"Rajesh Khanna’s rooh is still in Aashirwad"

There are thespians. There are legends. There are superstars. But there was only one Phenomenon in the Hindi film industry. Amidst the rugged machismo and stylised manoeuvres of male heroes, came a gentle-faced actor, who churned 15 successive superhits between 1969-1974. A shy smile, a nod of the head and a dialogue delivery, with an unmistakable tone of flirtation – and Rajesh Khanna had a generation of women infatuated with him. If unmarried girls got betrothed to his photograph, the married ones sneaked his picture in their wallets. Girls chased his car as it blew dust behind – some picking up the dust to embellish their maang! A handful even committed suicide when he married Bobby girl Dimple Kapadia.

In short, ‘Rajesh’ was the Midas word. Rajesh bindis, Rajesh pressure cookers, Rajesh salons, Rajesh ‘guru kurtas’... even ‘Rajesh’ babies – well gushing parents chose the name for their newborns. The actor also inspired some immortal music with singer Kishore Kumar, composer RD Burman and lyricist Anand Bakshi – scores of Kati Patang, Amar Prem, Mere Jeevan Saathi, Aap Ki Kasam still top the retro charts. “Most of his songs were created in Kakaji’s (Rajesh) car – Kishoreda, who didn’t drink, would be singing. Bakshi saab would be writing with the lights on. And Pancham would be mixing the drinks even as he’d be composing on the dashboard,” reveals friend Bhupesh Raseen. And then one day the craze crashed...

Was Rajesh Khanna his own nemesis? The adopted son of wealthy parents, he was one newcomer who did the studio rounds in his MG sports car. Self-confessedly, he was never a stickler for discipline. And while his fans believed that he was God, Kaka, forgot that he had feet of clay. Also, a dark and ‘angry hero’, someone whom he had once allegedly dismissed, loomed tall on the horizon. Kaka’s personal life too was in shambles. His initial relationship with Anju Mahendroo had become a victim of his success. His marriage to Dimple was now a casualty of his failure. Rajesh Khanna became a classic case of someone who was burnt by his own luminescence. No wonder, he’d often hum the lines, Mujhe chaandni ne loota, mujhe roshni ne maara (from a song in Alag Alag) as Bhupesh reveals.

For decades then on, fame played hide and seek with its ex-paramour... even as he waited for her return. And return it did to give him a befitting farewell. When Rajesh Khanna passed away on July 18, 2012, nine lakh people attended his funeral – fans from Surat, Ahmedabad, California, Singapore... thronged to pay their respects to him. And like in his heyday there was lathi charge... In his death he justified what he claimed in the Havells ad, “Mere fans mujhse koi nahin cheen sakta!” Read on...

Rishi Kapoor and Rajesh share a candid moment

SOUL BROTHERS
I was a young man of 23 when I first met Kakaji. We were both Khatris from Amritsar, loyalists by nature and belonged to the Congress party. I was a student leader in Delhi. He was a Congress MP there. Our relationship grew over two decades into a bond that went beyond blood ties. He was like an elder brother. I was the only one who could tell him the way it is. I could argue with him, fight with him. But if anyone happened to say anything against me, he’d have it from Kakaji.

 

He was an introvert. Like a coconut - hard outside, soft inside. That’s why few understood Kakaji. Perhaps, not even his family. He loved his daughters, Twinkle and Rinkie, deeply. But even they’re not aware of how much he loved them. He could care for others too. Like the time when his maid’s sister was to undergo heart surgery, he not only footed her medical bills, but also dropped provisions for three months at her home himself.

Then once we had been for an award show abroad. I didn’t have a fresh pair of black socks for the evening and thought of buying a new one only to find that Kakaji had washed my old pair and was drying them with a dryer. He enjoyed simple joys. Like once he walked out of a top industrialist’s party within minutes only to have dal prepared by my wife Madhavi at home.

