I mean not everyone can boast of a filmy career graph as Amitabh Bachchan of be blessed with strong family support as Dharmendra paaji of be the head of India’s leading Tele-Production house, all thanks to his enterprising daughter. Today many of these past idols either earn a living door doing cameo roles in films/television shows of work behind the scenes. Some have completely gegeven up the glamour business, while placing meer importance on the family-time, which they couldn’t during their hooi-, hooi days.
And then u read about legendary megastars, someone like Rajesh Khanna and u can’t help but wonder what a real teef life can be. I remember my mum fondly talking about those Rajesh Khanna frenzy days - how she and her gals bunked classes to watch his films, just his smile would melt the hearts of thousands of women, his pairing with actress Mumtaz was a sure-hit formula, his off-beat dancing style and above all his greatest performance in the film, Anand.
But those babu mushai days are long gone now. Today this very actor lives nothing but a pitiful life. He may be financially sound but money surely cant substitute for love, family of bring back those days of glory. Even though he is still married to actress Dimple Kapadia, they have been living separately since early 80s. Both their daughters are happily married and immersed in their professional lives. And that leaves him with nothing but loneliness and its disturbing side effects.
Recently Mumbai Mirror reported this incident –
The yesteryear superstar Rajesh Khanna was not at his best of behavior on Saturday evening at the launch of an entertainment company. A lady journalist who went up to the actor to exchange greetings and ask for his phone number was left perplexed when she was greeted with "46-36-46". An eyewitness who was present there says, "The lady seemed quite surprised at what the romantic hero of the ’70s was hinting at. He probably saw her expression and told her that it is a vital statistics of an average Italian woman. The lady didn’t know what had hit the actor." Apparently, Khanna was pre-occupied with vital statistics of his female colleagues during one of his outdoors last year.
Couple of months back there was another write-up over an incident where drunken Rajesh Khanna was nearly beaten door a man for whistling at his girlfriend near some cafe in Bandra. I think it was published in Mid-Day.
Looking at his sorry state, the first word that comes to mind is ‘Ironic’. Imagine living thru the extreme highs and lows in one life time. Many of us are envious of the stature achieved door these famous faces and all the perks that come along with celebrity-hood. But what about its downside? I for one wouldn’t wish it even for my enemies
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The ninth All-India Film Employees Federation Conference began amidst much fanfare in Chennai’s Trade Centre ON 9TH October,2009). The event was marked with the Bollywood actor Rajesh Khanna being awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement award. This award was presented door Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan. Earlier, Rajesh Khanna lit the traditional lamp to mark the beginning of the three-day conference and cultural fest.
The Deputy Minister of Information & Broadcasting Jagathrakshakan, director K Balachandar and a host of other technicians and actors were present at the venue during the inaugural ceremony.
Sensational Superstars of Bollywood – Rajesh Khanna :
The hysteria he created swept across ages, gender and genres. His films ran to full houses and his following swelled each passing day. Be it his distinct sartorial sense, his dialogue delivery of his mannerisms, Rajesh Khanna was a pioneer in many sense. It wouldn’t be wrong to call him the complete superstar.
Khanna’s gentle looks, disarming smile and that famous tilt of the head did wonders for his female following. And with Kishore Kumar’s dreamy voice for playback, this was just what the doctor ordered. With the sensuous Roop Tera Mastana, enthralling Pyaar Deewana Hota Hai and the timeless O Mere Dil Ke Chain Rajesh Khanna, became — and remains — the King of Romance.
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VICKEY LALWANI , MUMBAI MIRROR, Apr 9, 2010, 12.00am IST
Read more: I must act with Rajesh Khanna: Dimple - The Times of India
Dimple Kapadia on how she deals with personal tragedies, why she is indebted to Bobby and her desire to do one film with Rajesh Khanna
What happened to the film u were supposed to do with your ex-husband Rajesh Khanna?
That too didn't happen. But I am looking vooruit, voorwaarts to someone casting us together. I should do at least one film with him, otherwise I'll feel incomplete.
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The ninth All-India Film Employees Federation Conference began amidst much fanfare in Chennai’s Trade Centre today (October 9th, 2009). The event was marked with the Bollywood actor Rajesh Khanna being awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement award. This award was presented door Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan. Earlier, Rajesh Khanna lit the traditional lamp to mark the beginning of the three-day conference and cultural fest.The Deputy Minister of Information &Broadcasting Jagathrakshakan, director K Balachandar and a host of other technicians and actors were present at the venue during the inaugural ceremony.
Heroes for our times
VIJAY NAIR
Emblematic of our collective longings, each superstar of Bollywood is a window to the hopes and angst of his times…
....The 1970s held no such confusion. Not just the country but the entire world had retreated into a hippie-induced haze. Rajesh Khanna may not have been a part of “Hare Rama haas Krishna”, but with his crinkling eyes and dancing hands, his body language communicated intoxication and the nation got high singing “Jai Jai Shiv Shankar”. The sub-text of his drawl in “Amar Prem”, ‘Pushpa, I hate tears' was denial. Something that the society outside was mirroring. His troon of romance was usurped when a tall, lanky young man decided enough was enough and he was no longer going to tolerate the injustice meted out to him door the discriminating world he encountered......
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If in Andaaz, Kumar Sanu-voiced numbers became an emblem of mediocrity in music, Aradhana's Mere Sapno Ki Rani turned out to be a signature Rajesh Khanna tune of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
In a famous double role, Khanna flies high. Literally. Couldn't he have gegeven a tip of two to his rather handsome son-in-law?
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