Rekha was born as Bhanurekha Ganesan on 10 October 1954 in Madras, Madras State, India, now Chennai, Tamil Nadu. She is the daughter of South Indian actors Gemini Ganesan and Pushpavalli. She entered the entertainment industry at a young age and initially worked in South Indian films.
Her early film career included appearances in Telugu and Kannada cinema. She made her Hindi-film debut with Sawan Bhadon (1970), which became a commercial success and established her as a promising young actress in Bollywood.
During the 1970s, Rekha gradually transformed her image and developed into a highly respected performer. She worked with leading actors and filmmakers and appeared in films such as Ghar (1978), Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978), Mr. Natwarlal (1979) and Suhaag (1979).
One of the defining performances of her career came with Umrao Jaan (1981). Her portrayal of the celebrated courtesan Umrao Jaan earned her the National Film Award for Best Actress and is widely regarded as one of the finest performances in Hindi cinema.
Rekha continued to demonstrate her versatility through films such as Khubsoorat (1980), Silsila (1981), Utsav (1984), Ijaazat (1987), Khoon Bhari Maang (1988) and Phool Bane Angaray (1991). She successfully moved between romantic dramas, comedy, social dramas and intense character roles.
Her professional association with Amitabh Bachchan became one of the most discussed screen pairings in Hindi cinema. They appeared together in films including Do Anjaane, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Mr. Natwarlal, Suhaag and Silsila.
In the later stages of her career, Rekha increasingly appeared in supporting and character roles. Her notable later films include Koi... Mil Gaya (2003), Krrish (2006), Parineeta (2005) and Super Nani (2014).
Rekha has received numerous honours for her contribution to Indian cinema. In 2010, she was awarded the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian honours. She has also received several Filmfare Awards and other industry recognitions.
Rekha has generally maintained a private personal life. She was married to businessman Mukesh Aggarwal in 1990. He died in 1991. Rekha has no children.