Veteran film actor Rekha on Tuesday took oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha . The actor, who was April 27 nominated by the president to the upper house, also met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh before taking oath. A leading actor of the Hindi film industry in the 1970s and 1980s, Rekha took her oath in English. Wearing a golden silk sari, she sat in the Upper House till halfway through question hour.

Rekha was nominated to the House of Elders along with social worker Anu Aga and cricketer Sachin Tendulkar. While Aga was sworn in on Sunday during a special sitting of Parliament, Tendulkar is expected to take oath on Wednesday, according to sources.

Rekha, 57, was surrounded by other MPs when she arrived in the Rajya Sabha. Amid chaotic scenes at the entrance, she was taken to the special entrance gate used by the Prime Minister. The MPs thumped their desks in approval when her name was called to take the oath. Chairman of the House, Hamid Ansari, said "Welcome" as she greeted him with folded hands. "I Rekha Ganeshan," she said, swearing in the name of God in her brief oath in English.

After signing the members' register, she greeted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley and other leaders before walking to her allotted seat, No. 99. According to records, she attended about 19 minutes of the proceedings before leaving the Upper House. Her Silsila co-star, Jaya Bachchan (SP), occupied her new seat and was engrossed in the day's agenda and the two ladies did not greet each other.