Pushpavalli: Rekha's Mother, a Star's Tragic Love & Unwed Life

• Pushpavalli, mother of actress Rekha, was a prominent actress in the 1940s-50s, known for films like 'Bala Nagamma' and 'Miss Malini'.
• She began her acting career at age 12, earning a significant sum for her role as Sita in 'Sampoorna Ramayanam' (1936).
• Pushpavalli had a relationship with already-married actor Gemini Ganesan, with whom she had two daughters, Rekha and Radha, but never received marital recognition.
• Despite personal struggles and social stigma, she raised her daughters, with Rekha following in her footsteps to become an iconic Bollywood actress.
• Rekha's personal life, marked by unfulfilled relationships and a failed marriage, echoed her mother's struggles.

Why It Matters: It reveals the personal struggles and societal judgment faced by a legendary actress.