Rakhee Gulzar
A luminous screen presence of 1970s Hindi cinema, she mastered roles of profound resilience, often portraying women weathering emotional storms with grace.
Born 1947 (age 79)·Indian film actress·Birthday: August 15·Baby Boomers
Biography
Rakhee Gulzar arrived in Hindi cinema with an aura of intelligent melancholy that set her apart. While many of her contemporaries traded in broader theatrics, Rakhee specialized in a powerful, internalized stillness. Her eyes, often somber and knowing, became her signature, conveying volumes of unspoken history and strength. She forged iconic on-screen partnerships, most notably with Rajesh Khanna in films like 'Khamoshi' and 'Daag,' where she portrayed women of immense patience and fortitude. This depth was recognized with a National Film Award for her performance in 'Kabhi Kabhie.' In a bold move at the height of her fame, she married lyricist Gulzar, embracing a private family life while continuing selective, powerful work. Rakhee's legacy is that of the thoughtful artist, choosing substance over stardom and leaving a catalog of performances that feel hauntingly true.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Rakhee was born in 1947, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Rakhee Was Born
The biggest hits of 1947
#1 Movie
The Egg and I
Best Picture
Gentleman's Agreement
Rakhee's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1947Born
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1952Started school
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1960Became a teenager
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1963Could drive
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1965Could vote
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1968Turned 21
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1977Turned 30
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 40
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 50
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 60
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 70
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 79 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the National Film Award for Best Actress for her role in Yash Chopra's romantic drama 'Kabhi Kabhie' (1976).
- Received a second National Film Award, this one for Best Supporting Actress, for the Bengali film 'Shubho Mahurat' (2003).
- Portrayed memorable, resilient characters in classic films such as 'Daag,' 'Khamoshi,' and 'Heer Ranjha.'
- Awarded the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian honors, for her contributions to Indian cinema in 2003.
Did You Know?
She made her film debut in the Bengali film 'Badhu Bharan' (1967) under her birth name, Rakhee Majumdar.
She is the mother of filmmaker and poetess Meghna Gulzar.
She turned down the lead female role in the blockbuster 'Sholay,' which later went to Jaya Bhaduri.
Despite her many dramatic roles, she won a Filmfare Award for Best Actress in a Comic Role for 'Khazana' (1987).
“An actor's true performance is in the silence between the dialogues.”
