Super Star Rajesh Khanna defends his movie Wafaa

Rajesh Khanna defends his movie
By: Sonal ChawlaDate: 2008-12-20
Mumbai:

Young at Heart: Rajesh Khanna in a still from Raghukul Reet Sadaa Chali Aayee

Says a defiant Rajesh Khanna, insisting his role in Wafaa isn't everyone's cup of tea

After seeing the intimate pictures of Rajesh Khanna in Wafaa, I wanted to go visit Rajesh Khanna to understand why he accepted such a role.

I just needed to know. And also, for the sake of my mother, who was anguished that her once upon a time favourite hero had stooped to conquer.

I just barged into his sets in Film City, Goregaon, where he was shooting for a Hindi serial, Raghukul Reet Sadaa Chali Aayee and demanded he speak to me. Here are excerpts from my conversation with him...

Tell me about your role in Wafaa?

It has released today... you can go see it! (Smiles)

What motivated you to choose such a role?

What do you mean, motivate? (Pauses) It's a powerful script and a powerful role. It's a dynamic role, which is not every actor's cup of tea and so I chose that role. I know what you really want to ask me.

Okay then, so tell me. What made you do those scenes...
It is a bold script, undoubtedly. It is so bold that the Censor Board has given it a 'U' certificate (laughs).

It received a 'U' certificate after the bold scenes were chopped? As far as I know, it has an 'A' certificate...
I don't think so. I haven't seen the film after the censorship decision. But I've been told that there were very minor cuts. I know you want to ask me I am doing such scenes at this age with a heroine half my age.

Especially after doing 175 films which have been so beautifully oriented in terms of characterisation, in story matter, lyrics and songs. You would want to know that if in the song Roop Tera Mastana (Aradhana) the hero doesn't even touch the heroine, and yet the song had romance as well as sex, why I have done this?
Exactly...

My answer is because the subject demanded it and I'm sure once you see the movie, you will know and understand and will agree that it is justified. I will say that the romantic scenes are not Bollywood, but Hollywood. I'm brave enough to say that to own up to it. I am not at all shy or even reluctant to say this: I am proud of those scenes because behind those scenes there is a story. I am not a fool that at this age, given what I am today, I will do a Hollywood style romance with an actress half my age. I am a very sensible guy. I have my head on my shoulders. I have no dearth of films.

Your fans are very disappointed.

Seeing the photographs and trying to judge and pass judgment is not justified. It is no justice done to Mr Rajesh Khanna because I would not do a thing that would bring me dishonour, or be below my dignity. All my films are not like this. I have not done it in 175 films, why will I do it now??? The story demanded it. The subject demanded it. It is a very new kind of subject, and so I went for it. When one sees the photographs it gives you a wrong impression but when you see it in the film, it gives you an impression that it had to be this way! And it is not done deliberately or to attract audience into the theatre. That's the publicity or game plan of the producer or the director and not the actor! When my fans see the film, they will write in to say they got the wrong impression from the photographs.

What reactions have you received since the photos were published?

We do our role and go away. We are not forced in to it. There is grace in every scene. There is dignity in every scene. Other wise Rajesh Khanna is not game. I went from being an actor to a star, and then a superstar. My audience has made me who I am. I have their love and affection and I don't want to lose that.

Your co-star Laila Khan says you treated her like a daughter, was it difficult to do intimate scenes with her?

No. Laila might have said that but I don't say that. It is not a father-daughter relationship. It is two friends who could happen to be of a different age group but we are friends, we are colleagues and she is my heroine and the only difference is the age barrier.

Laila might have said that but I don't say that. It is not a father daughter relationship. It is two friends who could happen to be of a different age group but we are friends, we are colleagues and she is my heroine; the only difference is the age barrier

I am not at all shy or not even reluctant to say this: I'm proud of those scenes because behind those scenes, there is a story. I am not a fool that at this age, given what I am today, I will do a Hollywood style romance with an actress half my age

It's a powerful script and a powerful role. It's dynamic and isn't every actor's cup of tea and so I chose that role Rajesh Khanna

http://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/2008/dec/201208-Rajesh-Khanna-Raghukul-Reet-Wafaa-Film-City-Roop-Tera-Mastana-Bollywood.htm

Super Star Rajesh Khanna's Wafaa at Box Office

After going through the long interview of Kaka on 20.12.2008, it seems that media is highlighting some bold scenes of Wafa in an exaggarated manner. There are other factors as well in this film,such as performance of Kaka, his most dynamic and perfect characterization as Multimillionaire of Thailand and he looks really most handsome and glamorous in the role, especially in the song of Tere Bagair... . But strange the media only creating nonsense about some bed scenes and kissing scenes. First of all we should look after that upto what extent these scenes are present in the main film. As per Kaka versions it has given a U certificate. So if this is true, then there is no question of controversial scenes.

