Throwback: Kamal Haasan recalls his good old days of bond with Rajesh Khanna
Throwback: Kamal Haasan recalls his good old days of bond with Rajesh Khanna
December 29, marked the 81st birth anniversary of the first superstar of Indian Cinema, Rajesh Khanna who rose to fame with his charismatic on-screen presence, making him a cultural icon amidst the 1960s and 1970s.
After debuting with ‘Aakhri Khat’ in 1966, he gained recognition and popularity with the Shakti Samantha directorial ‘Aradhana’ in 1969, where he was seen in a double role with Sharmila Tagore.
In his 25 years career span, the super star headlined over 100 movies, including Swarg, Ghar Parivaar, Avtaar, Namak Haraam, Haathi Mere Saathi, Sachaa Jhutha and Do Raaste, among many others.
Notwithstanding being an integral part of the industry, nobody knew Khanna enough to call him his close friend.
After falling in love with Anju Mahendru, he married his ‘fan’ Dimple Kapadia. This was just eight months prior to the release of her debut film Bobby.
However, after her marriage, Khanna didn’t allow her to pursue her acting career. Their daughter Twinkle Khanna and late Star share the same birth date.
At the peak of his career, ‘Amar Prem’ Rajesh Khanna did many remakes of South films in Bollywood. In the midst of that time, he found a new friend in Kamal Haasan.
In an old interview, Kamal spoke at length on their newfound friendship and how he once took Khanna to a movie theatre in the South, which ended up with chaos created by his fans after they spotted the superstar in the theatre.
Kamal Haasan had once told Zoom, he never wanted to be a star. He observed Rajesh Khanna. Their friendship came to a sorry end at a party in his house where he was less than polite. But Kamal’s bond with Dimple is forever.
It’s like the lines from the immortal Geeta Dutt song, Beqaraar Dil Iss Tarah Miley Jiss Tarah Kabhi Hum Juda Na They.
Whenever they meet, no matter how long the gap, it’s like we had never stopped meeting.
He knew they will remain friends for as long as they are alive. His daughter Shruti (Haasan) makes sure of that. She’s even fonder of Dimple than he. Not much on their fallout is out in the public.
Recalling the time when Kamal Haasan infuriated Rajesh Khanna, he said, he refused to call him Kaka like everyone did. He was willing to call him Bade Bhaiyya or Mr Khanna. But not Kaka.
That infuriated Rajesh Khanna … Kamal was this ‘upcoming actor from the South’— that’s how he introduced him in Mumbai. He was the undisputed King of Hindi cinema.
News Edit K.V.Raman
