Now, Rajesh Khanna in a romantic role

Now, Rajesh Khanna in a romantic role Veteran actor Rajesh Khanna is acting in a movie about romance between a 60-yr-old man and a 25-yr-old girl. The film, titled 'Wafaa', is being directed by Rakesh Sawant (Rakhi Sawant's brother) and has south Indian actress Laila cast opposite Rajesh Khanna. Though the film's story seems pretty similar to Ram Gopal Varma's 'Nishabd' (with Amitabh Bachchan in the lead), the movie's director insists that similarities are superficial. Sawant reveals that 'Wafaa' is the story of an old man who marries a young girl. The film has Rajesh Khanna playing a rich businessman. Laila plays the young girl who marries him but then has extramarital affair with another man, a younger one. The film is a crime thriller with a shocking twist in the end. 'Wafaa' will also have some intimate scenes. But such scenes don't feature Rajesh Khanna. They have been shot on Laila and her young co-star. The film also has an item song shot on Kainaaz.

'Rajesh Khanna was an orthodox' - (TImes of India)

Much has been said and written about Rajesh Khanna's illustrious life and a career spanning over five decades. His fondness for women and the not-so-clandestine love stories have also made headlines every now and then. And one such love story that kept us wondering as to what went wrong was that of his alleged affair with Anju Mahendru. Apparently the two were in a relationship for about seven years before Rajesh Khanna married Dimple Kapadia, leaving Anju wondering as to what had gone wrong. According to reports, the two started seeing each other during their struggling days. In the early days of their relationship, Anju reportedly supported his dreams like a devoted girlfriend. Rajesh, too, cared for her and reportedly lavished his affection and earnings upon her. Once the actor became super successful he charmed and convinced Anju into putting aside her career for him. The madly-in-love starlet obliged and soon she officially became Rajesh Khanna's girlfriend. However, it was apparently their diverse personalities that caused a rift between the two. In an interview, Anju was quoted as saying that Rajesh was a very orthodox man, and yet somehow, he was always attracted to ultra-modern girls. She added that confusion was a part of their relationship and explained it by citing the example that if she wore a skirt, he'd snap, and ask her as to why hadn't she worn a sari and if she wore a sari, he'd question her as to why was she trying to project a Bhartiya nari look?

Meanwhile, check out other instances of actors who couldn't marry their sweethearts...



http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/top-10/Celebs-who-could-not-marry-their-love/photostory/50038040.cms

