India’s first superstar – these words are spoken only in context of Rajesh Khanna. He inspired mass hysteria during his time, women fainted, wrote their number on his car in lipstick, wanted to get married to him and even sent him letters written in blood. While there had been stars even before Rajesh Khanna, Rajkumar, Dilip Kumar, but Kaka was special. His mannerisms, his style, his dialogue delivery.
Rajesh Khanna was born Jatin Khanna in Amritsar in 1942. He moved with relatives of his biological parents who adopted him to Girgaum, Mumbai. In 1965, he won the All India Talent Contest organized by Filmfare. He made his debut in Chetan Anand's Aakhri Khatthe in 1966. But it was Aradhana in 1969 that gave him the iconic superstar status.
He gave hits after hits with the cult Haathi Mere Saathi, Khamoshi, Kati Patang, Anand and Amar Prem. He won three Filmfare awards as well as the Lifetime Achievement, among other honours.
Despite his boy-next-door charm, Rajesh Khanna the actor donned many hats - terminally ill Anand, a canny chef in Bawarchi, a lonely husband in Amar Prem, and a psychiatric patient in Khamoshi. He was one half of several smash hit screen jodis, with actresses Sharmila Tagore, Mumtaz, Tina Munim, Asha Parekh and Hema Malini. He had the most memorable dialogues, the superhit songs and the biggest films of his time, dominating the Seventies in every way.
At the pinnacle of his success, Rajesh Khanna fans lined roads as he drove by and kissed his car as it passed. Mumtaz remembers an occasion when they arrived in Chennai at midnight, to find the hotel mobbed by some 600 odd women. According to Sharmila Tagore, female fans "married" photographs of Khanna and he required police protection in public. A famous scene from Amar Prem, set against the Howrah Bridge in Kolkata, could not actually be shot on location because authorities feared the bridge itself would collapse under the weight of the gathered fans.
Despite his boy-next-door charm, Rajesh Khanna the actor donned many hats - terminally ill Anand, a canny chef in Bawarchi, a lonely husband in Amar Prem, and a psychiatric patient in Khamoshi. He was one half of several smash hit screen jodis, with actresses Sharmila Tagore, Mumtaz, Tina Munim, Asha Parekh and Hema Malini. He had the most memorable dialogues, the superhit songs and the biggest films of his time, dominating the Seventies in every way.
At the pinnacle of his success, Rajesh Khanna fans lined roads as he drove by and kissed his car as it passed. Mumtaz remembers an occasion when they arrived in Chennai at midnight, to find the hotel mobbed by some 600 odd women. According to Sharmila Tagore, female fans "married" photographs of Khanna and he required police protection in public. A famous scene from Amar Prem, set against the Howrah Bridge in Kolkata, could not actually be shot on location because authorities feared the bridge itself would collapse under the weight of the gathered fans.
His fall was as meteoric as his rise, suddenly he was replaced by Rishi as the eternal loverboy and he as relegated to, eventiually, doing pictures like Wafaa and Goraa.
Even though by late 80s and 90s he was almost forgotten by Bollywood, he took to politics. He was a Congress Lok Sabha MP from 1992 to 1996.
His personal life was as colourful as his on-screen persona, his seven-year-long live in relationship with actress Anju Mahendru, alleged flings with Mumtaz and Tina Munim and then his marriage to 16-year-old Dimple Kapadia, 11 years his junior in 1973. They were together for 11 years and had two daughters, they divorced in 1984. He is survived by Dimple Kapadia, Twinkle and Rinke Khanna, sons-in-law Akshay Kumar and Sameer Saran.
I still remember his popular role as "Anand" in the movie Ananda and the dialogue "Anand Mara Nahin Anand marte nahin" striked my ear when I heard his dismissal. As the line says you are not gone...you are always the superstar in the cinematic excellence of Bollywood....you will always be remembered. May his soul rest in Peace.
I still remember his popular role as "Anand" in the movie Ananda and the dialogue "Anand Mara Nahin Anand marte nahin" striked my ear when I heard his dismissal. As the line says you are not gone...you are always the superstar in the cinematic excellence of Bollywood....you will always be remembered. May his soul rest in Peace.
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