berlin International Film Festival and won the Filmfare Award for Best Film.[26]

Widespread success[edit]

The actress next ventured into Bengali film-making with Satyajit Ray's film Abhijan (1962).[27] Following this, she played a murder suspect in Baat Ek Raat Ki (1962), a girl embroiled in a sibling feud in Rakhi (1962) and an infertile woman in Ek Dil Sau Afsane (1963). As a leading lady, she was cast opposite many familiar faces of Hindi Cinema; notably, this includes Sunil Dutt in Mujhe Jeene Do (1962), Nirupa Roy in Kaun Apna Kaun Paraya (1963) and Biswajit in the horror film Kohraa (1964), the drama Majboor (1964), and the psychological-thriller Bees Saal Baad (1962)—the latter becoming the highest-grossing Hindi film of 1962.[28] At the end of 1964, Rehman became the third-highest paid actress in Hindi films, from 1959 to 1964.

(L-R) Nanda, Waheeda Rehman, Helen and Sadhana

Guide (1965)[edit]

Vijay Anand's magnum opus, the 1965 romantic drama Guide was an adaptation of the same book written by R. K. Narayan, published in 1958.[29] Rehman starred as Rosie, a rebellious, strong-willed wife of an unfaithful archaeologist. She stated that the role proved difficult for her, particularly because it broke several film stereotypes at the time.[30] Guide was a major commercial success, emerging as the fifth-highest grossing Hindi film of 1965, and it opened to widespread critical acclaim, with Rehman's performance receiving particular praise. Trisha Gupta of Hindustan Times writing, "Rosie was triply unusual: a woman who walks out of an unhappy marriage, begins a romantic relationship with a man who isn't her husband, and simultaneously embarks on a successful career as a dancer. She would be an unusual Hindi film heroine even today..."[31] and ranked her performance amongst Indian cinema's greatest. For her performance, Rehman won her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress, and Guide went on to win the National Film Award for Best Feature Film and the Filmfare Award for Best Film. It became India's official entry to the Oscars, though it did not get nominated. It is now considered a cult classic, and is considered Rehman's signature film performance.[32]

Continued success[edit]

Rehman's peak continued when she was paired with other well-established superstars, namely Dilip Kumar, Rajendra Kumar, Raj Kapoor, and Rajesh Khanna. Among her most acclaimed films of the late 1960s include Teesri Kasam (1966), which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film, Ram Aur Shyam (1967), Neel Kamal (1968) and Khamoshi (1969). The last three films each earned Rehman consecutive nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress each, winning her second award for Neel Kamal.[33] In her highly praised role in Khamoshi starring alongside Rajesh Khanna and Dharmendra, she plays a nurse who goes mentally insane after falling in love with one of her patients, and eventually is sent to her own mental institution. Other commercial successes of this period were Patthar Ke Sanam (1967) and Aadmi (1968). At the end of the 1960s, Rehman ranked a new record amongst herself in becoming the second-paid actress in Hindi films, from 1964 to 1969. She states herself, "For Solva Saal, my first film as a freelancer, I received ₹30,000. The highest I ever earned in my career was Rs. 7 lakh for a film."[34]

Reshma Aur Shera (1971)[edit]

For headlining the film Reshma Aur Shera (1971), Rehman won the National Film Award for Best Actress, which is India's equivalent to the Academy Award for Best Actress.[35] Reshma Aur Shera was also nominated for the Golden Bear at the 22nd Berlin International Film Festival and was selected as the Indian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film,[35] however the film failed at the box office.[36]

Later roles and sporadic work[edit]

Rehman began experimenting with roles at this stage of career. She accepted the offer to play a mother to Jaya Bhaduri in Phagun (1973). In her new innings from the '70s, her successful films include Kabhi Kabhie (1976), Trishul (1978), Jwalamukhi (1980), Naseeb (1981), Namkeen (1982), Dharam Kanta (1982), Namak Halaal (1982), Coolie (1983), Mashaal (1984), Chandni (1989) and Lamhe (1991).[37][10] Kabhi Kabhie, Namkeen, Chandni and Lamhe garnered her nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. Film expert Rajesh Subramanian reported that Manmohan Desai had approached Rehman, on behalf of Shammi Kapoor, during the making of Naseeb. In the song "John Jani Janardhan", Kapoor and Rehman make a grand-entry holding hands. Incidentally, this was the first time the two stars appeared together on screen.[10] After her appearance in Lamhe (1991), she announced a sabbatical from the film industry.[37][10]

