By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
दुनिया में, लोगों को
धोखा कभी हो जाता है
आँखों ही, आँखों में
यारों का दिल खो जाता है
‘Nothing succeeds like success’ & it proved true in his case. He instantly became darling of his fans in general & young girls in particular.
Rajesh Khanna is credited with giving 15 solo hits, one after another between 1969 to 1971,to become the first ever so-called superstar. When the Sun was high on his head, his female fans reportedly got his name tattooed on inner parts of their body .His prominent films include ‘Aan Milo Sajna, Safar, Khamoshi, Anand, Kati- Patang, Aradhana, Sacha Jhootha, Do Raste , Andaaz, Amar Prem and Haathi Mere Saathi’.
Amitabh Bachchan became a potential threat to his supremacy, ending the era of romantic films. His ‘Zanzeer’ and later ‘Deewar’ both did wonders on the box office, paving way for action-oriented movies. With the rise of Amitabh, Rajesh Khanna was pushed to the wall: his charisma petered out before long. The actor who once was ‘everything’ in the industry, was unheard of for decades, excepting his appearance in one advertisement wherein he is shown saying ‘Babu Moshaye, Mere fans Aaj Bhi Mujh Se Koi Nahin Cheen Sakta’.
Under his contract with United Producers, Khanna did films like- ‘Aurat’, and ‘Ittefaq’. He made his film debut in the 1966 film Aakhri Khat, directed by Chetan Anand, followed by Raaz. He tasted instant stardom after the release of Aradhana” (1969), directed by Shakti Samanta with music score by S. D. Burman with hits like- Kora Kagaz Sa Yeh man Mera, Roop Tera Mastana, Baghon Mein Bahar Hai & Saphal Hogi Teri Aradhana. There was no looking back for the actor. Rest is history. His estimated Net worth was more than $60 million when he breathed his last in 2012.
