Rajesh Khanna- down memory lane


Rajesh Khanna, was the first superstar of Indian and Hindi Cinema, with 74 Golden Jubilee Hits , which includes 48 Platinum Jubilee hits . In addition to this record, he had 22 Silver Jubilee Hits and 9 average hits. But, what was more suirprising, was his record of giving 15 consecutive solo hits during the period 1969 to 1971.Rajesh Khanna

Today, when I saw his Ashirwad bungalow in Mumbai, being demolished by the new owner, it took me down memory lane, when I had met him, on the sets of Kishore Kumar’s own production ‘Mamata Ki Chhaon Mein’. It was sometime during mid 1987 on a saturday evening at Film City. Robin Gupta, who was then PRO of Kishore Kumar’s film, had speciafically invited me, being a freelance Journalis; as there was an important scene to be shot on Rajesh Khanna and Raj Babbar together.With the hope that I would be able to interview one of them, I had reached the venue, after attending my office.  Visiting film city those days, was like visiting a hill station, as it was very isolated. But, thanks to my ‘Lamby’, which made everything possible.

On reaching there, I saw the eversmiling singer, actor & Film maker  Kishore Kumar  a bit worried, as Raj Babbar had not arrived. So, he took few of us present there, to Rajesh Khanna. But, the Superstar was in no mood to speak to journalists that day. He only posed for photos and gave his typical button artiste smile and went into his own thoughts, sitting all alone in one corner. “There was a time, when he was himself on the top, he had made Raj Babbar wait on the sets for hours, while shooting for ‘Agar Tum Na Hote” sometime in 1982,, Now, it is the other way,” said one senior photographer, who was present on the sets, along with us.

But, what happened further, was important. One Sardarji, who came from nowhere, approached Rajesh Khanna for an autograph. As he was not in proper mood, he just stopped him, signalling him, not to disturb him. But, the adamant Sardarji still kept on pleading. Finally, when he kept his autograph book on his legs, he just threw it. That day, kaka ( as he was popularly known) , was really not in proper mood. We had never seen him in that mood before.

Actually, it is not proper to force an actor, for his autograph, especially when, he is shooting. He is totally in a different mood. Perhaps, thinking about his scene to be shot. Every person has his own privacy. The helpless Sardarji picked up his autograph book, as he was asked to leave by someone from the unit. But, while leaving, he said,” I was a great fan of ‘Kaka’, but today he disappointed me. I have seen all his films on the first day, standing in queue, for hours.” It was his bad luck that his favourite actor had not obliged him.

An actor remains popular, as long as he performs or joins politics and stays in limelight. But, the moment , he is out and lives a lonely life, people don’t even recognise him. Today, Rajesh Khanna is no more, but his record of 15 consecutive hits is intact. Really doubt, if anybody can break it.