Rehman in 2012

Initially, Rehman was supposed to play the role of her frequent co-star Amitabh Bachchan's mother in Karan Johar's ensemble family drama Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001).[10] However, after having shot a few scenes, she dropped out of the film due to her husband's death in November 2000; subsequently, her role was then played by Achala Sachdev.[38] In recent years, she has played motherly roles in Om Jai Jagadish (2002), Water (2005), 15 Park Avenue (2005), Rang De Basanti (2006) and Delhi 6 (2009), all of which earned her critical acclaim.[37][10]

In 2011, she was honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Bhushan, and in 2013 with the Cenetary Award for Indian Film Personality for her contribution to Indian Cinema. A biography has been written and published in 2014 about Rehman, entitled Conversations With Waheeda Rehman,[39] which consist of interviews collected by author and director Nasreen Munni Kabir.

Personal life[edit]

In April 1974, Waheeda married Shashi Rekhi (also known by his screen name Kamaljeet).[40] They had worked together in the film Shagoon (1964). They had 1 son; Sohail and 1 daughter; Kashvi, both of whom are writers. After her marriage, they lived in a farmhouse in Bangalore but after Rekhi's death on 21 November 2000, Waheeda moved back to her sea-view bungalow in Bandra, Mumbai, where she currently resides.[41][42]

She is private about her life and seldom speaks about it, as said in an interview at the launch of Conversations with Waheeda Rehman: "I don't want to get into it. My private life should remain private. It is nobody's business. I know we are public figures, so when I fight with my husband, do you want to know about it?"[43]

Reception and legacy[edit]

Rehman at an event in 2010

Rehman is regarded as one of the greatest actors of Indian cinema.[44] Rediff.com placed her in their "Bollywood's Best Actresses of all time" list.[45] In 2022, she was placed in Outlook India's "75 Best Bollywood Actresses" list.[46] One of the highest paid actress of mid- to late 1960s and early 1970s, Rehman appeared in Box Office India's "Top Actresses" list in 1967 and 1968.[47] Rehman was placed 3rd in Rediff.com's "Best Bollywood Debut Ever" list, for her film CID.[48] In 2011, they listed her as the fifth-greatest actress of all-time after Nargis, Smita Patil, Nutan and Meena Kumari.[49] In 2012, Rehman was placed 9th by NDTV in its "The Most Popular Actress of All Time" list.[50] Filmfare included Rehman's performances in Guide in its list of Bollywood's "80 Iconic Performances".[51] Rehman was also placed in Times of India's "50 Beautiful Faces" list.[52]

Devesh Sharma of Filmfare termed her "dusky danseuse".[53] Arushi Bhaskar of Indian Express said, "Waheeda Rehman has a rich filmography to her name that reflects the changing ethos of Indian cinema as well as her own talents."[54] Sharla Bazliel of India Today noted, "Her name means "the unique one" and few actors have had a career, and life, quite like Waheeda Rehman."[55] Mukul Kesavan of The Telegraph talked about her work with Guru Dutt and said, "Waheeda Rehman is Hindi cinema's greatest actor but it is a mistake to make that claim, as often happens, on the basis of her work in Guru Dutt's films. Guru Dutt sprinkled her with stardust; as an actor, she made herself."[56] Dinesh Raheja of Rediff.com noted, "Rehman's simple beauty and refreshingly natural style of acting gave her an edge over the carefully-lacquered bouffant brigade of the 1960s."[57][58]

Filmography[edit]

Awards and honours[edit]

President Murmu presenting the Dadasaheb Phalke Award to Ms. Rehman at the 69th National Film Awards on 17 October 2023.
Year Film Award Category Result Ref.
1962 Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam Filmfare Awards Best Supporting Actress Nominated [59]
1965 Guide Best Actress Won [60]
Chicago International Film Festival Best Actress Won [61]
1966 Teesri Kasam BFJA Awards Best Actress (Hindi) Won [62]
1967 Ram Aur Shyam Filmfare Awards Best Actress Nominated [63]
1968 Neel Kamal Won [33]
1970 Khamoshi Nominated [64]
1971 Reshma Aur Shera National Film Awards Best Actress Won [65]
1976 Kabhi Kabhie Filmfare Awards Best Supporting Actress Nominated [66]
1982 Namkeen Nominated [67]
1989 Chandni Nominated
1991 Lamhe Nominated [68]