Rare Interview of Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna Part 2

December 11, 2011 rajesh-amitabh-ft MOVIE: Did you anticipate your success? Hunger for it? Did you will it to happen? RAJESH: I never thought I’d be such a success. I was an actor. I will remain an actor. Somewhere, along the way I was a superstar. AMITABH: I never expected to play lead roles! Primarily,because I was not the conventional good looking hero, and in fact, I used to feel I’ll never look as good as Raiesh Khanna. Why the hell I am going into it? Now that we are being frank and talking our hearts out, I’d like to say that I still remember a photograph of yours which came in Filmfare and I thought ‘yaar, ye aadmi kya khaata Pain? Iske gaal itne lal kaise ban?’ MOVIE: WOULD YOU attribute the acceptance of your conventional face to the changing phase in society which was veering away from romance to violence. AMITABH: Art is A reflection of the state of the country. Film-makers depict characters which reflect their times. Like when Salim Javed wrote Zanieer, they must have felt the turmoil of the times and picked a character like me to represent those emotions. The people accepted me simply because they felt ‘this fellow fits the bill. We’ll back him.’ Plus the factor that people get sick of seeing the same thing all the time. They need a change. RAJESH: I would like to ask you a personal question. People say that Raiesh Khanna is a manipulator and a very calculative person. I worked in two pictures with you. Was I ever mean as a senior to a junior? AMITABH: Since we are meeting for the first time like this and talking our hearts out. I must have a few things to say as well. Whether it was on the sets of Anand or Namak Haram,we never ever bickered or argued or tried to upstage one another in any manner. On the contrary, Kaka doesn’t know this, but when I was working in Calcutta and keen to join films, the inspiration to get into films was Mr. Raiesh Khanna. At that time you had succeeded in the Madhuri — Filmfare contest and I said, ‘My God, here’s an excellent opportunity where somebody is actually auditioned and here is this gentleman who has made it and is doing so well. Then, wonder of wonders, Hrishida asked me to work with Raiesh Khanna in Anand.It was a dream come true for me because there was this great admiration for Kaka and his phenomenal success. The hysteria he evoked was witnessed for the first time in the history of Hindi films. And we were all part of that hysteria that followed Kaka. I got famous purely because I was working with Ratesh Khanna.People came and asked me questions like ‘How does he look?’ What does he do?’ So I became very important, thanks to him. And I’ve always maintained that the person who is my senior will always remain my senior. I have never ever argued about billings because I don’t think that they mean anything. And I have always had the greatest respect -for Kaka. MOVIE: How do ,you feel about the fact that you replaced Rajesh Khanna in the No. I position? AMITABH: It’s just a question of economics. It’s not that somebody outshone the other. MOVIE: And you Rajesh? How did you feel about his ascedency directly disiodging you? RAJESH: When I saw Namak Haram at a trial at Liberty cinema. 1 knew my time was up. I told Hrishida, ‘here is the superstar of tommorrow.’ MOVIE: Both of you have had undisputed reigns as No. 1. Do vou foresee any single superstar in the future? AMITABH: I don’t know. I don’t believe in those epithets of superstars. Anil Kapoor, Sunny Deol and Jackie are ruling the roost already. I even have to watch some of the newcomers. RAJESH: When it was Amitabh Bachchan at the top, no other star came anywhere near.You were No. 1 to 10, the next one was No. 11. Before that there was only Rajesh Khanna. I have nothing against the juniors but they aren’t superstar material at all. They are easily replaceable. Today, a film-maker says, ‘Jackie Shroff ki date nahin mili hai to kisi aur ko k lo.’ Whereas, they say, ‘Agar amitabh bachan nahi milta hai, we will wait or we will not make the subject,’ AMITABH: I think it’s more to do with economics. Earlier, one used to wait in queues for hours in the heat, trying to buy a ticket, to go and see Shammiji in Junglee or Dilip saheb in Ganga Jamuna. Whereas now, thanks to the video boom, one gets the stars in one’s bedroom at a snap of one’s fingers. There is no mystique left. MOVIE: That video is a convenient spacegoat for flops. It has been proven time and again by blockbusters like Maine Pyar Kiya and Tezaab. AMITABH: Can I cross question you on this Tezaab issue? You say Tezaab was a superhit because it was well made. I’d like to point out that, the story was the same, presented differently so what’s wrong with Agneepath? Whatever it may be that argument cannot stand. We went through that period when the mystique of cinema and its heroes still existed. Now the mystique has been reduced. India has become a smaller country, the world itself is shrinking. I’ll give you an example of how times have changed. As a school boy, I was in Allahabad when Kamini Kaushal and Dilip saheb were shooting tor Shaheed. The crowd almost overturned the train, and the thing that I still remember is, that it was the talk of the town ki air-conditioned coach ke jo kanch the, jismein Kanum Kaushal baithi thi, toot gaye the. I am talking about late 40′s early 50′s.That kind of mystique about film stars doesn’t exist any more. RAJESH: Video or no video, suppose 8-9 films are released on the same day, including one of yours. Will people want to see Amitabh first or any of these youngsters? AMITABH: I would say people will want to watch the younger lot. We need to give them more time. It will be a little harsh to put them aside. They are working in a much more competitive climate. They are working with many more disadvantages than perhaps we were. The audiences too, are not as tolerant as they were in my time. I think the audience gave me a lot of breathing space. I made mistakes and kept trying to rectify them in film after film. It takes a while to do away with the soiled laundry. But there’s no denying that it is the turn of the younger boys now, because today’s audiences are between 18 and 30. I was shooting with Govinda for Hum when a group of young kids came up to me and one of the boys asked for an autograph. Govinda was standing next to me. There was a young, cute girl who gave him a slap and said ‘Woh nahin, ye. Govinda ka autograph lo.’ So we have to accept it. RAJESH: Of course the show has to go on. Trends are changing, people are looking for something new. But you can’t just have 2s, 3s, 4s. There has to be a No. 1. You still haven’t been able to pick out any one name. Neither can I. I feel that whoever will be No.1 next is yet to arrive on the scene. You see, people don’t take long to spot an outstanding actor because their need is there already. AM1TABH: In one respect, I agree with this. In a country which lacks so many things, people want to look up to an idol. They want to feel this is their hero. In exactly the same way , as they would want a whipping horse, to put all the blame. RAJESH: Exactly! We have both been in the same industry. I too have enjoyed a certain status, yet I was looking forward to meeting you. I may even have missed a heart-beat! Like I said, you have to be born with that charisma, you cannot be made. And since this is a hero-oriented industry, the next superstar will again be a man. AMITABH: It could be ET!!! Sincerely, at that point in the history of Hollywood, there were no stars. Paul Newman has said on record, ‘What’s the point in my being an actor? The three greatest hits have been mechanical gadgets!’ There was a shark in Jaws that crashed the box-office, there was this peculiar animal in ET and there was that robot in Star Wars. I saw it millions of times. And everytime I see ET I find it’s a lovable person. So maybe you don’t need an actor, it’s going to be a computer! Look, one of the poignant scenes in 2001 Space Odyssey was the death of the computer. The computer on board is programmed to take the spaceship to a particular planet and also manage everything, right to the food of the astronauts. Then they realise that this very same computer is actually programmed to sabotage the mission. So this astronaut unscrews the computer. It dies with the voice going fainter ‘Don’t kill … me … don’t … kill me’ (He mimics in a low drawl). If just mechanical gadgets are going to be moving us to tears, then Paul Newman is right.What is the need for actors? MOVIE: Both of you married talented actresses who stopped working after marriage. Why did you curb them? RAJESH: I had no problems about my wife working. But when I married Dimple, I wanted a mother for my children. I didn’t want them to be brought up by servants. And I had no idea of Dimple’s talent; Bobby was still not released. Recently when I told one of my daughters Twinkle, that if she would like to act in a film, I would produce one for her. She said, ‘You will let me act but to mummy you say no.’ I said, ‘For the simple reason that I am your father and not your husband.’ Besides, if I knew at that moment that Bobby would prove her talent, I wouldn’t have stopped her. To curb talent is cruel. By the time I saw Bobby our first daughter was already born. But later, when I lived with Tina for seven years, I made a film for her. We acted in so many films together. She was not even that interested but I said, ‘Work, get it out of your system.’ I did not want to repeat the same mistake. AMITABH: Kaka, you have been more specific about how you handled your married life. But I feel that how I want my married life to be conducted should really be between Jaya and me. Anyway, I have never objected to Jaya working in films. But she herself said, ‘I don’t feel nice working in films.’ RAJESH: Why did she work in Silsila? AMITABH: I left it entirely on her. If she wanted to work, she did. It’s a question of how one wants to conduct one’s life. What happened voluntarily in my case, happened specifically in yours. MOVIE: The audience lost out on two good actresses for 10 years. AMITABH: Maybe. But the audience is not married to Jaya or Dimple! RAJESH: So we cannot be expected to sacrifice our lives for cinema. It’s a matter of the children’s lives. Today my children are grown up, Dimple is working in my film, Jai Shiv Shankar. MOVIE: Do you think actors who dabble in politics do justice to either career! RAJESH: You have to give your 100 per cent. When an actor neglects the family, the wife, the children, because he is busy playing the star, how can he do justice to politics, which demands so much time and dedication? When I was asked by the ex-PM, Rajiv Gandhi,to get into politics, I replied that out of 365 days, if one has in put in 200 odd parliament days and if I have fifteen odd films,that means I’ll complete those films in 5 -6 years. And what’s the fault of the producer? So I promised to try and make as much as I can manage and carry out my party duties on a voluntary basis. My willingness is there but an actor cannot really cope. When Amit got into politics, I knew it wouldn’t work. Unless he leaves acting and then dedicates himself completely. AMITABH: He has brought out an aspect of the technicalities involved. I would say that either you break away totally or you don’t at all. MOVIE: You said that the people need an idol to look up to. Does not an actor politician exploit this factor? AMITABH: Absolutely. You are, in fact, cheating the masses. Because of your popularity and mass appeal you draw crowds which is one of the first priorities of a politician. And then you go and tell them to vote for your political ideology. You say, I have spent 20 years of my life trying to impress my personality upon you. In return I want your votes.’ I think that’s wrong! We will create a divide in families. For example, in Allahabad there were people in the same household who had different ideologies yet because they love the actor, they wanted to love the politician as well. RAJESH: But if they love the actor so much and you show the right ideology, why will they not follow it? AMITABH:The problems of this country are not going to be solved by one actor or even 10 actors. The problems are far too big. On the screen we get poetic justice in three hours. Poetic justice doesn’t come in a lifetime. RAJESH: In my opinion, if there are about 2000 problems in India, and if I can solve just one problem, then I have achieved something. AMITABH: But Kaka, what is to stop you doing that without advocating a particular ideology? RAJESH: But Amit, only a political platform can give you that reach. MOVIE: Can’t you adapt yourself to new trends? AMITABH: I couldn’t possibly do a love story like Maine Pyar Kiya. I can perhaps do a more mature love story. Then again, we tried a love story with Silsila but it didn’t work. One thing is for sure, we can’t be doing what Salman is doing. RAJESH: You’re right I can’t do an Aradhana today. AMITABH: Romantic films are in, which means we are out of jobs! RAJESH: Stop saying you are finished! People feel you are probably trying to buy sympathy. Listen to me, recently I attended a show with you and you were superb. A superhit. You went on stage to sing one song and people were going mad. They insisted on song after song. AMITABH: Maybe I should meet von more often KAKA ! You are very complimentary! Published by: http://www.4bubbles.com/rare-interview-of-amitabh-bachan-and-rajesh-khanna-part-2/

