Rukhsana Sultana – The glamour girl during Emergency Period and political associate of Sanjay Gandhi

Rukhsana Sultana was a socialite best known as Sanjay Gandhi’s close associate during Emergency period between 1975 and 1977, when Gandhi was one of the leading powerful persons of Indian politics at a very young age. She was the only female member among the associates of Gandhi, and so influential that even a chief minister need to seek her permission to visit Sanjay Gandhi. She was known as the glamour girl during Emergency Period, who closely worked with Gandhi in the 1970s at the capital city Delhi and carried out many of his instructions for social events and activities.

Rukhsana Sultana was born in Jalandhar, Punjab. Her birth name is Meenu Bimbet. Her husband Shivinder Singh Virk was a Sikh General in the Indian Army and had one daughter Amrita Singh who remained a leading Bollywood star of 1980s and later married Bollywood actor and a member of a royal family of Bengal, Saif Ali Khan. Rukhsana was legally separated from her husband. A stanch supporter of Sanjay Gandhi in the 1970s, many of her actions were heavily criticized. Post Emergency period, when Sanjay Gandhi lost his political power, Sultana lost her social status too.

Rukhsana Sultana – Some interesting facts

1. She was a well-known face in the social circle in the 1970s, best known as a political associate of Sanjay Gandhi. She became famous during Emergency period.

2. Her closeness to Sanjay Gandhi has also caused envy among many and she received flak and criticism for many of her activities such as Sanjay Gandhi’s sterilisation campaign in Muslim areas of Old Delhi.

3. Her daughter Amrita Singh, former son-in-law Saif Ali Khan and granddaughter Sara Ali Khan are successful Bollywood actors.

4. Through her marriage and daughter’s marriage, she became a relative to many prominent Indian families such as royal Pataudi family of Bengal.

5. Her former son-in-law Saif Ali Khan is the daughter of glamorous star of 1960s and 1970s – Sharmila Tagore and former Indian cricketer and captain, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.

6. She was the niece of famous Bollywood actress Begum Para, and thus related to Dilip Kumar who was her brother-in-law. Begum married Dilip’s younger brother Nasir Khan. Thus Begum Para’s son Ayub Khan, a Bollywood actor is her cousin (born in 1965).

7. She had a police escort those days, which is not allowed for an ordinary Indian citizen as per rules.

8. There were many reports that she used to bully Delhites to carry out Sanjay’s missions and social activities. 

9. Like she, her single daughter who was married to Saif Ali Khan (12 years junior to her) also divorced from her husband.