July 18, 2012
In the afternoon, the news broke, Superstar Rajesh Khanna, ‘Kaka Babu’ is no more.
Rajesh Khanna had been quite ill for the past few days. For several days, crowds of fans had been gathering outside his Aashirwad bungalow on Carter Road, praying for his well-being. Then, as soon as the news of his death broke on every news channel, Facebook, and Twitter, a flood of grieving fans soon arrived in front of Aashirwad.
Even heavy rain could not stop the fans. His friends, made over five decades of film career, also started arriving home soon.
Amitabh Bachchan paid his last respects to Rajesh Khanna and sat on the sofa in his house, when a close associate of Rajesh Khanna came and stood near him and said in a heavy, trembling voice – His last words were, ‘It’s pack up time.’ With teary eyes, the person left from there.
The traffic system around Aashirwad bungalow began to collapse. Heavy police force was deployed, several barricades were put up, but it was difficult to control the crowd. News channels repeatedly showed a scene from Rajesh Khanna’s film Anand, in which he had said – ‘Babumoshai, zindagi badi honi chahiye, lambi nahi.’
His funeral took place the next day, on 19 July, 2012. It had been raining heavily since morning. His hearse was decorated with white flowers.
The crowd was so immense that there was no space for the hearse to pass. After traffic control, his final journey began at 10 AM. Wife Dimple Kapadia, daughter Twinkle, son-in-law Akshay Kumar, grandson Aarav, and younger daughter Rinke were there at the funeral.
There was a commotion in the crowd, people were offering flowers, as the vehicle moved forward, the crowd also grew. Mumbai had probably never seen such a funeral procession before.
People climbed onto local train stations, flyovers, and even pillars, wanting a final glimpse. People arrived from distant cities. The number of fans was around 9 lakh. Lathi-charge occurred in many places. Slippers were scattered on the roads.
Rajesh Khanna’s last rites were performed at Pawan Hans crematorium, grandson Aarav lit the pyre with the help of his father Akshay.
Rajesh Khanna had been quite ill for the past few days. Despite this, he wanted to act. He wanted to live between the camera and lights, even though he couldn’t walk properly due to a hairline fracture during his cancer treatment.
In April 2012, when dates were discussed, the question arose whether he would be able to shoot in Bangalore in his deteriorating health condition. Rajesh Khanna insisted on shooting against the doctors’ advice. Just before the shoot, he was admitted to Nanavati Hospital, and even while taking heavy painkillers, he would memorise his lines for the shoot. As soon as he was discharged, instead of going home, he left directly for the airport with the team and reached Bangalore.
Wearing a tuxedo, Rajesh Khanna got his makeup done and repeatedly looked at himself in the mirror.
As soon as director R. Balki said light, camera, action, Rajesh Khanna started speaking the lines – What are fans, ask me, that storm of love, that gale of affection, that passion, that obsession, the wind can change, but my fans will always be mine. Babumoshai, no one can snatch my fans from me. (In the background, the song ‘Yeh Shaam Mastani’ from his film ‘Kati Patang’ was playing).
As soon as the director shouted – Pack-up at 7 PM, everyone stood up and started clapping for Rajesh Khanna. Walking slowly, he sat in a wheelchair and asked the team to move towards the vanity van. After going some distance, he looked back at the set once and then turned away.
A few days later, due to a sudden deterioration in his health, he was admitted to Lilavati Hospital. He wanted to spend as much time as possible with Twinkle and Rinke. Twinkle was pregnant at that time, yet she stayed with her father. Meanwhile, on 16 June, news came that his condition remained critical. On the same day, news of his demise became a topic of discussion on social media.
A crowd of fans started gathering outside the hospital and Aashirwad bungalow. Soon these rumors were put to rest. On the other hand, in the hospital, Rajesh Khanna was repeatedly losing consciousness. The family was with him the whole time. On20 June, he regained full consciousness. He saw his family and said in a low voice- ‘I want to go home, I want to stay in my room. I can’t stay here.’
Preparations were made for his return home, and on his way back to Aashirwad bungalow, many fans and media cameras were lined up for him along the way.
The next day, on 21 June, Rajesh Khanna told his family that he wanted to see his fans. Rajesh Khanna, wearing black glasses, a white kurta-pajama, and a shawl, came to the terrace, and as soon as they caught a glimpse of him, fans cheered with joy. Dimple, Akshay, and close friend Bhupesh Raseen were standing with him. Rajesh Khanna met the fans with a victory sign.
