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Rajesh Khanna

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Rajesh Khanna
Born
Jatin Khanna
Years active1966 - present
SpouseDimple Kapadia (1973-1984)

Rajesh Khanna (Hindi: राजेश खन्ना; Punjabi: ਰਾਜੇਸ਼ ਖੰਨਾ) (born Jatin Khanna on December 29, 1942 in Amritsar) is an Indian Bollywood thespian and laureate of the Dada Saheb Phalke Legend Golden Actor Award, bestowed on him in 2008. He has also served a five year tenure as an M.P. in the Indian parliament (1991–1996). Also known as Kaka, he is the first "superstar" of the Indian film industry.[citation needed]

Early life

Rajesh Khanna was born in Amritsar to his parents after eighteen years of marriage. With three daughters, they were very keen on a son and so he was adopted by them.[clarification needed] He was brought up in a very protective environment. Khanna's parents had misgivings about Khanna's serious ambitions regarding a professional career in the dramatic arts. His initial foray into cinema with renowned film maker Chetan Anand was not a resounding success. Nonetheless, he persisted and did very well. His previous theatrical background assisted him with the characterization of the personas of the cinema which he portrayed.

Adult life

He is Hindi cinema's first officially proclaimed and acknowledged "superstar", as the term superstar first came into existence only for him in Indian movies.[citation needed] He debuted in Aakhri khat (1966), which was unsuccessful. The films where he was noticed by people were Aurat (1967) and Baharoan ke sapne (1967). He was christened with "superstar" status after his performance in Aradhana. He went on to perform in 86 successful films and 31 unsuccessful films in his career of 25 years of starring roles until 1991.

In the 1960s, Khanna dated Anju Mahendroo. The couple drifted apart following his early success and the couple split in the early-1970s. He married Dimple Kapadia in 1973 and has two daughters from the mairrage.[1] Khanna and Dimple Kapadia separated in 1984, as she was interested in pursuing an acting career and his rigorous schedule kept him away much of the time. In the mid-1980s, after Dimple and Khanna seperated, Tina Munim was romantically linked with Khanna, but the relationship was short-lived. Following a few years of separation, the relationship between Kapadia and Khanna blossomed once again, and remained that of close friends. Their elder daughter Twinkle, an interior decorator, is married to Akshay Kumar and younger daughter Rinkie is married to an entrepreneur, after attending an American University.[citation needed]

Career

Early success (1966–1974)

Rajesh Khanna joined the film industry after winning an All India Talent Contest through a nation-wide selection procedure by panel of judges like Bimal Roy, Chetan Anand, G.P. Sippy, Shakti Samanta and B. R. Chopra. He made his film debut in the 1966 film Aakhri Khat, followed by Raaz opposite heroine Babita, which had noted Tamil actress Pandari Bai. Both films were unsuccessful. He was noticed in the next film Baharaon ke sapne followed by Aurat (1967) where he played as brother of Padmini, and then in Khamoshi where he played a mad man. His meteoric rise to fame came with the 1969 film Aradhana which was his first major success. From then on he was established as an exceptionally popular protagonist in the early 1970s, appearing in many romantic and melodramatic films, may of which were hugely successful at the box office.[citation needed] He was often paired with actresses like Mumtaz or Sharmila Tagore in this period.

The Golden and Silver Jubilee hits Hits during this period after Aradhana were the 23 Blockbusters Do Raaste, Ittefaq, Doli, Bandhan (1969), Khamoshi, The Train, Safar, Saccha Jhutha (1970), Kati Patang, Mehboob ki Mehendi, Aan Milo Sajna , Anand, Maryada, Andaz, Haathi Mere Saathi, Choti Bahu (1971) , Dushman, Amar Prem, Apna Desh, Mere Jeevan Saathi, Dil Daulat Duniya, Bawarchi, Joru Ka Ghulam, Shehzada (1972), Raja Rani, Daag, Anuraag, Namak Haraam (1973), Avishkaar, Aap Ki Kasam, Ajnabee, Prem Nagar, Roti (1974) and Prem Kahani (1975).[2]

During the peak of his career he would be mobbed during public appearances. According to the actor, fans kissed his car, leaving it covered with lipstick marks. They lined the road, cheering and chanting his name. He also claims female fans sent him letters written in their own blood.[3]

Later career (1976–present)

Post-1976, Khanna had a string of box office flops including Naukri, Aaina, Karm, Mehbooba, Tyaag, Anurodh, Aaina and Naukri. Media reports in late seventies suggested that success perhaps had caused Kaka to be complacent, often turning up late for shoots and throwing tantrums, as well as having a whole entourage of sycophants accompany him for his shoots.[4] This behaviour coupled with the changing trend from romantic and social movies to action oriented multi-star films in the late-1970s and early-1980s caused the decline of Khanna's career in terms of box office rating.[citation needed]

