Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Biswajeet Responds to Rekha Kissing Controversy From 1969
In 1969, actor Biswajeet and a teenage Rekha were making a film.
A kissing scene was reportedly filmed without telling Rekha beforehand.
A book about Rekha says she felt betrayed and angry.
The film’s director later said Rekha knew about the scene and agreed to it.
Biswajeet recently said kissing in movies is not a big issue today.
However, he did not explain whether he had asked Rekha for permission.
His daughter said the situation could have been traumatic for Rekha.
She said her father should have refused or obtained consent.
Rekha has not publicly discussed the incident herself.
Biswajeet addressed allegations that he kissed teenage Rekha without consent during a 1969 film shoot.
The incident was discussed in Yasser Usman’s book Rekha: The Untold Story.
The book says Rekha was betrayed and furious, while director Kuljeet Pal said she had consented.
Biswajeet said the controversy no longer matters because on-screen kissing is common today.
His daughter Pallavi Chatterjee said he should have refused or obtained Rekha’s consent first.
- Who
- Actors Biswajeet and Rekha, along with director Kuljeet Pal and Biswajeet’s daughter Pallavi Chatterjee.
- What
- A controversy over an alleged on-set kiss involving teenage Rekha and claims that consent was not obtained.
- When
- The filming occurred in 1969; Biswajeet addressed it in a recent interview.
- Where
- On the set of Anjana Safar, later renamed Do Shikari, in Mumbai.
- Why
- The controversy concerns conflicting accounts about whether Rekha was informed about and consented to the kissing scene.
Consent Was Not Obtained
Consent Was Given
What happened on set
Consent Was Not Obtained
Yasser Usman’s book says Biswajeet kissed Rekha when the camera began rolling without permission, leaving her betrayed and furious.
Consent Was Given
Director Kuljeet Pal said Rekha was aware of the scene and had given her consent.
How the conduct should be judged
Consent Was Not Obtained
Pallavi Chatterjee said the incident could have been traumatic and that Biswajeet should have refused or obtained Rekha’s consent first.
Consent Was Given
Biswajeet said such controversy should not matter today because kissing and bedroom scenes are now shown in films.
- Film
- Anjana Safar, later renamed Do Shikari
- Filming year
- 1969
- Film release
- The film did not release until 1979
- Rekha’s age
- She was reportedly 15 or 16 at the time, according to Pallavi Chatterjee’s comments
- Book
- Rekha: The Untold Story by Yasser Usman
- Biswajeet’s response
- He said the controversy does not matter today because on-screen kissing is now common
- Later collaboration
- Biswajeet and Rekha worked together in Kahte Hain Mujhko Raja in 1976