SUPERSTAR RAJESH PROFILE - IV

Rajesh Khanna

In the 60s there came an euphoria, a craze, a tidal wave which swept the entire genre of womankind with those naughty crinkling eyes, the stylish shake of the head and the enigmatic smile. It belonged to none other than superstar Rajesh Khanna, who later, with an amazing fan following, went on to create history of sorts in the Indian film industry.

Born in Amritsar, on 29th December 1942, Jatin Khanna (now Rajesh Khanna or `kaka` as he is affectionately called) was the adopted child of his parents and hence pampered right from the start. When the young Jatin expressed the desire to act, he became that rare newcomer who struggled in his own MG sports car! After doing theater, he was selected by the United Producers` Talent Contest.

Though Rajesh Khanna began his film career with inconsequential movies like Akhri Khat (1966) and Raaz (1967), but once Aradhna (1969) was released, he spread a frenzy in the masses that remained unfazed long after.

There was no obvious rationale for the Rajesh Khanna miracle. He didn`t really have the conventional good looks, yet the boy-next-door appeal and the charisma generated through his twinkling eyes and heady smile were enough to ensure the birth of a super-duper star.

He began his rule over the tinsel town when both his films Aradhana and Do Raaste ran simultaneously in the same year (1969), to become golden jubilee hits. A spate of stupendous hits like Safar, Sachcha Jhutha and Kati Patang followed within 1970. He could play the playful or the tragic romantic effortlessly with equal grace.

Khanna put an end to the Shammi Kapoor era, when he consolidated his position as the king of the box office by delivering a hat-trick of hits in 1971, in the form of Andaz, Anand and Amar Prem. Khanna immortalized himself through Anand when he played the poignant role of a determinedly cheerful chatterbox, living under the shadow of a fatal disease.

He was brilliant in Bawarchi (1972), Namak Haram (1973) Daag and Aan Milo Sajna (1973). Prem Nagar (1974) Aap Ki Kasam (1974) and Mehbooba (1976) also won him accolades.

With an appetite for creating headlines, he created a furore in the media by marrying the nubile Bobby girl Dimple Kapadia, overnight by separating from his longtime girlfriend Anju Mahendru. All the media focus was on him and anything that he did made hot news.

But then "Change happeneth to them all". The success by now had seemingly gone to his head, and thereafter, he was on the decline - both professionally and personally. Post-1974, though he starred in many movies, his era started to end with the onslaught of the new angry young man Amitabh Bachchan, who brought aggression and fire to the screen as against the romantic Rajesh with mannerisms that now looked jaded and repetitive. This was also followed by the split in his marriage with Dimple.

In a desperate attempt to regain his past glory he even tried pairing up with younger heroines like Sridevi, Padmini Kolhapure, Tina Munim who even happened to be his love interest for a long time, but all in vain. With a mix of flops and occasional hits like Thodi si Bewafai (1980), Agar Tum Na Hote (1983) Avtaar (1983), Souten (1983), he managed to survive.

But after that, he was seen less and less. He was appreciated in his final comeback vehicle Aa Ab Laut Chalen (1999) due to his subtle and polished performance. Meanwhile, both his daughters Twinkle and Rinkie Khanna too joined Bollywood.

He recast his career as a politician and won an election from a Delhi constituency to become an Member of Parliament. But later, his defeat in the next election disillusioned him further and recently he made a comeback in one of the serials on television, to reach a wider audience. Years may have passed, blockbusters may have happened, the film galaxy may have produced several other stars, but those who have seen him in his heydays still believe that there was or there still is no one like him.!!

Rajesh Khanna bags two US Bollywood awards

Rajesh Khanna, the heartthrob and superstar of the 1960s, will be conferred two Bollywood awards in the US.

Khanna has bagged the Bollywood Awards 2004's Lifetime Achievement Award and will also receive the Lifetime of Glamour award at the Kingfisher Bollywood Fashion Awards, according to a press release.

Both these events will be held at The Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

The fourth Kingfisher Bollywood Fashion Awards and the sixth Bollywood Awards, organised by South Asians living in America to honour movie and fashion artistes from India, will be held April 30 and May 1 respectively.