Honours[edit]

References[edit]

  1. "Interview: Waheeda Rehman". glamsham.com. Archived from the original on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
  2. "'I did not consider myself beautiful' – Waheeda Rehman". india.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
  3. "Waheeda Rehman: The Quintessential Beauty of Bollywood". firstpost.com. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
  4. "I am not very keen on doing films: Waheeda Rehman". timesofindia.com. 20 October 2012. Archived from the original on 14 September 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
  5. Thomas, Anu (27 September 2018). "How Rang De is using crowdsourcing to make micro loans cheaper". The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  6. Rachana Dubey (15 May 2014). "Waheeda Rehman's date issues". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 14 September 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  7. "Rehman, Waheeda (1938–)". National Library of Australia. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  8. "Rahman, waheeda, 1938". id.loc. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  9. "My Mentor". The Times of India. 23 June 2009. Archived from the original on 27 January 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 Kabir, Nasreen Munni (15 March 2015). Conversations with Waheeda Rehman. Penguin UK. ISBN 9789351186427.
  11. Guru Dutt was my mentor: Waheeda/
  12. Gulzar, p. 22
  13. "Interview with Waheeda Rehman". 5 August 2015. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  14. Britannica, Encyclopedia (2003). Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema. Popular Prakashan. ISBN 9788179910665.
  15. Modern Theatres (14 January 1956). Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum 1956 Songbook.
  16. Kohli, Suresh (30 August 2012). "Solva Saal (1958)". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  17. "How Guru Dutt Discovered Legendary Actress Waheeda Rehman". www.msn.com. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  18. "Was a stubborn newcomer in industry: Waheeda Rehman". The Economic Times. 22 January 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  19. "BoxOffice India.com". 2 January 2010. Archived from the original on 2 January 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  20. An, Gautam (27 November 2014). "'Pyaasa' (1957) is an Eternal Classic. Here's Why". The Cinemaholic. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  21. "Filmfare recommends: Best Bollywood noir films of the '50s". filmfare.com. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  22. Sood, Samira (16 May 2020). "Kaagaz Ke Phool is Guru Dutt's masterclass in filmmaking and heartbreak". ThePrint. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  23. "Raise a Glass for the Lady". The Indian Express. 11 March 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  24. Kumar, Anuj (1 June 2012). "The legend endures". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  25. "The Nominations – 1962– The 51st Filmfare Awards". archive.is. 8 July 2012. Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  26. Alvi, Abrar (2005). "Sahib bibi aur ghulam". 100 Bollywood Films. doi:10.5040/9781838710538.0089. ISBN 9781838710538.
  27. IANS (9 April 2014). "'Conversations With Waheeda Rehman' : The endearing story of a remarkable actress (Book Review)". Business Standard India. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  28. Britannica, Encyclopedia (2003). Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema. Popular Prakashan. ISBN 978-81-7991-066-5.
  29. "rediff.com, Movies: Classics Revisited: Guide". www.rediff.com. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  30. "'Guide' was a challenge for me: Waheeda Rehman". The Times of India. 22 July 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  31. "60 years of RK Narayan's The Guide: A tale ahead of its time". Hindustan Times. 27 October 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  32. "Time Magazine". Time: Guide (1965). Archived from the original on 30 October 2010.
  33. 33.0 33.1 "The Winners – 1968". Filmfare Awards. Archived from the original on 10 July 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  34. Gupta, Trisha (12 February 2016). "In her own name". @businessline. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  35. 35.0 35.1 "Amitabh Bachchan completes 52 years in Bollywood, here are his most underrated performances". Masala.com. 16 February 2021. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023.
  36. "When Sunil Dutt Decided To Reshoot This Film And Landed In Rs 60 Lakh Debt". News18. 6 June 2023. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023.
  37. 37.0 37.1 37.2 "Waheeda Rehman". Cinemaazi. Indian Cine Heritage Foundation.
  38. Hungama, Bollywood (24 November 2000). "Waheeda Rehman opts out of Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham: : Bollywood News – Bollywood Hungama". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  39. Kabir, Nasreen Munni (15 March 2015). Conversations with Waheeda Rehman. Penguin UK. ISBN 9789351186427.
