There has been a great deal of raised eyebrows about the unpredictable Rekha touching Shatrughan Sinha’s feet at a public function last week.

But Shatrughan Sinha has taken the Diva’s gesture of respect in his stride. “We have a very long association. I am her senior,both age-wise and professionally. So if people are asking, ‘Why?’ I want to ask, ‘Why not?’She respects me.And she is very close to my wife Punam.”

The fell-out between Shatrughan Sinha and Rekha happened during the making of Rakesh Roshan’s Khoon Bhari Maang. “We had a difference of opinion over some silly issue. After that we didn’t speak to each other for more than twenty years.It was none other than my better-half Shrimati Punam Sinha. You see, Rekha and she were close friends. And my so-called cold war with Rekha was causing difficulties in my wife’s friendship with Rekha. She patched us up for her own selfish reason.And I happily agreed to let bygones be bygones.”

Shatrujji admits he made many uncharitable remarks about Rekha while their cold war was on. “I did make digs about her. I shouldn’t have. To her credit, Rekha never retaliated.She is a very large-hearted generous woman.”