Indian actress Waheeda Rahman had her film debut in the Telugu film Rojulu Marayi (1955), she received recognition for her work in Hindi films directed by Guru Dutt, which included Pyaasa (1957), Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960) and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962), for which she received her first Filmfare nomination. She continued acting in the mid-1960s, starring in successful movies and establishing herself as one of the leading ladies in classic Indian cinema. Rehman's career reached its highest point when she won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress twice, for the Bollywood classic Guide (1965) and the romantic thriller Neel Kamal (1968) and received nominations for Ram Aur Shyam (1967) and Khamoshi (1969), the latter of which is considered to be her greatest performance ever.
She won the National Film Award for Best Actress for portraying a clanswoman in love with a separate clansman in the commercial failure Reshma Aur Shera (1971). Soon after she started to portray motherly and/or supporting roles in films. Rehman's further notable performances are Kabhi Kabhie (1976), Namkeen (1982), Chandni (1989) and Lamhe (1991), and the latter film became her last film credit in the next 11 years until 2002, where she returned to the film industry.
| Year | Title | Role(s) | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Rojulu Marayi | Dancer | Tel | In the song "Eruvaaka Sagaroranno Chinnanna" |
| Jayasimha | Princess | Telugu | ||
| Kaalam Maari Pochu | Dancer | Tamil | In the song "Yeru Thooki Povayae" | |
| 1956 | Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum | Lead dancer | Tamil | In the song "Salaam Babu Enaai" |
| C.I.D. | Kamini | Hindi | ||
| 1957 | Pyaasa | Gulabo | Hindi | |
| 1958 | 12 O'Clock | Bani Chaudhary | Hindi | |
| Solva Saal | Laaj | Hindi | ||
| 1959 | Kaagaz Ke Phool | Shanti | Hindi | |
| 1960 | Kala Bazar | Alka | Hindi | |
| Ek Phool Char Kaante | Sushma | Hindi | ||
| Chaudhvin Ka Chand | Jameela | Hindi | ||
| Girl Friend | Hindi | |||
| 1961 | Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja | Rani | Hindi | |
| 1962 | Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam | Jaba | Hindi | Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| Bees Saal Baad | Radha | Hindi | Highest-grossing Hindi film of 1962 | |
| Baat Ek Raat Ki | Neela/Meena | Hindi | ||
| Rakhi | Radha | Hindi | ||
| Abhijan | Gulabi | Bengali | ||
| 1963 | Mujhe Jeene Do | Chameli Bai | Hindi | |
| Kaun Apna Kaun Paraya | Asha | Hindi | ||
| Ek Dil Sau Afsane | Sunita | Hindi | ||
| 1964 | Kohraa | Rajeshwari | Hindi | |
| Shagoon | Geeta | Hindi | ||
| Majboor | Susheela Mehta | Hindi | ||
| 1965 | Guide | Rosy Marco/Miss Nalini | Hindi | Filmfare Award for Best Actress |
| 1966 | Teesri Kasam | Heera Bai | Hindi | |
| Dil Diya Dard Liya | Roopa | Hindi | ||
| 1967 | Patthar Ke Sanam | Taruna | Hindi | |
| Ram Aur Shyam | Anjana | Hindi | Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Actress | |
| Palki | Mehroo | Hindi | ||
| 1968 | Neel Kamal | Rajkumari Neel Kamal/ Seeta | Hindi | Filmfare Award for Best Actress |
| Aadmi | Meena | Hindi | ||
| Baazi | Elizabeth D'Silva | Hindi | ||
| 1969 | Khamoshi | Radha | Hindi | Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Actress |
| Shatranj | Meena | Hindi | ||
| Meri Bhabhi | Maya | Hindi | ||
| 1970 | Prem Pujari | Suman Mehra | Hindi | |
| Man Ki Aankhen | Geeta | Hindi | ||
| Dharti | Jwala/Princess Chitralekha | Hindi | ||
| Darpan | Madhavi | Hindi | ||
| 1971 | Man Mandir | Krishna/Radha | Hindi | Double Role |
| Reshma Aur Shera | Reshma | Hindi | National Film Award for Best Actress | |
| 1972 | Zindagi Zindagi | Meeta Sharma | Hindi | |
| Trisandhya | Indu | Hindi | ||
| Subah-O-Sham | Shirin | Hindi | ||
| Dil Ka Raaja | Laxmi Singh | Hindi | ||
| Thrisandhya | Malayalam | |||
| 1973 | Phagun | Shanta | Hindi | |
| Insaaf | Hindi | |||
| 1974 | Bangaaru Kalalu | Saroja | Telugu | |
| 1976 | Kabhi Kabhie | Anjali Malhotra | Hindi | Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| Adalat | Radha | Hindi | ||
| 1978 | Trishul | Shanti | Hindi | Cameo |
| 1979 | Aaj Ki Dhara | Hindi | ||
| Jiban Jerakam | Bengali | [1] | ||
| 1980 | Jyoti Bane Jwala | Malti | Hindi | |
| Jwalamukhi | Savita | Hindi | ||
| 1982 | Sawaal | Anju Mehta | Hindi | |
| Namak Halaal | Savitri | Hindi | ||
| Namkeen | Jugni/Jyoti | Hindi | Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress | |
| Dharam Kanta | Radha Singh | Hindi | ||
| 1983 | Himmatwala | Savitri | Hindi | |
| Mahaan | Janki | Hindi | ||
| Coolie | Salma | Hindi | ||
| Pyaasi Aankhen | Hindi | |||
| Ghungroo | Rani Maa | Hindi | ||
| 1984 | Sunny | Gayatri | Hindi | |
| Mashaal | Sudha | Hindi | ||
| Maqsad | Sharda | Hindi | ||
| 1985 | Bayen Hath Ka Khel | Hindi | Unreleased film | |
| 1986 | Simhasanam | Telugu | ||
| Singhasan | Rajmata Vardhan | Hindi | ||
| Allah-Rakha | Advocate Salma | Hindi | ||
| 1989 | Chandni | Lata Khanna | Hindi | Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 1991 | Lamhe | Dai Jaan | Hindi | Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| Swayam | Hindi | |||
| 1994 | Ulfat Ki Nayee Manzilen | Hindi | Delayed Release | |
| 2002 | Om Jai Jagadish | Saraswati Batra | Hindi | |
| 2005 | Water | Bhagawati | Hindi | |
| Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara | Principal Khanna | Hindi | ||
| 15 Park Avenue | Mrs. Mathur / Mrs. Gupta | English/ Bengali | ||
| 2006 | Rang De Basanti | Mrs. Aishwarya Rathod | Hindi | |
| Chukkallo Chandrudu | Padmavathi | Telugu | Cameo | |
| 2009 | Delhi 6 | Annapurna Mehra | Hindi | |
| 2013 | Love in Bombay | Preeti Mehra | Hindi | Delayed Release |
| 2015 | Arshinagar | Dadijaan | Bengali | |
| 2017 | The Song of Scorpions | Zubeidaa | Hindi | |
| 2018 | Vishwaroopam II | Kashmiri's mother | Tamil/Hindi | |
| 2021 | Skater Girl | Maharani | English/Hindi | |