Journey of Super star, Rajesh Khanna

Rajesh Khanna ,born Jatin Khanna; 29 December 1942 – 18 July 2012, was an Indian actor in Hindi films, and was also a politician. He was called as the first superstar of the Indian cinema.

He appeared in 163 feature films of which 128 films saw him as the lead protagonist; he appeared in 17 short films as well.

He won threeFilmfare Best Actor Awards and was nominated for the same fourteen times. 

He received the most BFJA Awards for Best Actor (Hindi) – four times and nominated 25 times. 

In 1991, he was awarded the Filmfare Special Award for completing 25 years in the industry, appearing in a record 106 films as the single lead protagonist in a span of 25 years. 

In 2005, he was awarded the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award. Khanna was referred to[by whom?] as the "First Superstar" of Hindi cinema.

He made his debut in 1966 with Aakhri Khat and rose to prominence with his performances in films like Raaz, Baharon Ke Sapne, Ittefaq and Aradhana. He gave 35 Golden Jubilee Hits in the period 1966-1975, three more in 76-78 and 35 more in the period 1979-1991 and gave 22 silver jubilee hits in the period 1966-1991.

Early life

Khanna was adopted and raised by foster parents who were relatives of his biological parents. Khanna lived in Thakurdwar near Girgaon and attended St. Sebastian’s Goan High School in Girgaon, along with his friend Ravi Kapoor, who later took the stage name Jeetendra, and whose mothers were friends. 

Khanna gradually started taking interest in theatre and did a lot of stage and theater plays in his school and college days and won many prizes in the inter college drama competitions.

Khanna became a rare newcomer who struggled in his own MG sports car to get work in theatre and films in the early sixties.

Both friends later studied in Kishinchand Chellaram College(KC).

When Jeetendra went for his first film audition, it was Khanna who tutored. Khanna's uncle changed Khanna's first name to Rajesh when Khanna decided to join films. His friends and his wife called him Kaka.

Adult life

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Khanna fell in love with the then fashion designer and actress Anju Mahendru.

They were in a relationship for seven years. Mahendru states that the couple did not speak to each other for 17 years after the breakup.

Later Khanna married Dimple Kapadia in March 1973, six months before Dimple's debut film Bobby released and has two daughters from the marriage.

Khanna and Dimple Kapadia separated in 1984 as his schedule kept him away much of the time and Dimple became interested in pursuing an acting career,and thereafter lived separately, but did not complete the divorce proceedings.

In the eighties Tina Munim was romantically involved with Khanna till the time she decided to leave the industry to pursue her higher studies.

Years of separation brought about mutual understanding between Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia.

Their elder daughter Twinkle Khanna, an interior decorator and a former film actress, is married to actor Akshay Kumar while their younger daughter Rinke Khanna, also a former Hindi film actress, is married to a London-based investment banker Samir Saran.

Political and business career

Rajesh Khanna was a member of Parliament for the Indian National Congress, from the New Delhi constituency, where he won the 1992 by-election, retaining his seat until the 1996 election.

When Khanna was MP, he did not accept new acting assignments.

After leaving parliament, he was a political activist for the INC and campaigned for the party during the 2012 Punjab election.

Khanna and a group of foreign investors bought land in Shirdi on which they planned to build a religious resort for disciples of Sai Baba of Shirdi.

Illness and death

In June 2012, it was reported that Rajesh Khanna's health had been deteriorating for some time,On 23 June he was admitted to Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai due to health complications. He was discharged on 8 July from the hospital and was reportedly fine.

On 14 July, Khanna was readmitted to the Lilavati Hospital but was discharged on 17 July. 

He died the next day at his bungalow, Aashirwad, in Mumbai due to kidney problems.

Dr Trivedi, a spokesman for the hospital, said that he cannot confirm the nature of the illness. However, a friend who acted as his spokesman during the illness had said his food intake had decreased over the previous days and he was "very weak." 

His funeral was due to take place on 19 July at 11:00. He died in the presence of his wife Dimple Kapadia, daughters Rinkie Khanna and Twinkle Khanna, son-in-law Akshay Kumar, grand children and other close relatives.

This is the end of a era. 

I am deeply saddened by the death of Super Star, Rajesh Khanna.