‘Many thought he wasn’t being honest’: Simi Garewal revisits her candid interview with Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha question that still won’t fade

There are interviews, and then there are interviews that slip into pop-culture folklore, replayed in living rooms, dissected in film schools and whispered about in Bollywood corridors decades later. Few conversations fit that rare category like the televised tête-à-tête between Amitabh Bachchan and Simi Garewal on Rendezvous With Simi Garewal. The episode arrived at a moment when Bachchan’s life resembled a dramatic third-act twist: his company Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited had collapsed financially, critics had begun writing premature obituaries for his stardom, and the public remained endlessly fascinated by the unanswered question that had followed him for years — what really existed between him and Rekha? The intrigue was irresistible, the timing cinematic, and the result was television that still sparks debate in fan clubs and film forums.

When a superstar walked in carrying silence

Recalling the meeting in a past interaction with Rediff, Garewal described the atmosphere when Bachchan arrived for that first-season shoot in 1998. According to her, he was passing through one of the most difficult phases of his professional life after ABCL’s failure dented both finances and confidence. Previous interviews, she observed, had not quite captured his true personality.

Determined to change that, she approached him before filming and made an unusual request: she wanted absolute honesty. She remembered telling him she expected “100 per cent” authenticity. Bachchan, she said, responded with his trademark composed gaze and assured her he would be completely himself — a promise she believes he honoured throughout the conversation.

A conversation that covered everything — almost

What followed was an unusually expansive exchange. Garewal noted that they discussed his childhood, formative years, his parents, career highs and humiliating flops, the ABCL setback, his professional instincts, his marriage to Jaya Bachchan, his children, and even the kind of women he admired. In her recollection, he appeared open, reflective and disarmingly frank.

Yet, as she later pointed out, viewers had their own verdict. Some insisted he was not entirely truthful — specifically when the topic of Rekha surfaced. Garewal, however, maintained that he had given his full self to the interview. As she succinctly put it, people tend to believe what they want to believe.

The Rekha answer that fuelled decades of speculation

During the show, when asked directly about his equation with Rekha, Bachchan chose words that were careful rather than dramatic. He described her simply as a co-star and colleague, explaining that their interactions largely occurred during film shoots. Socially, he suggested, they had little in common and rarely crossed paths except at public functions or award ceremonies.

The remark, reported at the time by News18, was measured enough to close the subject officially — yet ambiguous enough to keep curiosity alive. That paradox is perhaps why the exchange still circulates online as one of Indian television’s most analysed celebrity responses.

Why this interview still fascinates fans

Trivia lovers often note that the Bachchan episode is among the most rewatched instalments of Garewal’s series, alongside her conversations with royalty, global icons and film legends. Industry insiders say its enduring appeal lies in the contrast it captured: a megastar known for myth-like aura speaking in calm, almost vulnerable tones at a time when his career seemed uncertain.

There is also the Rekha factor. Their on-screen chemistry in classics such as Silsila and Muqaddar Ka Sikandar had already cemented them as one of Hindi cinema’s most talked-about pairings. Even without confirmation, the mere suggestion of an emotional bond became part of Bollywood’s unofficial folklore — the kind that survives without proof.

The legend of what was said — and unsaid

In retrospect, the interview works less like a confession and more like a carefully balanced performance, one where candour and discretion coexist. Garewal’s memory of the exchange suggests she saw sincerity; sceptics saw strategy. Both interpretations continue to circulate, keeping the moment alive long after the studio lights dimmed.

Perhaps that is the real reason the conversation endures. It did not solve the mystery. It preserved it. And in an industry built on storytelling, an unanswered question is often the most compelling narrative of all.