Rekha’s vanity is legendary, but this takes the cake. The Government of Maharashtra has changed the title of one of its awards because the diva was cautious of being branded as a has-been. Thus, while the Government of Maharashtra in all earnestness wished to honour the lady with a lifetime achievement award – monikered the Raj Kapoor Smriti Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar initially – it has had to re-title the escutcheon with a less older sounding Pratibha Gaurav Puraskar.
Rekha, it seems, developed cold feet after reports started pouring out into the media about this lifetime achievement award. Says a source from the government, who did not wish to be named, "She called us and asked us to change the name of the award. She felt that a lifetime achievement award gives the illusion that all the work in one’s career has been done. ‘I still have a lot of unfinished work’ she said to us. We decided to change the name of the award."
The ceremony will be held in Pune on May 30, and will be graced by the Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and the Deputy Chief Minister, Chhagan Bhujbal.
The relatively younger Aamir Khan won the second award – the Raj Kapoor Smriti Vishesh Gaurav Puraskar. What the government also doesn’t know is that Aamir Khan and Rekha can’t stand each other’s guts (her nakhras cost his father lakhs of rupees when making Locket in the late ‘80s; it is something Aamir, who is known to nurse grudges, has never forgiven her for). But maybe he’ll overlook old grudges now that a lifetime has passed since. Wait a minute…
What the government also doesn’t know is that Aamir Khan and Rekha can’t stand each other’s guts.