Kakaji loved my son Harsh (assisted on films like Rowdy Rathore, Boss, Ek Villain). Harsh lived with Kakaji for a few years. Some of his report cards were signed by Kakaji as a guardian. Aashirwad, Kakaji’s bungalow, has only two bedrooms. Kakaji slept in Chaiji’s (Rajesh’s mother), while Harsh in the other. I’d assured the family that Harsh would leave when Kakaji left. Had he left Aashirwad before his demise, Kakaji would have been shattered.

 

Rekha and Rajesh in Aanchal and Mumtaz and Rajesh in Aap Ki Kasam

SUPERSTAR QUIRKS
Also, contrary to stories about his arrogance, Kakaji had a deeper take on things. Kamal Haasan once shared this incident where Kakaji and he went to watch a film in a theatre. Kamalji revealed, “Rajeshji was wearing a white shirt and khakhi pant. But when we came out of the theatre, the pant and shirt had turned pink with lipstick marks.” That evening Kakaji told Kamalji, “Amongst the many stars I’m just a small star…one day I will also go into shunya (nothingness)…” So somewhere he was a philosopher.

 

Rajesh Khanna was not hung up on his fame. He didn’t believe in waiting for anyone or anything. Not even success. He’d say, “It’s nature’s law. It’s good that my downfall happened when I was young. Had it happened when I was older, I wouldn’t have been able to take it.” He referred to Mumbai as ‘maya nagri’. He preferred the people of North India. “People here, in Mumbai, are selfish. They show emotions, but they are not genuine. Apne bhi matlabi ho jaate hain,” he’d say. Once Twinkle asked him, “Dad, are you lonely?” He replied, “That’s wrong English. I am alone – not lonely.”

When I once asked him what had gone wrong between him and Dimpleji, Kakaji replied, “I’m an ordinary man. I had told her before marriage that
I want a wife, not a heroine. I wanted to return to a home where my children would tug at my clothes, pull my hair… Other than that we had a healthy relationship.” He referred to Dimpleji as ‘the mother of my children.’ Anjuji (Mahendroo) remained a friend. Mahesh Bhatt once told Kakaji that he should write his autobiography. Kakaji said, “No! The contents will disturb a lot of people.”

On a rare occasion I witnessed his vulnerable side. He was going through a personal crisis then. We were driving around in Delhi on a wintry night. It was around 3 am. We stopped at the Chanakya Puri flyover. Kakaji and I stepped out of the car. Suddenly, he put his glass aside, hugged me and started sobbing, “Tu nahin hota toh main mar jaata.” I consoled him saying, “You’re a fighter. I’m with you… always, no matter what the circumstance.”

He had yet another peculiar habit. If someone said something bad about him and he got a wind of it, he’d not confront the person. He’d continue being friends with the person and invite him for drinks. But he had an elephantine memory. Six months later, he’d bring it up with the person and do a post mortem of the incident. Naturally, the person would be left speechless.

Rajesh with Rajendra Kumar

Reel turns real
When Kakaji’s health started deteriorating in 2011, Dimpleji, Twinkle, my son Harsh and I accompanied him to Dr Jagannath at Lilavati Hospital. There Kakaji asked, “Doctor, when is my visa expiring?” That scene reminded me of his film Anand. He understood that he wouldn’t last long and he wanted it to get over quick! After that,
I saw him take life head on. Even if he was in immense pain, he’d hide it. He had turned quiet and kept to himself. Even otherwise, he had the habit of staring at an object for hours. He’d say, “I can see the past, present and future in it.” Once, during that period, I asked him, “Are you afraid of dying?” He said, “Nai! Koi baat nahin yaar. Magar zara jaldi ho gaya. I’ve no regrets. If I’m reborn I’d like to have the same friends, the same enemies. Anand was reel. What’s happening now is real.

Wherever I am, I’ll miss you.”Kakaji insisted I come along to Goa with him – where his family celebrated his last birthday on December 29, 2011. I underline the fact that his family has always been respectful towards me. He used to address Akshay Kumar as ‘buddy’. When speaking in third person he’d refer to him as ‘hero’. Kakaji loved his grandson Aarav. He’d observe him from a distance and say, “Mark my words he’ll be a superstar. Way beyond Akshay. Mere kareeb pahunchega.”

