Hindi cinema’s timeless beauty, Waheeda Rahman, began her career in Telugu films. Guru Dutt spotted her and cast her as the vamp in C.I.D. Her naughty eyes and teasing smile in Kahin pe nigahein kahin pe nishana gave an early indication of her immense charm, grace and talent. A trained Bharatnatyam dancer, her portrayal of a prostitute in Guru Dutt’s masterpiece, Pyaasa (1957), impressed audiences and connoisseurs of cinema alike. She soon became Dutt’s muse and real life paramour and the film Kagaz Ke Phool (1959) with its film milieu has strong autobiographical strains. The wonderfully picturised song, 'Waqt ne kiya' stands out as one of Hindi cinema’s masterpieces, complete with moody lighting, pathos-laden facial expressions and even a couple of visual tricks. By the time Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam was made in 1962, Waheeda and Guru Dutt had had a falling out and the film was completed under some strain. Bees Saal Baad (1962), Mujhe Jeene Do (1963) and Kohra (1964) were box-office successes, but the film that made the deepest impact was Vijay Anand’s Guide (1965). She played the prostitute Rosie, an aspiring dancing star, locked in a loveless marriage and helped by Raju Guide (Dev Anand) in furthering her ambitions. The marvelous soundtrack that included songs like 'Aaj phir jeene ki tamanna hai' explored her acting and dancing potential beautifully. Married to Kamaljeet, she retired to her farmhouse in Bangalore in the ’70s making rare film appearances in films after his death, notable among them being Lamhe (1992).