  40. "Secrets: Unknown Husbands Of Bollywood". Indiatimes. Times Internet Limited. 9 March 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  41. "Exclusive: Waheeda Rehman's Son Has A Dream Wedding In Bhutan". The Quint. 15 June 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  42. "Mirror on a Full Moon". Outlook India. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  43. "My private life nobody's business: Waheeda Rehman on relationship with Guru Dutt". The Indian Express. 6 April 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  44. "Top heroines of Bollywood". India Today. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  45. Sen, Raja (6 March 2007). "Bollywood's best actresses. Ever". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 9 March 2007. Retrieved 13 March 2007.
  46. "75 Bollywood Actresses Who Ruled The Silver Screen With Grace, Beauty And Talent". Outlook India. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  47. "Top Actresses". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 4 January 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  48. "Best Bollywood Debutants Ever". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  49. Sen, Raja (29 June 2011). "Readers Choice: The Greatest Actresses of all time". Rediff.com. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
  50. "Most popular actresses of all time". Yahoo! India Movies. 12 June 2012. Archived from the original on 15 June 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
  51. "80 Iconic Performances". Filmfare Via Tanqeed.com. 4 June 2010. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  52. "Photos – 50 Beautiful Faces: 100 years of Indian Cinema". Times of India. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  53. "Timeless classic: Waheeda Rehman". Filmfare. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  54. "Neel Kamal, a rare Waheeda Rehman film that gloriously fails the test of time". Indian Express. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  55. "Waheeda Rehman: A life wonderful". India Today. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  56. "AN ACTOR OF GENIUS – Waheeda Rehman's best work came after the Guru Dutt phase". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  57. "The simple, understated beauty of Waheeda Rehman". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  58. "Waheeda Rehman's journey from Ganjam to stardom". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  59. "The Nominations – 1962". Filmfare Awards. Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  60. "The Winners – 1966". Filmfare Awards. Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  61. "Chicago International Film Festival Awards". The Chicago International Film Festival. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  62. 32nd Annual BFJA Awards
  63. "The Nominations – 1967". Filmfare Awards. Archived from the original on 29 October 2007. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  64. "The Nominations – 1970". Filmfare Awards. Archived from the original on 23 March 2004. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  65. "Reshma Aur Shera 1971". The Hindu. 25 October 2008. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  66. "The Nominations – 1976". Filmfare Awards. Archived from the original on 10 July 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  67. "The Nominations – 1982". Filmfare Awards. Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  68. "The Nominations – 1991". Filmfare Awards. Archived from the original on 10 July 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  69. "Padma Awards Directory (1954–2014)" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs (India). 21 May 2014. pp. 37–72. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 September 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  70. "Lifetime Achievement (Popular)". Filmfare Awards. Archived from the original on 12 February 2008. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  71. "IIFA Through the Years – IIFA 2001: South Africa". International Indian Film Academy Awards. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  72. "N.T.R. NATIONAL FILM AWARDEES". APSFTVTDC. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  73. "Brajesh Mishra, Azim Premji, Montek in list of 128 Padma awardees". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  74. "Waheeda Rehman conferred with Kishore Kumar Award". The Indian Express. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  75. The Indian Express (26 September 2023). "Waheeda Rehman honoured with Dadasaheb Phalke Award for contributions to Indian cinema, expemplifying 'strength of Bharatiya Nari'". Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.

Sources[edit]

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

Information red.svg
Scan the QR code to donate via UPI
Dear reader, We kindly request your support in maintaining the independence of Bharatpedia. As a non-profit organization, we rely heavily on small donations to sustain our operations and provide free access to reliable information to the world. We would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to consider donating to our cause, as it would greatly aid us in our mission. Your contribution would demonstrate the importance of reliable and trustworthy knowledge to you and the world. Thank you.

Please select an option below or scan the QR code to donate
₹150 ₹500 ₹1,000 ₹2,000 ₹5,000 ₹10,000 Other