Khanna again met success with critically acclaimed box office hits like Amardeep; Prem Bandhan; and Til Til Dalekha (1979), a Punjabi movie which won the Punjab State Government award for best story writer in 1979. More blockbusters followed with Hindi-like Thodisi Bewafaii, Aanchal (1980), Kudrat and Dhanwaan (1981). He was also praised by critics for portaying his roles in the unsuccessful Redrose (1980) and the successful Dard (1981) which, all together, brought his career back in track.[citation needed]

The 1980s saw him test his versatility, performing roles including a college student, a villain, a middle-aged husband, and an old man. Successful pairings included Tina Munim,Jaya Prada, Shabana Azmi, Smita Patil, Poonam Dhillon and again with Hema Malini. He also shared a very close relationship with R.D.Burman and Kishore Kumar. The successful trio, who had a great working relationship, were friends too,[citation needed] and have together worked in more than thirty films. His most commercially successful films at the box office in this period were Souten, Rajput, Avtaar, Asha Jyothi, Fifty fifty, Agar Tum Na Hote, Bandhish', Babu, Ashanti , Phir wohi raat, Maqsad,[5] Akhir kyun, Nishaan (1983), Alag alag, Aawaaz, Hum dono , Shatru, Bewafaaii, Zamana, Nazrana, Dharam Aur Kanoon, Angaarey ,Vijay, Amrit, Ghar ka chirag, and Swarg. He starred in 45 films after 1975, and 41 before.

By the early-1990s, he had been out of acting for many years and served as an M.P. of New Delhi Constituency from 1991 to 1996.[citation needed] During that period, he returned to acting, appearing in Khudai (1994). He made a come back as an NRI in Aa ab laut chalen (1999) produced by the RK banner, and Kyaa Dil Ne Kahaa (2002) where he played elderly father roles. In 2006, he appeared in Jaana - Let's Fall in Love which was a direct to video release. In September 2007, he officially announced his planned return to the big screen, signing a contract for several new films.[citation needed]

Television

He is the life member of the International Film And Television Research Centre, the International Film And Television Club, the Asian Academy of Film & Television. In 2001 and 2002, Rajesh played major roles in two television serials: Aapne Parai (B4U & DD Metro) and Ittefaqu (Zee TV). He signed a TV serial with Creative Eye Banner (Dhiraj Kumar) in 2007. He is also going to perform in a T.V. serial Bhabhima, with Leena Ganguly as his co-star.

He performed in a video album based on Tagore's immortal songs (Rabindra Sangeet) without payment, and is currently in processing his own music channel viz. R.K. Music Channel.[citation needed] He has also endorsed a talent hunt programme in 2007 namely "Star se Superstar tak" as the first "superstar" of Indian cinema, under the banner of Red Carpet Entertainment and donated a Gold Trophy of Rs.1 Crore with Ms. Priyanka Chopra.

In its Silver Jubilee Episode, K for Kishore has celebrated Super Star Rajesh Khanna Special, on 14–15 March 2008.

Political career

Between 1991 and 1996, Rajesh Khanna was a member of Parliament for the Congress Party, from the New Delhi constituency. He has since been a political activist for the Congress Party.[citation needed]

Awards

Filmfare Awards

Won
Nominated
  • 1969 – Filmfare Best Actor Award for Aradhana
  • 1969 – Filmfare Best Actor Award for Ittefaq
  • 1971 – Filmfare Best Actor Award for Kati Patang
  • 1972 – Filmfare Best Actor Award for Dushman
  • 1972 – Filmfare Best Actor Award for Amar Prem
  • 1973 – Filmfare Best Actor Award for Daag
  • 1974 – Filmfare Best Actor Award for Prem Nagar
  • 1979 – Filmfare Best Actor Award for Amar Deep
  • 1980 – Filmfare Best Actor Award for Thodi Si Bewafai
  • 1981 – Filmfare Best Actor Award for Dard
  • 1983 – Filmfare Best Actor Award for Avtaar

Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards

Filmography

References

  1. ^ An article from rediff.com dated 13-09-2002
  2. ^ http://www.jaman.com/forum/Bollywood/discussion/0XRwyVMV5Sc0/
  3. ^ rediff.com, Movies: The different avatars of Rajesh Khanna
  4. ^ An article from screenindia.com dated 08-17-2008
  5. ^ http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=190&catName=MTk4NA==
  6. ^ BFJA Awards 1972
  7. ^ BFJA Awards 1973
  8. ^ BFJA Awards 1975
  9. ^ BFJA Awards 1987
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