The next day, every newspaper carried the same picture, but on this very day, Rajesh Khanna’s health deteriorated significantly. He stopped eating, and the next day, 23 June, he was admitted to Lilavati Hospital again. A few weeks passed in the hospital. Rajesh Khanna repeatedly insisted on going home, but the family was against it. One day Rajesh Khanna said, “I don’t want to die in the hospital.” The family had to give in. On 17 July, he was taken to Aashirwad bungalow. The next day, on 18 July, Rajesh Khanna, lying in his room, said, “It’s pack-up time.” A little later, he stopped breathing.
Rajesh Khanna had a premonition of his death a few months earlier. When the family planned a Goa vacation for his birthday on 29 December, 2011, he was inviting friends by saying that this would be his last birthday.
A few days after his death, the family received a recorded message from him, in which he had recorded the story of his entire life for his family and well-wishers. Just like he did for Amitabh Bachchan in the film Anand.
On the fourth day, the family played that message.
Listen to Rajesh Khanna’s last recorded message for his fans-
In the recording, Rajesh Khanna narrated the complete story of his journey, how he was born from theatre. He used to say that whatever he is today, it is all thanks to theatre.
Further, for his well-wishers, he said-
I did come into films, but the opportunity to climb that beautiful ladder of success, this credit goes to you. It is you who made me an actor to a star and a star to a superstar. I don’t know in what words to thank you. You kept sending me love, but I could never return that love. But whatever I want to say, in whatever words I want to thank you, it will be the truth, honesty, and conscience of my heart. Today my heart feels lighter after conversing with you. My heart feels lighter. I felt good that I got to meet you on this pretext.
Finally, he said, Who to call my own, no one worthy is found. Here, many stones are found, but no heart is found.
‘Friends, I am also a part of you. You took out your valuable time. It was your love that you were present here and in such large numbers. I will just say a big thank you, thank you, and my deepest regards.’
Rajesh Khanna’s last years were tumultuous. Everyone wanted to connect with him in some way, but his real family remained distant from him. At the beginning of his career, Rajesh Khanna was in a relationship with Anju Mahendru for 7 years. Later, Rajesh Khanna married Dimple Kapadia in 1973, with whom he had 2 daughters, Twinkle and Rinke. But in 1982, they separated. They never divorced and co-parented their daughters. They lived in separate homes.
In the 80s, Rajesh Khanna and Tina Munim were in a relationship. Tina wanted to marry Rajesh, but Rajesh Khanna was convinced that Dimple would eventually return, even if late. This was the reason Tina separated from him.
Rajesh Khanna spent years alone, but when he got cancer and his health started deteriorating, Dimple Kapadia came to live with him in Ashirwad bungalow.
Just a few months before Rajesh Khanna’s death, Anita Advani claimed to be living in with him. In an interview given to Mid-Day, she said that she had been living with Rajesh Khanna in Aashirwad for the past 8 years. It was also claimed that she was not allowed to attend Rajesh Khanna’s funeral, nor was she allowed to enter the Aashirwad bungalow again. She has also filed property-related cases against Dimple.
When Rajesh Khanna passed away, his wife, children, and ex-girlfriend Anju Mahendru were also present. The same Anju, after breaking up with whom, Rajesh Khanna had taken out his wedding procession with great fanfare from below her house.
65 suitcases full of gifts found in the house
After Kaka Babu’s demise, 65 such closed suitcases were found in Ashirwad bungalow, which were filled only with gifts. Whenever he went abroad, he would enthusiastically buy gifts for his loved ones. Sometimes he remembered to give some gifts, but often he would forget.
Now the story of Jatin becoming Superstar Rajesh Khanna-
Abandoned by birth parents, adopted parents gave him a lavish life
Rajesh Khanna was born on 29 December, 1942, in Amritsar, British India, to Lala Hiranand and Chandrani Khanna. He was named Jatin. When Lala Hiranand decided to go to Pakistan during the partition, he gave his son Jatin for adoption to relatives Chunnilal and Leelawati Khanna, who lived in Bombay.
Rajesh Khanna’s biological parents.
His adoptive father Chunnilal was a big railway contractor. His childhood was spent in luxury, and being the only child, he was everyone’s favourite at home. Every demand was fulfilled as soon as it was made, whether it was a modern bicycle or a radio. Rajesh used to demand from his mother that when he returned home, she should stand at the door and welcome him.
Rajesh Khanna’s childhood home, where a board with his father Chunnilal’s name is displayed.
At the age of 11, Jatin (Rajesh Khanna) fell in love with 16-year-old Surekha, who lived in his building. The girl also loved him, but after 2 years, Surekha was married off.
