Reena Roy: Surviving Sinha

I dont stand to gain anything from my relationship with Shatrughan Sinha! When Reena Roy made this statement two years ago, she didnt know how much she stood to lose!

- Suguna Sundaram

Professionally, she had achieved the impossible! Nobody had expected the Zaroorat girl to rise above the lowly ranks. Yet, in time, she had made it to the No.3, officially. Filmmakers and distributors publicly acknowledged her as a worthy contender for the higher places with Hema Malini and Zeenat Aman, and tripped over themselves to give Reena her due in terms of banners, films, roles, money. The starlet was left behind. Reena Roy had become a star!

Personally, she had succeeded in breaking down barriers and prejudices. Initially, the sight and sound of Reena Roy, who she was, where she came from, her lack of breeding-education-self confidence, her inability to speak English, made her a highly questionable character through the industry. With success, however, people grew sympathetic, “So what if Reena comes from a poor family?” they countered defiantly. Overnight the Roys were granted respectability and all the bigwigs of the industry opened their doors to the family.Just when Reena had everything going for her, Shatrughan Sinha walked into her life and brought it all to a standstill.

Sinha was by no means the first man in her life, Reena had been involved with Ranjeet, Jeetendra, etc, earlier, but she had never let any of them overpower her ambition to reach the top. With Sinha however, Reena forgot everything – her career, her family, her friends, herself. In him, she felt she’d found her ideal mate. He didn’t ask for intelligence or humour, since he didn’t possess the qualities himself. He was the only man who didn’t make her feel inadequate and inferior. Reena felt on par with him in every way. She became slavish in her love for the man, and Sinha was all for it.