SUPER STAR RAJESH KHANNA'S BIRTHDAY ON 29TH DECEMBER, 2008

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SUPER STAR RAJESH KHANNA : An actor par excellence
On his SIXTY SIX birthday on 29th December, 2008, I may highlight some inner capabilities of the GREATEST LIVING LEGEND & THE REAL AND ONLY SUPER STAR OF INDIAN CINEMA as a most refined actor, rather, an actor par excellence, which have experienced for the last four decades through his outstanding performances. These are in addition to his classic facial ex-pressions which emerge effortlessly on his face and the style and arrogance brought by him on the silver screen. The rigorous use of his voice to communicate a character’s lines and express emotion, which he achieved through attention to diction and projection through correct breathing and articulation. It has also achieved by him through the tone and emphasis that an real actor puts on words. Characterization/Physicalisation of a role in order to create a believable character for the audience and to use the acting space appropriately and correctly. Use of gesture to complement the voice, interact with other actors and to bring emphasis to the words in a play, as well as having symbolic meaning.

RAJESH KHANNA - 1987

Posted online: Friday, January 30, 2004 at 0000 hours IST



Rajesh and I are good friends.’ - Anju Mahendru (July ’87).
‘He is the father of my children and a very integral part of my life. He can never be unimportant.’ - Dimple (July ’87).
‘After every quarrel, he would inundate me with gifts as if he was courting me all over again.’ - Tina Munim (August ’87).
Three beautiful women. Three controversial relationships.

Three complex chapters in Khanna’s life. What is it about Rajesh Khanna, that women who loved and lost him cannot be indifferent to the memory? Why is it that they drag their pasts into the present and discuss him when he’s no more a part of their life? We decided to question the women. Persuading them to talk wasn’t easy. If Anju Mahendru was unsure, Dimple was hesitant and Tina tight-lipped. ‘I’m not sure if it’s right to discuss him,’ said Anju, sitting in her plush bungalow in Juhu and swallowing an aspirin to recover from a throbbing headache. ‘It’s a controversial subject...’ remarked Dimple in-between shots during a late night shooting of a Rajkumar Kohli film. ‘What can I say? Anyway, how will it help...?’ asked a reticent Tina when I contacted her over the phone one Sunday.

I spend long hours with the three women before they were willing to journey into their past and tell a strange story of half-forgotten truths. We flip back the pages of this still-open book to understand the mystique of a man called Rajesh Khanna...

Anju Mahendru: Just one month after Rajesh Khanna left her to marry Dimple Kapadia, Anju called up the ‘Naaz’ theatre to check his box-office popularity. This, for a man who led his baraat past her bungalow, only to spite her. Still, erasing his memory is not as easy for Anju. His perverseness was the other side of his generosity. His cruel moods alternated with his gentle nature. Anju was bohemian and sharptongued,- , a contrast to the diplomatic Khanna. Then what made R.K., the conservative raised in a traditional household, fall in love with the bold, independent model-cum-aspiring actress? The differences resulted in conflicts. Taking it as a challenge, R.K. sought to change his girlfriend. Today says Anju:


‘Basically he is a very orthodox man, yet somehow he always gets attracted to ultra modern girls. I know it’s a contradiction, but then Rajesh Khanna is like that. Confusion was a part of our relationship. If I wore a skirt, he’d snap, why don’t you wear a saree? If I wore a saree, he’d wrinkle his nose and say, why are you trying to project a Bhartiya nari look? Things became worse when stardom found Rajesh Khanna. The champagne-and-roses affair was threatened by the very popularity and success the two had dreamt of. Rajesh Khanna, the heartthrob of millions, never got encouragement from the person he most needed - Anju. Unsure of himself, he’d watch the rushes of his films with her, waiting for praise and appreciation. It never came. Instead, criticism was all he got. Anju refused to become another Khanna sycophant. She refused to see him in any other light than how she had always known him.



