MUMBAI MIRROR (December 18, 2017)

Rekha, who received the first Smita Patil Memorial Award, said she found the late actress was a far better performer than her. “I am really glad that I am receiving an award in the name of Smita. I also want to say that you all did the right thing that you decided to give the first ever Smita Patil Memorial Award to me, because I think only I have the right to receive this award,” the actress said. “This award signifies the excellence of her (Smita Patil’s) craft, which includes her acting abilities, dancing abilities or her ability to be fearless in front of the camera or in choosing her roles or the way she could just live that moment and make a statement on-screen with her beautiful eyes without saying a single word,” Rekha explained, adding that she wasn’t saying it because she won an award. “I feel she had far more finesse and was brilliant as an actor. I realised this 30 years ago when I decided to watch all her films. Today, I can say that she was a far better actress than me and than anybody else.” Rekha also told Prateik, Patil’s actor-son with Raj Babbar, “When you are in doubt just call me. I am here, but there is no way I can match up to her.”