Interview of Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna Part 1

Rare Interview of Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna Part 1 December 11, 2011 MOVIE: Welcome aboard! It has been 17 years since you last came together, professionally or personally. What kept you apart? Why did you not team up after Anand and Namak haram? AMITABH: Who’s going to talk first? … I think after Namak Haram the only semblance of an offer was made by Goldie saab when he wanted to make Rajput. RAJESH: But I wish we had done a third film also. It would have been a hat-trick! AMITABH: Yes, I agree. However, I think it was important for a person like Hrishida to come up with something, because – with all due respect to Rajesh – I think Hrishida really scripted stories which suited our personalities. The lack of a proper script or a proper setting for the two of us was perhaps one of the major reasons why … RAJESH: I would like to interrupt, Amit. What if the roles had been reversed in Namak Haram? In your opinion, could we have done justice to them? AMITABH: I don’t think so. I think that Hrishida must have had something in mind before he cast us in our respective roles. He, perhaps, wanted me to play the more aggressive role since the script itself was patterned on Beckett. I think it had Peter O’Toole and Richard Burton in it. And,in fact there was a time when they did switch roles. But as to reversing our roles, I don’t know about Kaka, but I could never be put into the same category as Peter O’Toole or Richard Burton. Fine actors, the best in the world. MOVIE: Amitabh, don’t you think it was comparatively easier to cast you in Anand when you were a newcomer or even as a parallel hero in Namak Haram but your subsequent superstardom disturbed the equation? AMITABH: This question can best be answered by Hrishida. I really don’t know what the reading is in the mind of a film-maker when he takes, say three artistes of the same period or perhaps, of the same category. But I would imagine that I would be very happy to do something lesser because I am junior to Raiesh. As to the question of somebody being more popular, it is pure economics. I have said it before that nobody superceded anybody in popularity or whatever. Somebody’s film does economically better, therefore he becomes bigger. I don’t believe in these epithets of superstars or phenomena. RAJESH: But how did you feel when you became a superstar after Namak Haram and Deewar?The reason why I am asking you is because once I was also at the top. And I use the term superstardom because that’s what the masses, the press, as well as the film-makers use. Did it affect you or not? AMITABH: No, it didn’t affect me at all. I feel that my success was more dependent upon the script, director and co-stars. I just happened to be there. RAJESH: That’s the technical part of it, but what of your own contribution? Personally,I feel that when a director says, ‘Start sound and action,’ no other department exists except the actor. AMITABH: Quite right. You are given your role, you have to do your best. RAJESH: Agreed. So stardom goes to the actor. AMITABH: I haven’t really looked into it. RAJESH: So that means you won’t own up to the failures either? AMITABH: Absolutely. RAJESH: Neither the success nor the … crash? AMITABH: Absolutely. RAJESH: You take neither the credit nor the blame? AMITABH: Absolutely. MOVIE: What about you, “Raiesh’ What did success do to you? RAJESH: I felt next to God! I still remember the exact moment when for the first time I became aware of how mind-blowing super-success can be. It psyches you totally — or you’re not human. It was just after Andaaz, at a lottery draw held at the Vidhan Sabha in Bangalore . AMITABH: We were working together, in fact, when you had gone there … RAJESH: Yeah. And! I remember because Andaaz ka premiere tha wahan. One couldn’t see anything but heads bobbing down the whole road, which was not only broad but almost ten miles long. And there was just one echo of the voices – `Haaaaa…’ You know, it was like a stadium in the times of the Romans. I wept like a baby. I am very surprised, Amit, that success and failure leave you untouched. Because later, when I started slipping, I hit the bottle. I mean, I am not a super human being. You are not Jesus Christ and I am not Mahatma Gandhi. I remember that once at three o’clock in the morning I was pretty high on spirits and suddenly it was too much for me to stomach because it was my first taste of failure. One after another, seven films had just flopped in a row. It was raining, pitch-dark and up there alone on my terrace, I lost control. I yelled out. Parvardigar, hum garibon ka itna sakt imtihan na le ki hum tere vajood ko inkar kar de,’ (Don’t test my patience to such an extent that I question your very existence). Of course, Dimple and my staff came running, thinking that I had gone insane! It was because success hit me so much that I couldn’t take the failure. I remember, the next day Balaji (a South producer) offered me Amardeep out of the blue. It gave a second lease to my career. Haven’t you experienced anything of this sort? AMITABH: No, I have been very pessimistic about myself, I must say. And it’s really a wonder that I continued upto a certain point. Perhaps, it is due to the grace of God, prayers of the people and my lucky stars! Each day I felt that this is the end, tomorrow is my last day, so I have never really looked at it as emotionally and as passionately as you, Rajesh. MOVIE: Don’t you recall the overwhelming response of the people to your illness in ’82, when you were fighting for your life in Breach Candy hospital? AMITABH: Well … it disturbed me very much, but you cannot compare that incident with anything else. It was an unnatural situation. Of course, it affected me for a very long time because I didn’t know how to pay the people back. That always disturbed me. Jaya and I spent long hours trying to figure out how to return the immense love. RAJESH: Naturally. Duaa mein jo baat bath woh dava mein kahan? I recall reading that when you were in hospital, your heart stopped beating for thirty seconds. AMITABH: Yeah, I had no pulse and there was no blood pressure. RAJESH: When you came to know about it later what were your feelings? AMITABH: Well … at that point one is so weak, emotionally and physically … It’s very difficult for me to explain, because I still have no explanation. RAJESH: Did it make you a better human being? Did it make you more humble? Or did it make you feel a super man, knowing that you had conquered death? AMITABH: I think the people outside talked more about it than me. I haven’t had the time to really reflect on it. I haven’t