By Subhash K. Jha, IANS

The versatile Rekha, who did some of her best work in films like "Khubsoorat" and "Alaap" with the late Hrishikesh Mukherjee, remembers the director and says he always treated her like a daughter.

"Hrishi-da was like a father-figure. He would give me dirty looks if I behaved loudly. Please remember, I was only 13 when I came into the industry.

"He was a fellow Libran. He called me Chinnapunnu, the Tamil term for 'little daughter'. I did some of my best work with him," Rekha told IANS.

She says he used to give her valuable advice on her career.

"I remember him calling me to his home and telling me 'I see you in this role as a little daughter. You aren't just a mischievous brat but you don't want to be told what to do. But you've great values. So, you do the right things.' That's how Hrishi-da conceived the character in 'Khubsoorat' for me."

Apart from Mukherjee, directors like Manmohan Desai, Muzaffar Ali and Mohan Segal, who launched her in "Sawan Bhadon", also managed to bring forth the real woman in her.

"They saw the person behind the actress in me. They were, therefore, able to project me in a humane natural light."

She says Mukherjee's "Jhoothi", which came in 1985, was like a sequel to "Khoobsurat".

"I didn't have to depend on dialogues or scenes."

Rekha doesn't deny that her character in "Khoobsurat" was partially influenced by Amitabh Bachchan, her co-star in many films.

"When you're working in 10 films with Amit-ji you're bound to absorb some of his mannerisms. But I didn't do it consciously.

"In 'Khubsoorat' I also imitated Shammi Kapoor in the song 'Inquilaab zindabad' and also Gulzar bhai wearing the kurta and chashma. We shot 'Khubsoorat' in his house, so I didn't feel I was shooting a film."

Rekha says that besides being a brilliant director, Mukherjee was also a fantastic editor.

"Before he reached the sets he had already completed the editing in his mind. That's when I realised what a fantastic craftsman he was. That's when I got interested in editing.

"Hrishi-da could concentrate on chess on the sets and still shoot the perfect shot. It didn't mean he wasn't paying attention to the actors. I slowly understood and appreciated him."

She remembers having fun on the sets of "Namak Haraam".

"My first film with Hrishi-da was 'Namak Haraam'. I was part of this gang that included Amit-ji. We all used to gatecrash into Hrishi-da's place and smother him with abeer. Every year we made his life hell (laughs). And you know there was a Holi sequence in Hrishi-da's 'Namak Haraam' and 'Alaap'. We south Indians don't play Holi.

"I only remember it as something we - Amit-ji, his dad (Harivansh Rai Bachchan), his mom (Teji Bachchan) and Hrishi-da would get together to celebrate. I relate to Hrishi-da as with everyone else only through emotions."

She says that the constant pain in his legs used to bother Mukherjee a lot. "He lived with unlimited pain."

Rekha says that the director was very fond of animals and kids and his house used to be filled with cats, dogs and children.

"That's when he saw me relating to kids and made 'Jhoothi'. His home looked so unkempt. But Hrishi-da was happy living in the chaos. He said, 'Sure my pets smell. But that doesn't mean I love them any less'."

In fact, it was Mukherjee who encouraged Rekha to get her first pet Pishti.

"He was a godfather to her. He taught me unconditional love for pets. He advised me to keep a ticking clock for Pishti to cuddle so she wouldn't miss me when I'm in a shot. Today, I value every living being, including a blade of grass."

She feels she enjoyed a good rapport with the director.

"I shared a one-on-one relationship with him. He was like a father and friend. He gave me space to have fun and yet taught me a lot."

Rekha says she couldn't spend much time with him during his last days.

"I met Hrishi-da off and on, but not as often as he'd have liked to. I always do whatever comes spontaneously to me. I've learnt a lot about filmmaking, editing and life from Hrishi-da. For him no artist was indispensable. He managed no matter what. He didn't stand out with his clothes but with his personality.

"Like Bismillah Khan saab, Hrishi-da never lost his spirit till the end. His love for life was immense. He wouldn't let me bring my cat Shiva near him for fear that it would get an infection. And his own cat, who jumped from the high-rise, got paralysed and limped around his house till the end."

She says that after losing his son and daughter-in-law he became very depressed.

"There was just his television, computer and pets. But his sense of humour, often corny, saw him through. He was very protective of me. He'd crack dirty jokes with Amit-ji, not me.

"I didn't go for Hrishi-da's funeral. I don't go for funerals. That doesn't make me any less caring. Hrishi-da is always there. Sorry, I couldn't see him in his last days. All the wonderful people like Sunil Dutt saab, Raj Kapoor saab, Mohan Segal saab and Hrishi-da, who have such an impact on my life, I want to make them proud."