India, Sept. 16 -- For a generation, Robert Redford was the very picture of American male beauty, sun-kissed, blue-eyed, effortlessly cool. From Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid to The Way We Were, Redford wasn't just a movie star, he was the movie star. But for Redford himself, the "sex symbol" label was never a badge of honour. In fact, he hated it. (Also Read: Fans remember Robert Redford's warm portrayal of Death in The Twilight Zone: 'Hope his death was akin to this')

In an interview with The New York Times dated 1974, Redford reflected on the discomfort that came with being idolised for his looks rather than his craft. "I never thought of myself as a glamorous guy, a handsome guy, any of that stuff. Suddenly, there's this image. ...