Rekha felicitated with Red Sea Honouree Award during international premiere of Umrao Jaan in Jeddah

Veteran actor Rekha has been felicitated with the Red Sea Honouree Award. She received the honour at the international premiere of the restored version of Muzaffar Ali's classic, Umrao Jaan (1981) at Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah.

The Instagram handle of Red Sea International Film Festival shared a video of the veteran's speech and captioned it as, "We were honored to hear from the legendary Rekha, a rare and unforgettable moment at the Red Sea International Film Festival. Her presence lit up the room as she reflected on a remarkable career that has shaped generations of Indian cinema (sic)."

"Her speech followed her recognition with the Red Sea Honouree Award and the international premiere of the newly restored Umrao Jaan (1981), joined by director Muzaffar Ali as this timeless classic screened in our Treasures programme," it emphasised.

Rekha, in her speech said, "I am not much of a talker. Even in Umrao Jaan, the dialogues said half of what my eyes could feel and express, Muzaffar (Aziz) Saab is right. I think one look is enough. As my mother always used to say, 'You don't talk about your achievements and feelings. You don't teach people by telling them what to do. You just live by example. You live your best life, and they can learn and evolve, especially what not to do'."

She further added, "So that is what I will share with all of you. I learnt what not to do. I took that leap of faith and said, 'I am not going to miss this Red Sea International Film Festival, so I am here. Never again will I miss this opportunity again and again.



Inshallah. So it goes with every word that is spoken. There lies a silence that is better."

"So, tonight I say very silently and humbly with all my respect and love for my loved ones, be it my fans, friends and family, my new friends, thank you for everything. Thank you for what you have felt for our films and films in general, and the way you express it is exquisite. I take back a lot, just listening to you. Shukriya (Thank you), watch this film and you will know what I meant by saying, 'Baaton se kuchh nahi hota hai, sirf ishq se hota hai (There is nothing to be gained with words, all that matters is love). Aur wo bhi khamosh ishq (That too, silent romance)'. Shukriya (Thank you)," the actor concluded.

Rekha's classic, Umrao Jaan returned to theatres in India on June 27, 2025 in a newly restored 4K version. The re-release was accompanied by a special coffee table book offering rare behind-the-scenes insights.

Speaking about the film’s revival, Ali said in a statement, "Umrao Jaan was not just a film - it was a journey into the soul of a lost culture, a forgotten tehzeeb. Through her pain, poetry, and grace, we tried to resurrect the elegance of an era where love and longing spoke in verse. I had actors who brought a lot of heft to their characters, and then there was Rekha, who lived Umrao Jaan and truly immortalised it. I am thrilled that the film is back on the big screen for a whole new generation to discover a time and culture that’s very much a part of our being."

Red Sea International Film Festival is scheduled between December 4, 2025 to December 13, 2025.