Manash (Subhaditya Edusoft): Rajesh Khanna : First True Superstar who Started Romantic Era in Hindi Cinema

Friday 20 July 2012

Rajesh Khanna : First True Superstar who Started Romantic Era in Hindi Cinema

3D Picture of Rajesh Khanna Created by Me (Manash Kundu)

Rajesh Khanna:

Rajesh Khanna (About this sound pronunciation (help·info) born: Jatin Khanna; 29 December 1942 – 18 July 2012) was a Bollywood actor, film producer and an Indian politician. He was called as the "first superstar"and the "original superstar" of the Indian cinema.He earned these titles following an enviable track record of fifteen consecutive superhits in the seventies, a record that remains unbroken. He was also known as one of the first casanovas in Indian cinema.

Post of Rajesh Khanna in COFFEE-HOUSE-ADDA

Early Life:
Born in Amritsar, he was adopted and raised by a wealthy couple, relatives of his biological parents, who lived in Thakurdwar near Girgaon, Mumbai. He attended St Sebastians Goan High School in Girgaon, where he studied with actor Jeetendra. Both also studied in Kishinchand Chellaram College, where Khanna was active in theater. His acting carrier began in 1965 after he won an all-India talent contest with ten thousand participants, beating Vinod Mehra to the title.

Rajesh Khanna in Movie Aradhana

Cinema Career:

3D Picture of Rajesh Khanna Created by Me (Manash Kundu)

He appeared in 163 feature films of which 128 as the lead protagonist including 106 as the solo lead hero films and 22 two hero projects and did 17 short films. It was his uncle who changed Khanna's first name to Rajesh when he decided to join films. 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. In 1971, Haathi Mere Saathi became one of the biggest grossers ever till then. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Khanna fell in love with the then fashion designer and actress Anju Mahendru.

3D Picture of Rajesh Khanna Created by Me (Manash Kundu)

They were in a relationship for seven years. Later Khanna married Dimple Kapadia in March 1973, six months before Dimple's debut film Bobby released and has two daughters from the marriage. Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia separated in 1982 without officially divorcing. Their elder daughter Twinkle Khanna is married to actor Akshay Kumar while their younger daughter Rinke Khanna, also a former Bollywood actor, is married to a London-based investment banker Samir Saran.

Kishore Kumar

R.D. Burman

He shared a close relationship with R.D. Burman and Kishore Kumar. The trio were friends and have worked together in thirty two films. Work of Pancham with Khanna is regarded as legendary and far superior than any other actor-music director combinations. The king of playback singing Kishore Kumar had even credited Rajesh Khanna for his resurgence, so much so that he sang for Alag Alag, the first film produced by Rajesh Khanna without charging anything. In 1985 Pancham found himself being sidelined after failure of few films but Rajesh Khanna was among the few who continued to stand by him. Rajesh and Pancham worked together even after the death of Kishore in the films Jai Shiv Shankar, the unreleased film Police Ke Peechhe Police (both produced by Khanna ) and Sautela Bhai. Khanna even helped Leena Gangully and Amit Kumar in completing Mamta Ki Chhaon Mein, the last film directed by Kishore who died before the completion of the film.

Rajesh Khanna in Amar Prem

Awards:

Rajesh Khanna in Aradhana

He won three Filmfare Best Actor Awards and was nominated for the award fourteen times. He received four BFJA Award for the best actor and was nominated twenty five times for the award. 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 He gave thirty five Golden Jubilee Hits in the period 1966-1975, three in 1976-1978 and thirty five more in the period 1979-1991 and gave twenty two silver jubilee hits in the period 1966-1991

Last Picture of Rajesh Khanna

Death:
He was a Lok Sabha member of the Indian National Congress from New Delhi constituency from 1992 to 1996. Rajesh Khanna died after prolonged illness on 18 July 2012 and was cremated the following day in Paramhans crematorium in Vile Parle Mumbai. His funeral was attended by many celebrities and thousands of his followers.