Rekha Kamat (born Kumud Sukhtankar; 1932 – 11 January 2022) popularly known as Rekha was an Indian film and television actress.
Early life and education
Kamat was born in 1932 in Mahim, Mumbai.[1][2] Her father was a clerk in the Indian Navy. Her family consisted of seven siblings (five sisters and two brothers). Chitra Navathe (born as Kusum Sukhtankar) was her younger sister. Her father worked as a lipik at Army and Navy store in Mumbai.[3]
She took her primary education (up to class IV) at a school in Kumbharwada area on Bhawani Shankar Road and matriculated in 1949 from General Education Society Chabildas.[4] Further education from SNDT college. In 1953, Kamat married G.R. Kamat.[3] She has two daughters, Sanjeevani and Madhavi.
She learned singing from Vasantrao Kulkarni.
G. D. Madgulkar gave both sisters them their respective reel names, Rekha and Chitra, during the meet for 1954 Marathi film Lakhachi Goshta. This also became the occasion for G. R. Kamat to meet both sisters and know them.[3]