THE KING OF ROMANCE IN BOLLYWOOD - RAJESH KHANNA

THE  KING  OF ROMANCE  IN  BOLLYWOOD  -   RAJESH  KHANNA

Rajesh Khanna  aka  Jatin Chunnilal Khanna was a Bollywood Actor, Film Producer and Politician.

 

He was the most handsome romantic actor of Bollywood and the girls and women  formed a beeline to catch a glimpse of him. 

 

Rajesh Khanna was the first superstar of Hindi films (Indian Films / Bollywood).   

 

His magnificent presence on the big screen was such his female fans were drooling over him and the male fans were mesmerized by his charisma.

He was born in Amritsar, Punjab on 29th December,1942 and died in Mumbai, India on18th July, 2012.

He left behind a legacy in Hindi filmdom difficult to emulate by others.  The super hit songs were a part of his blockbuster films.  He starred in a record 15 Super Hit Films between 1969 to 1971 and remained the highest paid Superstar of Bollywood in 1970s and 1980s.  

 

Rajesh Khanna was active in1966 to 2012.

He had a record number of heroines paired with him in movies.  The most popular amongst them were Mumtaz, Sharmila Tagore, Hema Malini, Sreedevi, Zeenat Aman and Tina Ambani. 

 

                       Rajesh Khanna with Mumtaz   -  The most successful star pair

 

 

He was the most loved romantic-hero of his times.

 

 

                                  Rajesh Khanna with the female super star Sreedevi

 

 

He married Dimple Kapadia who was the heart-throb of all Indian males after her dream debut block-buster film "BOBBY" which was released in 1973.  Her marriage resulted in heart-break for young Indians during that time.   She was the fantasy girl after the release of "BOBBY" against Rishi Kapoor and directed by veteran Hindi Film Director thespian Raj Kapoor under RK Films banner.

                                           Dimple Kapadia in "BOBBY" with Rishi Kapoor

 

 

A 31 year old Rajesh Khanna married a 16 year old Dimple Kapadia in March, 1973.

Every Indian wanted to see more of Dimple after her breathtaking debut in Bobby. 

 

 

                                   

                                                            Rajesh Khanna with Dimple Kapadia

Rajesh Khanna was the romantic star icon of  vintage Indian cinema.  He dazzled the movie world with his striking appearance by setting fire on the mega screen.

 

He won three Filmfare Awards for Best Actor, one Filmfare Special Award in 1973, and received a Filmfare Special Award in 1991, after 25 years in the Hindi film industry. He received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award at the 50th Filmfare Awards in 2005.

 

He was posthumously awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award, in 2013.

He had 74 Golden Jubilee Hits (including 48 Platinum Jubilee Hits and 26 Golden Jubilee Hits.  In addition he had 22 Silver Jubilee Hits and 9 Average Hits.

He tasted the thunder when his fans forced the Director of Baharon Ke Sapne from tragic end to a happy ending within its release of one week.

 

Khanna's pairing with Mumtaz always produced much success as they had all of their 8 films together as major platinum jubilee hits.  His films with Sharmila Tagore, Asha Parekh, Tanuja, Hema Malini and Zeenat Aman was a favorite with audiences too in 70's.

 

In the 80's his films opposite Tina Munim, Hema Malini, Reena Roy, Rekha, Shabana Azmi, Smita Patil and Poonam Dhillon were big hits.

 

                                 

 

Rajesh Khanna probably didn’t have the attributes that are normally associated with a hero, what he had was a disarming smile, youthful energy and an innate sense of drama and a well-modulated voice which he used to his fullest advantage. -  RKs heroine in Aradhana   -  Sharmila Tagore

 

 “There was a long queue of women from twelve to eighty outside the studio where we worked. The hysteria was unprecedented.”

                                               Sharmila Tagore

 

The frenzy among people as they used to stand in serpentine queues outside the studios to catch a glimpse of him, marry his photographs, pull at his clothes and what not.

 

The above observation was shared by Sharmila Tagore in her Audio book on RKs 9th death anniversary on 18th July, 2021.

 

He achieved Super  Stardom in 1969 with the release of Aradhana opposite Sharmila Tagore.  With Aradhana he became the craze of the nation. He remained Superstar from 1969 to 1976 (7years).  Thereafter, he was to share Superstardom with Amitabh Bachchan till he quit film industry to join politics in 1991.   He joined Indian National Congress.  And he became a Member of Parliament.

