Actress Chitrangada Singh considers Rekha and the late Smita Patil as icons of film industry. "There are many people who I consider as icons in the film industry. I think Smita Patil was one of the best actresses. She was ahead of her times and did films and roles that no one could think of. I also liked all the films that Rekha ji did. She portrayed her roles beautifully on screen," Chitrangada told.

Chitrangada is often compared to Patil. Also, one can recollect, she had once expressed the wish to play Umrao Jaan, the role played Rekha in Muzaffar Ali's 1981 film Umrao Jaan. Among the younger generation, she likes Vidya Balan and Kareena Kapoor. "I like the films that Vidya does. I liked Kahaani a lot. And Kareena also does all kind of films and roles. I like their body of work," she said.

The sultry beauty has been better known for her parallel cinema roles. The actress later ventured into mainstream with films like "Desi Boyz" and "I Me Aur Main". She wants "a sense of independence" for women. "I wish a sense of independence for all women... it means freedom of thought and opinion. I feel we all should be proud of who and what we are," she said.