Waheeda Rehman, born on 3rd February 1938, hails from a traditional Tamil Urdu speaking Muslim family in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu. She was the youngest of four daughters, with her sisters named Sayeeda Malik, Shahida, and Zahida. Her father, Mohammed Abdur Rehman, served as a District Commissioner.

Her journey in cinema began with the Telugu film Rojulu Marayi in 1955. However, it was her collaboration with Hindi filmmaker Guru Dutt that brought her fame, creating timeless classics like Pyaasa (1957), Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962). She received widespread critical acclaim for 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).

Waheeda Rehman is known for her simple and contented lifestyle. After her marriage, she cut down acting assignments, preferring to lead a peaceful life in a Bangalore farmhouse. She is also a philanthropist and an advocate for education. She is an ambassador for RangDe, an organization combating poverty in India.

She was married to Kamaljeet (born as Shashi Rekhi), an actor, from 1974 until his death in 2000. They have two children, a son named Sohail Rekhi and a daughter named Kashvi Rekhi.

Waheeda Rehman and Guru Dutt shared a profound bond that transcended the boundaries of their professional collaboration. Their relationship, which began as a mentorship, soon burgeoned into a deep connection. However, Rehman has always maintained a dignified silence about her relationship with Guru Dutt.

In her career spanning over five decades, Waheeda Rehman has worked in more than 90 feature films. Some of her notable movies include Guide, Pyaasa, Kaagaz Ke Phool, Teesri Kasam, and Khamoshi. She has also appeared in recent films like Skater Girl (2021), Vishwaroopam 2 (2018), and The Song of Scorpions (2017).

Waheeda Rehman's accolades include a National Film Award and three Filmfare Awards. She won the National Film Award for Best Actress for portraying a clanswoman in the crime drama Reshma Aur Shera (1971). She was honored with India's civilian awards; the Padma Shri in 1972 and the Padma Bhushan in 2011. In 2021, she was honored with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest award in the field of cinema.