Ahead of veteran actress Rekha and megastar Amitabh Bachchan’s birthdays on October 10 and 11, respectively, actor Gaurav Singh who is known for projects like  Shiksha Mandal, Devanshi , Krishna Kanhaiya, reflects on what makes the two Hindi cinema legends so enduring. For him, Rekha’s screen presence comes down to a quality that is difficult to define.

“I think Rekha ji has a very rare quality, you can’t take your eyes off her. There’s a grace, mystery and confidence in the way she carries hersel. She created an identity that is completely her own and I think that’s why she continues to fascinate people,” he said.

Among her performances, Umrao Jaan holds a special place for him. “Definitely Umrao Jaan. I love how much she communicates through her eyes and silences. As an actor, that really stays with me, you realise you don’t always need dialogue to tell a story,” he said.

Asked what he finds most fascinating about her screen presence, he points to one quality: “Her stillness.” He added, “She doesn’t have to do much to hold your attention. The eyes, the voice, the pauses, everything feels very effortless and yet very powerful.”

Turning to Amitabh Bachchan, who turns 84 on October 11, Gaurav highlights his ability to keep evolving. “His ability to keep evolving. He became a superstar decades ago but he never stopped learning or reinventing himself. As an actor, I find that incredibly inspiring,” he said.

Of his performances, Black has stayed with him. “Black really stayed with me. I found the performance extremely controlled and emotional without ever feeling loud. There’s a lot to learn from that kind of restraint,” he said.

For Gaurav, the appeal of both careers also lies in the way their work continues to live in the public imagination. “As an actor, what fascinates me is how their chemistry has stayed alive in people’s imagination for so many decades,” he said.

“Forget the rumours and the mystery around them, just imagine Rekha ji and Amitabh Bachchan sharing the screen today. I think the nostalgia, the chemistry and the curiosity would be explosive. You’d probably have three generations rushing to the theatres!,” he added.