Once Mumtazji dropped in at Aashirwad. She reassured Kakaji saying, “Even I had cancer. There’s nothing to fear,” and turned to me and said, “Kaka and I’ve given eight golden jubilees back to back!” To digress a bit, JP Dutta, who was an assistant director during Dushmun (Rajesh-Mumtaz starrer), once recounted, “We were shooting in a village near Pune and it was way past 2 am. A huge crowd had gathered to watch Rajesh Khanna. People were perched on tree tops, roof tops… After pack-up, I was surprised to see that Mumtaz bachakar le jaa rahi thi hero ko! Hato, hato… she said as she escorted Rajesh to safety!”

Kakaji had committed to the Havells fan TV commercial, which was to be aired during the IPL season. But just days before the shoot he developed a hairline fracture. He couldn’t even walk to the bathroom. Determined to shoot it, he got admitted at Nanavati Hospital, kept his foot inclined and got the swelling down. When he could wear his shoes, we flew to Bangalore for the shoot in the stadium. He was taken on a wheel chair. He said, “Anyway I’m dying. Whether I die here or there, what difference does it make?”

 

All life, I didn’t take a single penny form him. I even returned the power of attorney that he had given to me for his property in Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu) before his demise. He hugged me and cried when I did that even though he could hardly talk.  During one of our last conversations he said, “Bhupesh, you have stayed with me all my life. Represent me even after I am gone. I need your presence in the last rites. Tu saath rahiyo! Tu jaana nahin. Alvida karke jaana...”

Rajesh Khanna caught in a pensive mood

An ‘aashirwad’ lost
I was not happy when Aashirwad was sold.  Rajesh Khanna was the first superstar of Hindi cinema. Raj Kapoor died in debt but his family didn’t sell off RK Studio.
I did tell Twinkle that when there’s no financial need why sell it? Aashirwad was a tourist spot. It’s sad that it’s now shown as ‘once Rajesh Khanna’s bungalow, now sold by the family’. Aashirwad was Kakaji’s first love, his last love. He wanted to make it into a museum. I don’t agree with the Vaastu humbug. So sentimental was Kakaji about things that even if he bought a car, a Maruti, a Fiat... he’d never sell it. He’d give it away instead. He got huge offers for Aashirwad while he was alive – from politicians and industry people. “Bikao nahin hai sahib!’ he’d say dismissing them. If there’s something like rooh (soul), Rajesh Khanna’s rooh is still in Aashirwad. And he’s upset about the fact. And even as I talk to you right now about this, I can feel his presence…

“Rajesh loved sending flowers to his heroines”
Friend and filmmaker Johny Bakshi shares his insights on the megastar called Rajesh Khanna

I t was during Do Raaste that I met Rajesh. He was fond of throwing parties and once he invited me. I attended one such party and found top producers there - J Om Prakash, BR Chopra, Shakti Samanta, Raj Khosla… I told him, “I can’t be here. They’re my seniors. I respect them. At the most I can serve them liquor!” For years Rajesh would talk about this incident. Eventually, Raj Khosla started calling me ‘the best saaqi’ (bartender). Rajesh betrayed a Raj Kapoor influence when he got high. He’d pick on someone who had irked him. Fortunately, he never hit on me. (Laughs) I never stayed till he became drunk!

 

He was a romantic. But he never discussed his women. He’d send flowers to his heroines. He’d call them up and wish them on their birthdays. If his heroines wanted something to be conveyed to him, they’d indirectly tell me so that I would carry it forward. I’d joke saying I’m not ‘a messenger’. His success was short-lived and he was surely devastated. He did acknowledge his downfall. But he didn’t admit that Amitabh Bachchan was a better actor than him or that he was more fortunate. He just said, “I replaced someone, somebody has replaced me. That’s the law of the game… Theek hai hamara bhi ek time tha!”

Anand Bakshi once joked, “I don’t know how hard Rajesh worked to reach up. But to come down, he’s surely worked hard! He has stayed up nights, daaru pee hai…!”  Once in an introspective mood Rajesh confided, “Meri parvarish galat hui thi. I was brought up by two families – my parents (Lala Hiranand and Chandrani Khanna) and my uncle and aunt (Chunni Lal Khanna and Leelavati Khanna) who adopted me. When I asked for five rupees, they gave me 10. Plus they ran their own school. I went to school when I wanted to. No one woke me up. That’s why I have no value for time and money.” 