really analysed that moment as Kaka would like me to. I have shut it away somewhere. Maybe when I am old and tired,I may reflect on that moment. One can only thank the people who prayed. MOVIE: Your family is probably more acutely conscious of it. They must’ve gone through hell. AMITABH: Yes, yes, and I am sure somewhere in the back of their minds they must be having some dark areas. MOVIE: Has it left you less afraid of death? AMITABH: When you gotta go, you gotta go. MOVIE: What about you, Rajesh? RAJESH: Oh,! am not scared of death at all. If on my death bed, I am asked, I shall say that I have no regrets, I have had the best of everything. So when death comes, I’ll just smile. I know that I have missed nothing, and if I am given this life again, I’ll go through it exactly the same way. AMITABH: Oh, yes, I think the lord has been far too kind. I must admit that he gave me a lot of things at a very young age. But as for the adverse part, I would’t wish it even on an enemy. RAJESH: Yeah! A king dies a king! He might not have a following. He might be dying alone, lost in a desert but he will still be a king, whether on the throne or in exile! MOVIE: Rajesh is such an incorrigible romantic at heart, that he even romanticizes death, complete with a desert scenario et al! Amitabh, do your intense, violent roles spill over into your life! RAJESH: Like you said, there is no dividing line in my case. There’s always some hangover which you carry back home. Just as I have my affairs and women, do you carry your violence home? AMITABH: I can’t answer that question. I don’t even know whether I am doing it well on screen. All I can say is that I am given my lines and do what I have to do, after which, when it’s pack up time, it’s pack up. RAJESH: You’ve played the romantic hero too. Is that more like you? AMITABH: I’m terrible at romance. RAJESH: Amit, in my esteem you are a very good actor. But you’ve become typecast as the angry man. Do you agree that you have become a victim of your own image? AMITABH: Absolutely. It’s sad because everytime something else was tried out, it did not succeed.Even though people may have had faith in me, that faith would obviously get destroyed because the film didn’t work. Eventually, you know, we are all going to end up doing character roles whether we like it or not! It’s difficult for people in India to accept me as a leading man anymore. But Kaka has been a romantic all his life, he’s romanticizing even death, so perhaps he will continue to play romantic roles and one wishes him all the best. But, the fact is that, I will not be able to. So it’s pack up time for me. RAJESH: No, I don’t agree with you at all. A good actor never says die, just as a good cricketer always remains a good cricketer. Even Bradman had a rough patch. Talking about Apeepath, why did you turn your voice, which is such a great asset, into a liability? Why did you do it? You know that Amitabh Bachchan means The Voice. Kiske pass hoti hai itni khubsoorat aawaz? And you turned it against you? AMITABH: Actually this contradicts what you said earlier, where you said that I put in a said image. People criticize me for doing the same thing over and over again but when I make an attempt to do something different, they reject it. So where the hell am I? RAJESH: But changing the voice does not change the image! You were playing an angry man and it was not as if you were playing something else and so you changed your voice. No, the rest of you – your physical appearance and your dialogue, remained the same. The only thing you changed was your voice, that’s all. AMITABH: Well, people are willing to accept changes only upto a certain point. In Agneeparh I tried to be different within the demands of the character which didn’t permit overall changes. As for turning an asset into a liability, I can’t single it out and say, that no matter what, isko to main nahin change kamonga, baqi sab change karoonga. RAJESH: Are you trying to say that images are more powerful than actors? AMITABH: Certainly, in the minds of the people. MOVIE: Why were you slaves of our images to such an extent that you created a Frankenstein which eventually devoured you? AMITABH: When! did Anand I know that millions of people came to me and said, ‘Don’t you dare get out of that dhoti. This is it, stick to this. Always play the doctor’s role.’ But as time went on directors kept experimenting, kept throwing challenges at me, and I kept accepting them. And what is most important is that people kept accepting them also. The films ran and that lured the directors into repeating popular scenes. They’d say, Woh drunk scene kiya Hera Pheri mein, woh achha tha. Now,let’s do a scene where he smashes ten people and then twenty people.’ Your ultimate aim is to want to keep adding, keep making it more exciting until you arrive at a saturation point. RAJESH: Directors would insist on the same set of mannerisms, especially in songs, ‘Waise hi aankhen Jhapko jaise Aradhana main kiya tha. Finally, those mannerisms went against me. But apart from that, I have been lucky because I haven’t had a set image. If I played Anand, I also did Bawarchi and Amar Prem. I’ll give you a small example, Souten was – - absolutely romantic, emotional and I was singing songs with Tina Munim and Padmini Kolhapure. Where as in Avatar, I threw out my mannerisms, wore a grey wig and played the father of grown- up children with daughters-In-law. Although the difference between Avatar and Souten’s release was only one week, people accepted both the roles. Amit, have you seen any of these two pictures? AMITABH: No, I am sorry. MOVIE: Was there ever any film for which one of you was signed and eventually the other did it? A rare instance of interchangeability of images? RAJESH: Deewar. AMITABH: Really? RAJESH: Salim-Javed and I had differences. They refused to give the script to Yash Chopra because they wanted only Bachchan. So, although Yashji wanted me for Deewar, he had no choice. And, I guess overall, he must have felt that maybe Amitabh fitted the bill better. Later, I saw just two reels of Deetvar and honestly, I said, `Wah kya baat hail’ Honest to God. Talent was always there whether I worked with him in Anand or Namak Haram – I mean handi mein se agar chawal ka ek daana nikalo to pata lag jaata hai ki kya hai – but talent needs the right break. After Deewar I always envied him. Only thing is, I smiled each time he slipped because he made the same mistakes that I once made. AMITABH: Well, I just can’t sit here taking all these compliments from you, because it’s a little embarrassing. RAJESH: It’s not embarrassing, it’s the truth, which I feel from the bottom of my heart. Published by :

