By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
On His Birth Anniversary
बागों में फूलों के खिलने से पहले
तेरे मेरे नैनों के मिलने से पहले
कहाँ की ये बातें
मुलाकातें
ऐसी रातें
टूटा तारा था ये मन मेरा
बन गया चांद होके तेरा
Rajesh Khanna carved a nice niche for himself in the tinsel world as an actor of yore. He gave 17 record hits in a row from 1969 to 1972 including ”Aradhna’, ‘Do Raste’, ‘Bandhan’, ‘Ittefaq'( 1969), ‘The Train’, ‘Sacha Jhuta’, ‘Aan Milo Sajna’ , ‘Safar’ , ‘Khamoshi’ ( 1970) , ‘Kati Patang’, ‘Anand’, ‘Andaz’, ‘Haathi mere Saathi’ , ‘Maryada’ ( 1971) , ‘Amar Prem’, ‘Dushman’ & ‘Doli’. He was the first ‘Super Star’ of Hindi cinema & the highest paid actor from 1970 to 1987. Married the budding actress Dimple Kapadia. The couple was blessed with two daughters.Girls went crazy about him. Dev Anand was the other matinee idol women chased and followed. Amitabh Bachchan caused his ouster and later became a mega-star. Khanna failed to bounce back. Both worked in Anand (1971).
Khanna worked with all top actresses of his time–Sharmila Tagore, Mumtaz, Rakhee, Hema Malini, Tina Munim, Shabana Azmi. He gave his Best opposite Sharmila Tagore: Amar Prem , Aradhana, Safar, Daag. Sharmila Tagore always remained under stress owing to his late arrival on the sets. He appeared in several films opposite Mumtaz: Do Raaste, Sacha Jhutha, Aap Ki Kasam, Roti, Bandhan, Dushman & Apna Desh. His not allowing Dimple Kapadia to work in films after marriage, paved way for their unofficial separation. He was earlier romantically linked with Anju Mahandru whos name was also linked, though albeit brief, with cricketer Garfield Sobers.