Rajesh was a difficult man. Sawan Kumar Tak managed to get Dimple on an outdoor in Mauritius with him. But Dimple couldn’t help complain, “The same thing is being repeated here – Khaana garam ho raha hai thanda ho raha hai. We’re having dinner at 4 am. I can’t take it.” So she came away despite Sawan Kumar’s efforts to reconcile them. But somewhere he must have been caring. That’s why perhaps both Anju and Dimple remained his friends till the end. He was fortunate when normally one would say – he didn’t deserve it! Credit goes to the ladies.

Rajesh Khanna, as an actor, gave you the feeling that he was casual. But he was never casual about his work. Once we were sitting in his van where he kept rewinding the clip of a song of his film Sazaa (2008). He played it almost 14 times asking for our opinion. What do I say? I praised the locations, the lyrics, the tune... An actor always seeks praise.

When he fell ill, he stopped coming to office. So, I went to see him. He pretended all was well and said, “I’ll come to office tomorrow.” But he never did. During the last days he looked lost but he’d still try to smile. He was someone who’d never join his hands... Perhaps, that’s why when he made a last appearance for his fans from the balcony of Aashirwad he gestured with a thumbs-up. It’s said, Amitabh turned emotional at his funeral. Maybe, he cried at the thought, that no matter how great, eventually, everything comes to an end.

VINAY SINHA (producer)
A secret about Rajesh Khanna and Dimple

We were shooting for Bundal Baaz (1976) with Rajeshji (Khanna) at Ranjeet studio. It had poured heavily and the area was flooded. We were stranded and couldn’t reach our cars. Suddenly, we saw Dimpleji (Khanna) coming towards us wading in the water. She had come to take him home, having parked her car at a distance. Touched Rajeshji remarked, “Biwi toh biwi hoti hai!” I never saw him that happy again. Cut to 2012. I met Dimpleji one morning at Lilavati Hospital when I had gone to pay Kakaji a visit. She was going home after spending the night there. She said, “Pray for him!” Life had come full circle.

Rajesh Khanna - A Brief chronicle

His real name was Jatin Khanna.

He won the All India Talent Contest organised by United Producers and Filmfare in 1965.

His debut Aakhri Khat (1966), directed by Chetan Anand, was India’s entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 40th Oscar Academy Awards in 1967.

Shakti Samanta’s Aradhana (1969) won him the title of ‘the first superstar of India’. He shot for the song Roop tera mastana in a single take.

It was Rajesh who helped Salim-Javed become screenplay writers with Haathi Mere Saathi (1971).

Reportedly, Rajesh bought Rajendra Kumar’s bungalow named Dimple at Carter Road, Bandra for around 30 lakhs in 1970 and renamed it as Aashirwad.

He had 15 consecutive hits between 1969 and 1971, including Aradhana, Ittefaq, Do Raaste, Safar, The Train, Kati Patang, Aan Milo Sajna, Dushmun and Anand, a record that remains unbroken.

A textbook prescribed by the Bombay University contained an essay on him which titled The Charisma of Rajesh Khanna.

He won three Filmfare Best Actor Awards (for Sachaa Jhutha, Anand and Aavishkar). He was awarded the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005.

His dialogue in Amar Prem, “Pushpa I hate tears!” has been used by mimicry artists over the years.

Jack Pizzey, who made a documentary titled Bombay Superstar on Rajesh described him as a star who had the “charisma of Rudolph Valentino and the arrogance of Napoleon”.

After 1978, Khanna starred in successful films including Thodisi Bewafaii, Avtaar, Agar Tum Na Hote and Amrit.

Tina Munim and Rajesh starred in Fiffty Fiffty, Souten and Alag Alag. They were also romantically involved.

Apparently, the title role of Mr India was first offered to him.

He represented the New Delhi constituency for the Congress party between 1992-1996.

Riyasaat was released after his demise in 2013.