Waheeda Rehman: The woman who epitomized the soft power of saris

Waheeda Rehman is one of the most celebrated actresses of Indian cinema, who has mesmerized the audience with her beauty, grace and talent for over six decades. She has starred in some of the most memorable films of all time, such as Pyaasa, Guide, Kaagaz Ke Phool, Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam and Teesri Kasam. She has also received many awards and honours, including the Padma Shri, the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award and recently, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

But apart from her acting prowess, Waheeda Rehman is also known for her impeccable sartorial choices, especially her saris. She has worn some of the most stunning saris on-screen and off-screen, and has set a benchmark for elegance and style. Here are some of the most elegant saris of Waheeda Rehman that have made a lasting impression on the fashion world.

Waheeda Rehman looked timelessly beautiful in this deep hued shade of green that graced her sari. The sari itself was an ornate affair with the heavy silver embroidery on the borders. The actor also paired the sari with a heavy pearl necklace and a blouse to match.

With a face twisted in tragedy and donning a bright yellow sari with beautifully elaborate embroidery truly makes this photo of Waheeda Rehman poetic. The actor's sari was a bright shade of mustard yellow with ornate hand work in red and green which contrasted beautifully.

While shooting for the movie guide with Dev Anand, Waheeda Rehman often considered to be the "moon among the stars" of Bollywood, donned several iconic saris that cemented her status as a fashionista. While on set too she looked ethereal in the several saris she would don. She wore a heavy blue sari with embellishments in sequins and a full-sleeved blouse. The colour made her look as fresh as a summer sky.

Waheeda Rehman graced the cover of the Filmfare magazine quite often and graced it quite elegantly. Once upon a time, she was asked to change her name by legendary director Guru Dutt because it was "too long" but the actor adamantly refused. She refused to change her name as she refused to change her love for saris. Even on the covers of the multiple Filmfare magazines that she appeared in, her sartorial choices remained constant.

Long-time friends Waheeda Rehman and Asha Parekh absolutely stole the breath out of everyone's lungs when they graced the stage of Superstar singer in 2019. Both actors took looking elegant to the next level in their gorgeous silk saris in shades of blue and gold. Waheeda Rehman's sari was a graceful affair in blue, dark blue and champagne gold while Asha Parekh wore a muted gold sari.

Waheeda Rehman was the ultimate connoisseur of sari and few can beat her at this game. Her love for the garment was and still is legendary. From the silver screens of Bollywood to real life, her constant love for it has established her gorgeous sense of style. In this turquoise silk sari with a copper border and a black bouse, she looked like something out of a dream.