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Bollywood actor Rajesh Khanna in Amritsar for Congress campaign

Fondly called 'Kaka' by his fans, veteran Bollywood actor Rajesh Khanna, who is leading the Congress charge in his birth place Amritsar, on Friday said those found guilty of corruption should be barred from politics for life. Corrupt politicians, irrespective of which party they belong to, should be taken to task or jailed when they are caught embezzling public funds and thereafter should be barred from politics for life, he said. The 69-year-old, who is here to campaign for the Congress,said, "I always observe my strong birth roots in the pious land of Amritsar and would always prefer to spend maximum time here." Asked why he did not take Congress high command's offer in 2009 to contest elections from Amritsar, Khanna said, "I would never like to ditch my own people with hollow promises like other politicians. I am of the opinion that when you are not able to serve the masses then don't make fake promises to them since these are the sins." Khanna was a Congress MP from Delhi between 1991 and 1996. He attacked Bollywood colleague and former BJP MP from Gurdaspur, Vinod Khanna, saying, "Vinod Khanna had made bundle of promises with the voters in Gurdaspur including that he would set up a film academy but never honoured his words. The voters threw him out." On Bollywood celebrities taking to politics, Khanna said, "Film stars are crowd pullers as a reason, political parties prefer to use them in the elections." He claimed that when he was MP from Delhi, he worked "full time as a politician". Khanna described cricketer-turned-politician and BJP MP from Amritsar Navjot Singh Sidhu as a "good comedian", but said that he could never be a good politician, "as politics was not comedy". Talking about the 2007 general assembly elections in the state when Congress was defeated by SAD-BJP, Rajesh Khanna said that Congress had learnt its lesson.

He said the party knew that it was thrown out of power since it failed to ensure development in Punjab. This time Congress party would bring a sea of development in the state, he said. Launching a scathing attack on present SAD-BJP government in Punjab, Khanna accused them for poor governance. He alleged that SAD/BJP had misused funds disbursed by the UPA Government, which resulted in poor infrastructure in health and education departments in the state. Published by : http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_bollywood-actor-rajesh-khanna-in-amritsar-for-congress-campaign_1642844?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Happy Birthday to the Superstar, Rajesh Khanna

The man who became the first “Superstar” of Hindi cinema with his screen savvy ways and romantic aura. The man, who during the seventies, was at the pinnacle of fame and glory—Rajesh Khanna, a hero, a producer and also a politician celebrates his 69th birthday today.

Fondly addressed as ‘Kaka’, Jatin Khanna (he was rechristened as Rajesh Khanna when he entered Bollywood) was born on 29 December, 1942 in Amritsar. His charismatic ways and elegance made him popular not just among women but all the Bollywood-crazy fans. He is the lone actor to have delivered fifteen successive super hits.

Rajesh Khanna was the first “ Superstar” of Hindi cinema. Image from ibnlive

Khanna was brought up by foster parents, friends of his biological parents. His fondness for stage performance came to surface during his school days at St. Sebastian School, Girgaun. After winning an ‘All India Talent Contest’ Jatin Khanna decided to take a final plunge into the filmdom with his celluloid name Rajesh Khanna in Chetan Anand’s Aakhri Khat.

