Rakhee Gulzar, born on August 15, 1947, in Ranaghat, Nadia district, West Bengal, is a prominent Indian actress known for her work in Hindi and Bengali cinema. She was born into a Bengali-speaking family and received her early education at a local girls' school. Rakhee began her acting career with the Bengali film "Badhu Bharan" in 1967 and made her Hindi film debut with "Jeevan Mrityu" in 1970. Over her four-decade career, she has acted in more than 100 films and received numerous accolades, including two National Film Awards and three Filmfare Awards. In 2003, she was honored with the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award. Rakhee's notable films include "Daag: A Poem of Love," "Kabhi Kabhie," "Tapasya," "Ram Lakhan," and "Baazigar." She is also recognized for her versatility, having portrayed both leading roles and strong character parts throughout her career. Rakhee was first married to Bengali director Ajoy Biswas during her teenage years, but the marriage ended quickly. In 1973, she married renowned lyricist and filmmaker Gulzar, with whom she has a daughter, Meghna Gulzar, who is also a filmmaker.