Jatin completed college in Bombay after Pune. A theatre enthusiast since childhood, Jatin dreamt of becoming a hero. Many times he would send his pictures to Raj Kapoor’s address. By the time college was completed, Rajesh Khanna started spending most of his time at the INT Drama Company near the college. His friend used to do theatre there. Rajesh, who himself dreamt of becoming a hero, also rehearsed with him in the hope that one day director V.K. Sharma, who visited there, would notice him and give him a break.
One day hope came true. A boy from the theater fell ill exactly 2 days before the play. V.K. Sharma’s eyes fell on Jatin and he asked, ‘Will you do a small role?’
Jatin wanted to jump with joy, but then he just said ‘yes’ and stopped. He was given the role of a doorman, who had to open the door and say – ‘Yes sir, the master is at home.’
The play took place in Nagpur on 3 May, 1961, and Rajesh Khanna started getting nervous in front of thousands of spectators. As soon as it was his turn to speak the line, he mixed up the dialogues with a trembling tongue and said – ‘Yes master, sir is at home.’
Thus began his theater career and soon he became a professional theater artist. Around this time, he got an opportunity to do a play with Anju Mahendru. Anju Mahendru’s maternal grandfather was the owner of Filmistan Studio, while her maternal uncle was the famous composer Madan Mohan. Working together, they started liking each other.
Anju Mahendru is a senior actress.
Meanwhile, in 1965, Jatin (Rajesh Khanna) participated in Filmfare’s All India Talent Contest. Many big names like Farida Jalal, Subhash Ghai, Dheeraj Kumar, Vinod Mehra were also participants in that contest, but Rajesh Khanna won it.
After this victory, he started receiving many film offers. After failing some screen tests, he debuted in Hindi cinema with Ketan Anand’s film ‘Aakhri Khat’ (1969).
To enter films, his uncle changed his name from Jatin to Rajesh Khanna. After films like ‘Aurat’ and ‘Baharon Ke Sapne’, Rajesh Khanna achieved stardom with the 1969 film ‘Aradhana’, which was further boosted by films like ‘The Train’, ‘Saccha Jhutha’, ‘Safar’, ‘Aan Milo Sajna’, ‘Kati Patang’, ‘Mehboob Ki Mehendi’, ‘Anand’, ‘Andaz’, ‘Maryada’, and ‘Haathi Mere Saathi’. He had 17 hit films released in 3 years, which led him to be called the first superstar of Hindi cinema.
Read the stories of fan following and stardom-
Girls were such big fans of his that thousands of letters would arrive at his house daily, some written in blood, and receiving large gifts was also common. Wherever his car went, a crowd followed. Girls would kiss the car, while some would kiss the tire marks of the car.
Mumtaz revealed in an interview that when they went to Madras for a film shoot, about 600 girls were waiting for Rajesh Khanna outside the hotel.
Shooting stopped due to fear of Howrah Bridge collapsing
This is the story of the film Amar Prem. Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore were supposed to emerge from under the Howrah Bridge in a boat. However, the authorities refused permission at the last minute. They stated that the Howrah Bridge could collapse due to the crowd gathered to see Rajesh Khanna.
Nainital Lake was covered with boats, there was fear of an accident
Rajesh Khanna went to Nainital for the shooting of the film Kati Patang. The shooting location was around Naini Lake, so the lake was cordoned off with boats for 3 days. The reason was that a large number of people would surely gather there to see him, which posed a risk of an accident.
People went crazy seeing Rajesh Khanna in the theatre, tore his shirt
Rajesh Khanna went to watch an American film with close friend Kamal Haasan. In the dark, people could not recognize them. When the film ended, Rajesh Khanna insisted that he would not leave without watching the end credits. As soon as the lights came on, people recognized Rajesh Khanna and started jostling to touch him. Kamal Haasan rescued Rajesh Khanna from that crowd and took him out, but in the jostling of the people, Rajesh Khanna’s shirt got torn. However, despite this, he was smiling.
Rajesh Khanna impressed by fan’s photo collection, gifted a food truck
The craze of fans for Rajesh Khanna never ended. Once, he met a fan who showed him a collection of his photos. Seeing it, Rajesh Khanna was surprised and also happy. He liked that collection so much that he gifted that fan a food truck, which is still operational in Delhi today. Rajesh Khanna himself visited this food truck 500 times and tasted the food there.
When Rajesh Khanna was hospitalised, directors booked nearby rooms
At one point, Rajesh Khanna’s stardom was such that he couldn’t meet any filmmakers. So, when he once had to be admitted to the hospital for a piles operation, directors booked rooms around his room to narrate scripts.
(Note- This story is based on some parts and research from the book written on Rajesh Khanna – Rajesh Khanna: The Untold Story of India’s First Superstar.)
