Shatrughan Sinha once revealed the real reason behind his ‘cold war’ with Rekha, where he didn’t speak to her for 20 years: ‘My wife Poonam Sinha ended our…’

Veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha is known for his strong screen presence, powerful dialogue delivery and unique style, he has entertained audiences for decades. Whether it was his acting or his confidence or his iconic dialogue ‘Khamosh’. Rekha, on the other hand, is regarded as one of Bollywood’s most glamorous and graceful actresses. Over the years, she has inspired women across generations and remains a timeless icon in Indian cinema.

But did you know the two stars once stopped talking to each other for nearly 20 years? Yes, the two stars, who worked together in films like ‘Dost Aur Dushman’ and ‘Do Yaar’, shared a long silence that shocked many.

When Shatrughan Sinha spoke about Rekha

In a chat with Subhash K Jha for Rediff in 2024, the ‘Kalicharan’ actor spoke warmly about Rekha and her journey in cinema. He said, "She is the epitome of beauty and grace. We started our careers almost simultaneously. The Rekha back then was very different from the picture-perfect Rekha we see these days.Women and girls over generations consider her a role model, and she is aware of this. She knows the responsibility that comes with fame."

What he said about their friendship

Talking about their relationship, the ‘Dostana’ actor highlighted the respect Rekha had for him and her closeness to his family. He said, “We have a very long association. I am her senior, both age-wise and professionally.She respects me, and is very close to my wife, Poonam.”

Shatrughan Sinha and Rekha’s fallout

The ‘Kaala Patthar’ actor recalled that the fallout happened during the making of Rakesh Roshan’s ‘Khoon Bhari Maang’. What started as a minor disagreement slowly turned into a long period of silence. The misunderstanding marked the beginning of their cold war.

Opening up about the reason behind the fallout, Sinha admitted it was over something trivial. He said, “We had a difference of opinion over some silly issue. After that, we didn't speak to each other for more than 20 years. My wife Poonam Sinha ended our silly differences.”

How Poonam Sinha changed everything

Eventually, it was Poonam Sinha who decided to step in and resolve the issue. Sinha explained how her friendship with Rekha was being affected by the cold war.

He said, “You see, Rekha and she were close friends, and my so-called cold war with Rekha was causing difficulties in my wife's friendship with her. She patched us up for her own selfish reason and I happily agreed to let bygones be bygones.”Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”