Jatin Khanna, now Rajesh Khanna or Kaka, as he is affectionately called, was born in Amritsar on Dec 29, 1942. He captured the hearts of filmgoers with his style of acting.

He began his rule over tinsel town when both his films 'Aradhana" and "Do Raaste" ran simultaneously in the same year (1969), to become golden jubilee hits.

It was followed by some hit movies like "Safar", "Sachcha Jhutha" and "Kati Patang", "Bawarchi", "Namak Haram", "Daag", "Aan Milo Sajna", "Prem Nagar", "Aap Ki Kasam" and "Mehbooba", all of which won him accolades.

Khanna immortalised himself through "Anand" in which he played the role of a cheerful young man living under the shadow of death from cancer.

He married up and coming film star, Dimple Kapadia and has two daughters, Twinkle and Rinki Khanna, both of whom are talented actresses.

Rajesh Khanna then entered politics and won an election from a Delhi constituency to become a member of parliament.

Thiru Rajesh Khanna, Ex-Member of Parliament called on the Hon'ble Chief Minister at Secretariat

Thiru Rajesh Khanna, Ex-Member of Parliament called on the Hon'ble the then Smt. Jaya Lalitha Chief Minister at Secretariat at Chennai

HAATHI MERE SAATHI - 1971

Raju (Rajesh Khanna) likes to surrounds himself with his four elephants after a childhood incident in which the big-eared creatures saved his life from an attack by a leopard. But when his wife gives birth, she worries that Raju's long-trunked pals will crush their baby. Unable to tear himself away from his lumbering animal friends, Raju breaks up with his wife, but when the elephants learn of Raju's sorrow, they hatch a plan to bring the couple back together.

Actors
Rajesh Khanna
Tanuja


Director
M.A. Thirumugam

SHEHZADA - 1972

Even though he drives a bus for a living, Shehzada is actually a millionaire. Determined to help his mother back into the family that rejected her years ago, he begins a journey of self-realization and growth.



Actors
Rajesh Khanna
Raakhee

Director
K. Shanker

PHIR WAHI RAAT - 1980

PHIR WAHI RAAT is a chilling horror odyssey of psychological terror. Asha (Kim) is a young woman whose mother was strangled by her psychotic aunt, an event which still haunts her and elicits recurring nightmares of a strange woman choking her to death. Having been treated by and fallen in love with her psychiatrist, Dr. Vijay (Rajesh Khanna), Asha visits the childhood home where her mother's murder took place and encounters the woman from her dreams, triggering either another descent into madness--or truth.

Actors
Rajesh Khanna
Aruna Irani
Suresh Oberoi
Lalita Pawar
Danny Denzogpa


Director
Danny Denzogpa

JAROO KA GHULAM - 1972

JAROO KA GHULAM is a vintage hybrid of comedy and romance. When poor boy Rajesh (Rajesh Khanna) and rich girl Kalpana (Nanda) marry despite their families' objections, the down-on-their-luck couple must pretend to be well-off in order to placate Kalpana's angry father--a charade that becomes even more difficult when the in-laws actually show up for a visit.

Actors
Rajesh Khanna
Nanda
Prakash Mehra


Directors
A. Bhim Singh

BABU - 1985

A. V. Tirlokchander's 1985 drama stars Rajesh Khanna as Babu, a naïve but well-meaning young man who grew up dirt poor and alone on the streets, but devotes his life to others--particularly a woman (Mala Sinha) and her young daughter (Rati Agnihotri), who once helped him when he needed it most, but are now destitute themselves.

GHAR PARIVAR - 1991

Ghar Parivar



Film
Ghar Parivar

Year
1991

Music
Kalyanji Anandji

Directed
Mohanji Prasad

Produced by
B K Parivar

Cast
Rajesh Khanna,Rishi Kapoor , Meenakshi , Prem Chopra, Moushmi Chatterjee , Kader Khan ,

AGAR TUM NA HOTE - 1983

Actors:
Rajesh Khanna
Rekha
Raj Babbar


Director
Lekh Tandon





Lekh Tandon's twisty 1983 love triangle follows a crippled photographer (Raj Babbar) who becomes increasingly bitter and suspicious of his gorgeous wife (Rekha), whose wealthy employer (Rajesh Khanna) has fallen in love with her