Today marks the 12th death anniversary of the legendary Rajesh Khanna, an actor who defined an era in Indian cinema. Known as the first superstar of Bollywood, his career is filled with fascinating stories and lesser-known facts that highlight his incredible journey in the film industry. Here are five intriguing insights into Rajesh Khanna’s illustrious career:
Making a smart investment on Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Anand
Rajesh Khanna’s iconic film Anand, directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, holds a special place in Bollywood history. Interestingly, the film’s shooting was completed in just 28 days, thanks to Khanna’s dedication. Despite his busy schedule, he ensured he attended the shoot for two hours daily. Unlike most actors, Khanna did not charge any remuneration for his role. Instead, he acquired the distribution rights to the film under his firm Shaktiraj Films, in partnership with filmmaker Shakti Samanta. This strategic move paid off handsomely, earning Khanna ten times more than what he would have received as a standard fee for acting.
Losing out on Satyam Shivam Sundaram
Rajesh Khanna was the first choice for the lead role in Satyam Shivam Sundaram. However, objections from Shashi Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor, stemming from past grievances during the making of Bundal Baaz, led to his removal from the project. Khanna learned about his exit through the media, which reportedly led to an outburst where he kicked a glass center table in his home in anger. It was only much later, thanks to his wife Dimple Kapadia’s intervention, that Khanna was signed for an RK film, Aa Ab Laut Chalen, directed by Rishi Kapoor.
Missing out on being the hero of Jaadugar
The film Jaadugar (1989) had an interesting inception. The first advertisement for the announcement of the project featured Rajesh Khanna, Shatrughan Sinha and Zeenat Aman. However, the project was shelved, and eventually, filmmaker Prakash Mehra revived the film with Amitabh Bachchan in the lead. This change altered the course of what could have been another significant collaboration for Khanna.
A unique collaboration with Subhash Ghai
Despite their association in the film Aradhana, where Subhash Ghai played the friend of Khanna’s character’s son, the two never worked together as actor-director. This remains a surprising fact, given Ghai’s reputation for creating iconic films and Khanna’s star power during his peak.
Predating Shah Rukh Khan’s humility
Rajesh Khanna passed away on 18 July in 2012. 12 years after his passing, his legacy on the big screen still continues to inspire younger actors and movie buffs alike.
