Films are a part and parcel of our modern life and society. The super stars, stars and even actors and directors play an impacting role in our community, particularly, for the young generation. Hence, it makes a difference, when some big player in our film industry comes on stage or ends the innings. Such a great artist was Rajesh Khanna, who ruled the hearts of the cine-lovers for years. He passed away some time ago.
As Jatin, he was born on 29 December, 1942, in Amritsar, Punjab. He was adopted by a relative of his biological parents. When he showed interest in acting, his rich foster father disapproved the idea. However, he persisted and won the Filmfare Talent Contest in early 1960s. His uncle advised him to change his first name from Jatin to Rajesh, while entering the film industry.
He married his fan and budding star Dimple Kapadia in 1973. Subsequently, he became father of Twinkle, born in 1974 on the same date, as he himself, who would later become an actress in her own right. His second child, also a daughter, Rinke, was born on 29 June 1977, who also became an actress.
Rajesh Khanna was the first superstar of Indian Cinema, with 47 Platinum Jubilee hits, 26 Golden Jubilee hits and 22 Silver Jubilee hits. He entered Hindi films in late 1960s and did around 180 films — 163 feature films and 17 short films. Of the 163 films, 106 were solo-hero films and 22 were multi-star films. He first tasted success, with hit films like, Baharoan Ke Sapne, Raaz and Aurat. He was appreciated for his performance in Aakhri Khat, a Chetan Anand venture. Rajesh Khanna achieved overnight superstardom with Shakti Samanta’s Aradhana. His role in Khamoshi was also greatly appreciated. He became craze of the nation, and critics started calling him the First Superstar of Indian Cinema and he remained at the top for at least seven years. However, later he had to share the status with Amitabh Bachchan.
Khanna’s pairing with Mumtaz always resulted in great success, as all of their eight films together, were major golden jubilee hits. His Another favourite was Sharmila Tagore, and along with her, he gave memorable films, like Aradhna and Amar Prem. Asha Parekh and Zeenat Aman were also favourites, with Rajesh in 70’s. Anand was a milestone in his career, which earned him recognition, as an excellent actor. From 1976 onwards, he had four box office hits, but other films of his flopped, unexpectedly and thereby his successful run at the box office halted.
Khanna bounced back with Amardeep and again with Avtar, and then he restarted giving many critically acclaimed and commercially successful films, till 1991. In the 80’s his films opposite Tina Munim, Hema Malini, Shabana Azmi, Smita Patil and Poonam Dhillon were big hits. Tina and Khanna made the top most romantic pair, in eighties. He also produced three films and co-produced another three.
He was awarded Filmfare Special award in 1991, for having starred in 101 films, as the solo-hero and 21 two-hero films in a short span of 25 years. He was adored and fondly acknowledged by the masses. Songs from his films adorned the lips of youth and adolescents. He was the first mega-star of the Bollywood, who left behind a storehouse of the finest moments in film history.
Rajesh decided to join politics in early nineties and was elected Member of Parliament (1991–1996), representing the New Delhi constituency. He had been a Congress activist, since 1990 and had campaigned for Congress Party, since 1984, at the insistence of former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi.
He also starred in three movies in his political heydays and somehow continued to appear on the tinsel screen as the central character, in a few films, till 1998. He also played the main lead in two serials, Ittefaque and Apne Paraye, on television, during 2001-02 and in Raghukul Reet Sada Chali Aayi, in 2008-09. He won six Filmfare awards, although got nominated for fourteen times.
He enjoyed a godlike status in the period — 1969-1976, with female fans, writing letters in blood to him and that was for seven long years. This type of hysteria was unique and unseen, before Khanna came into films. Here is a Article on the same Rajesh Khanna — Kaka to his relatives and friends.
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