She is known for playing strong female characters and has also appeared in parallel cinema in Indian art house films. Rekha has won three Filmfare Awards including Best Supporting Actress once and Best Actress twice. She won the National Film Award for Best Actress for her role in 1981’s Umrao Jaan. Rekha was honored with the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2010. Some of her film titles include Double Cross, Dharma, Agreement, Mother, Censor, and Super Nani. In 2001 Rekha was awarded for her Significant Contribution to Indian Cinema at the Bombay International Film Festival. She also won the Special Award for Outstanding Contribution to Indian Cinema in 2012 at the Awards of the International Film Academy.