n the ‘80s, you couldn’t turn a corner without running into some guy peddling posters of Bollywood stars. The most prominent faces jumped out at you: Rekha, Sri Devi, Anil Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Jackie Shroff, Mithun.

The actors all bore, as one does, the marked look of the time: the men in unbuttoned shirts, not manscaped as far as we could see; the women wearing the most lip gloss you had ever seen, and often sprayed with water so they could literally look ‘dewy’.

Even then, Rekha managed to stand out. Her preference for metallic tones registered first. There was always some kind of gold or silver fabric draped around her. Whether it was a dress, just a sheet wrapped around her, or a turban, the color jumped out first. Then, you’d notice that this lady here wore a shade of lipstick that wasn’t the most popular; the ‘80s liked their pinks and tangerines and cherries, Rekha often wore gold makeup, bronze lips. Whether this is what the star aimed for or not, gold, bronze and silver are what flash through the memory first when thinking of her.

Her film roles also helped her stand apart. It wasn’t that she didn’t do her share of commercial drama or comedy, or the family-drama genre that Bollywood, and especially Kader Khan favored back in the day. But she often picked one film amid the many that promised to be iconic, remembered.

Whether it was Umrao Jan, or Silsila, one could see the elements that would firmly establish Rekha in her audience’s memories in specific avatars, that would equate her with the fashion and styling of her character forever.

The Vogue Arabia cover that the star appears on this month is both an anomaly and completely expected. That she consented at all to appear on a magazine cover, and granted an interview is a surprise; the way she appears is regular: how else would Rekha agree to be photographed but as royalty, draped in gold and prussian blue, wrapped in plush ruby velvet, looking like an exotic mythical creature with what can be scales, but are also like feathers? Why wouldn’t Rekha channel a bit of Umrao Jan for her first shoot in ages?

From what we have read of the interview so far, Rekha worked with Manish Malhotra to create the looks she shows off in the shoot, which is why they bear that unmistakable Rekha mark. As for the interview, it has been years since Rekha has conceded to say anything in the public space, so that is definitely something to look forward to.