Despite creating ripples with films such as Aurat, Ittefaq and Baharon Ke Sapne — it was Shakti Samanta’s Aradhana which saw him shooting to phenomenal fame and national glory. Aradhana — the enchanting saga of romance and music projected the stylish performer in a dual role. The movie established Kishore Kumar as Rajesh Khanna’s signature playback voice.

Rajesh Khanna’s list of hits includes Sachaa Jhutha, Haathi Mere Saathi, Amar Prem, Do Raaste, Anand, Avtar and Souten. From 1969 to 1973, he had 15 consecutive hits.

He won three Filmfare Best Actor Awards and was nominated for the same 14 times. He received the maximum BFJA Awards for Best Actor (Hindi) – four times and was nominated 25 times. He was awarded the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005.

Rajesh Khanna married Dimple Kapadia in 1973. The duo separated in 1984 as Khanna’s schedule kept him away much of the time and Dimple became interested in pursuing an acting career. Twinkle and Rinke, Rajesh Khanna’s two daughters, are also popular Bollywood actors.

Rajesh Khanna was a Member of Parliament for the Congress Party, from the New Delhi constituency, where he won the 1992 by-election, retaining his seat until the 1996 election. He has since been a political activist for the Congress.

A career marked by awe-inspiring fan following and extraordinary success, Rajesh Khanna made a mark in Bollywood and still remains one of the most beloved actors.

Here’s wishing the ‘Superstar’ a very Happy Birthday.



http://www.firstpost.com/bollywood/happy-birthday-to-the-superstar-rajesh-khanna-168385.html#disqus_thread

Bollywood actor Rajesh Khanna in Amritsar for Congress campaign

Bollywood actor Rajesh Khanna in Amritsar for Congress campaign
Published: Saturday, Jan 28, 2012, 1:23 IST
Place: Amritsar | Agency: PTI

Fondly called 'Kaka' by his fans, veteran Bollywood actor Rajesh Khanna, who is leading the Congress charge in his birth place Amritsar, on Friday said those found guilty of corruption should be barred from politics for life.

Corrupt politicians, irrespective of which party they belong to, should be taken to task or jailed when they are caught embezzling public funds and thereafter should be barred from politics for life, he said.

The 69-year-old, who is here to campaign for the Congress,said, "I always observe my strong birth roots in the pious land of Amritsar and would always prefer to spend maximum time here."

Asked why he did not take Congress high command's offer in 2009 to contest elections from Amritsar, Khanna said, "I would never like to ditch my own people with hollow promises like other politicians. I am of the opinion that when you are not able to serve the masses then don't make fake promises to them since these are the sins."

Khanna was a Congress MP from Delhi between 1991 and 1996. He attacked Bollywood colleague and former BJP MP from Gurdaspur, Vinod Khanna, saying, "Vinod Khanna had made bundle of promises with the voters in Gurdaspur including that he would set up a film academy but never honoured his words. The voters threw him out."

On Bollywood celebrities taking to politics, Khanna said, "Film stars are crowd pullers as a reason, political parties prefer to use them in the elections."

He claimed that when he was MP from Delhi, he worked "full time as a politician".

Khanna described cricketer-turned-politician and BJP MP from Amritsar Navjot Singh Sidhu as a "good comedian", but said that he could never be a good politician, "as politics was not comedy".

Talking about the 2007 general assembly elections in the state when Congress was defeated by SAD-BJP, Rajesh Khanna said that Congress had learnt its lesson.

He said the party knew that it was thrown out of power since it failed to ensure development in Punjab.

This time Congress party would bring a sea of development in the state, he said.

Launching a scathing attack on present SAD-BJP government in Punjab, Khanna accused them for poor governance.

He alleged that SAD/BJP had misused funds disbursed by the UPA Government, which resulted in poor infrastructure in health and education departments in the state.

Published by:

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_bollywood-actor-rajesh-khanna-in-amritsar-for-congress-campaign_1642844