In tune with the popularity of Rajesh Khanna, the BBC made "Bombay Superstar", a film on him!

 

His film "Anand" co-starring Amitabh Bachchan  had his greatest ever performance.

He produced 3 films and co-produced 4 films.  He had total 105 Box Office hits, 91 as lead hero and 14 in Guest Appearance.  He was a part of 153 Indian films.

 

Kashmir was like a second home to Rajesh and he was fond of getting at-least one song from his films shot at Kashmir and would insist about this to directors . Shooting of songs from his 15 films - Aan Milo Sajna, Roti, Aap Ki Kasam, Chhailla Babu, Bundalbaaz, Prem Bandhan, Dard ,Avtaar, Asha Jyoti, Awaaz, Alag Alag, Insaaf Main Karoonga, Awara Baap, Bewafai and Adhikar took place in Kashmir.

 

First Indian film ever to be shot at Mauritius was Souten and first film of Rajesh shot abroad was Ashiq Hun Baharon Ka in 1977 in Switzerland.

It was his uncle, K.K. Talwar who given his screen name Rajesh.

He was called Kaka, since childhood, which meant Baby faced Boy in Punjabi. He was called this name by his parents since his childhood and later by his wife, his school and college friends and by his friends in the film industry.

Nicknames	Kaka RK Shehzada The Original King of Romance Pasha of Passion First Indian Superstar Most Versatile Superstar of Hindi Cinema Sivaji Ganeshan of Hindi Films

 

 

His trade mark expression was his enchanting smile.

 

"I am living like a real king now.   I have nothing to worry about what the world says or want me to do.  I can do all the things I could never do when I was the superstar. I am totally at peace now. Yes, I remember the past at times but I know it gives me both a blend of pleasure and pain. I want peace, I want to live as the king and emperor of my own free world which is my kingdom now".  -  RK in 2012.

 

He died in 2012 after a prolonged illness due to cancer.  He had instructed his kith and kin not to reveal his cause of illness to press and media.

 

The immortal romantic actor is still loved and adored  by the masses.  The uncrowned king that he was resting in eternal peace.

 

In 2014, his biography Rajesh Khanna: The Untold Story of India's First Superstar by Yasser Usman was published by Penguin Books.

 

He had two children namely, Twinkle Khanna and Rinke Khanna.  

 

Twinkle Khanna is married to the matinee idol Akshay Kumar and they have two children namely Aarav and Nitara.   Twinkle was a Bollywood actor in the past and now a renowned writer. 

RK had a sister-in-law namely Simple Kapadia who was an actor herself.

RKs  bungalow was named "Aashirwad"  and was the meeting point of Bollywood stars and celebrities.

 

Rajesh Khanna- Filmography

• Babu (1985)
• Hum Dono (1985)
• Nishan (1985)
• Aakhir Kyon? (1985)
• Masterji (1985)
• Zamana (1985)
• Naya Kadam (1984
• Paapi Pet Ka Sawaal Hai (1984)
• Souten (1983
• Avtaar (1983)
• Dil-E-Nadan (1982)
• Jaanwar (1982
• Kudrat (1981
• Aanchal (1980)
• Thodisi Bewafaii (1980)
• Phir Wohi Raat (1980)
• Anurodh (1977)
• Chhaila Babu (1977)
• Tyaag (1977)
• Mehbooba (1976)
• Sawa Lakh Se Ek Ladaun (1976)
• Prem Kahani (1975)
• Aap Ki Kasam (1974)
• Ajnabi (1974)
• Humshakal (1974)
• Roti (1974)
• Namak Haraam (1973)
• Avishkaar (1973)
• Daag (1973)
• Anuraag (1972)
• Apna Desh (1972)
• Bawarchi (1972)
• Mere Jeevan Saathi (1972)
• Amar Prem (1971)
• Dushman (1971)
• Haathi Mere Saathi (1971)
• Maryada (1971)
• Mehboob Ki Mehandi (1971)
• Anand (1970)
• Kati Patang (1970)
• Sachcha Jhutha (1970)
• Safar (1970)
• Aradhana (1969)
• Bandhan (1969)
• Do Raaste (1969)
• Khamoshi (1969))
• Aurat (1967)
• Raaz (1967)