Says Khanna now, ‘I didn’t expect praise. All I wanted was a nod of approval... A gesture that reassured. But she was always ruthlessly critical. ‘I was critical because that’s how I am,’ explains Anju. ‘If he was bad, I always said so. Why should I have praised him just to keep him happy? There were plenty around to boost his ego. He has always been sensitive to criticism and I’ve always been very frank.’

Rajesh was going through the teething troubles of nouveau success. Anju, as the woman in his life, found herself at sea, coping with him. She was defensive. When Rajesh got back from a shooting schedule, he’d get frantic if Anju wasn’t in the beautiful bungalow he had gifted her. He would call up all her friends to trace her whereabouts. He’d follow her everywhere. ‘If I went somewhere, he’d trail me and ring me up consistently,’ reveals Anju. ‘The world was after me and I was after her,’ says the ex-superstar bitterly today.’ In retrospect, Rajesh sums up his relationship with Anju as one of unequals. ‘I married Dimple on the rebound and Tina was a balm on the wounds inflicted by Dimple.’

Today, 17 years after the unpleasant break up of their seven year live-in- relationship, Anju would rather be friends with Rajesh Khanna, than nurse old grievances. The two have struck a special relationship that only years of knowing each other can bring about. Whether it’s sharing a drink or teasing each other about their current dates, there is an easy camaraderie. Anju and Rajesh have come a long way. Says an embarrassed Anju, ‘When we spoke to each other for the first time after almost 17 years, I admit that both of us felt a bit awkward. I didn’t call him Jatin as I used to in the past and he didn’t call me Nikki. I didn’t call him Kaka either. It would have been too filmi!’

Dimple Kapadia: When Dimple came into Rajesh Khanna’s life, little did she know that she would have to bear the brunt of the casualties in his first affair. The young teen star was swept off her feet when the charming Khanna dramatically threw Rishi Kapoor’s ring into the sea and proposed marriage. From childhood she was roughly jerked into adulthood. The marriage went wrong from the very beginning. Ironically, Dimple’s complaints against Rajesh were similar to Rajesh’s complaints against Anju. ‘Everywhere I went, I was told that I was the most gorgeous woman in the world. But I never got a word of praise from him. It was as if he hadn’t noticed me.’

Three beautiful women. Three controversial relationships. Three complex characters in Khanna’s life. What is it about Rajesh Khanna, that women who loved and lost him cannot be indifferent to the memory
Vulnerable and eager for reaction, Dimple was so awestruck by her superstar husband, that she was totally subjugated and robbed of the confidence to behave in a natural manner. She wore what he liked - sarees, and mixed with the people he approved of - his chamchas. It was always his approval that mattered. Says Dimple, ‘I was always waiting for some reaction, but it never came. All my energy was spent in doing what he wanted and anticipating his approval. It was like climbing a ladder. No matter how fast I climbed, he was still many rungs ahead.’

Things became worse, when Rajesh Khanna’s films started flopping. He became more rigid and withdrew into his shell. If Anju couldn’t cope with his success, Dimple couldn’t cope with his failure. ‘He neither shared his happiness nor his sorrow and I was too frightened of giving him any kind of support. All I could do was wait in attendance just in case he needed me.’ Maybe it’s got something to do with the man that makes women involved with him feel insecure. Maybe in their insecurity, Khanna seeks his security. During her marriage, Dimple’s self-esteem was low. Rajesh Khanna was a strong force to contend with. The truth was that the two married each other for all the wrong reasons. They failed each other in every way. And separation was the only way out.

Today, distance has brought about mutual understanding between the two. When a colleague recently remarked that Dimple had a volatile temper, her separated husband was the first one to defend her. ‘I’ve been told that Dimple uses foul language when she’s in a bad mood. I’ve never experienced this side of her. She is always ladylike and polite when we were together. She was and is a good mother to her daughters. I must give her full marks for that.’

On her part, Dimple acknowledges that Khanna has been a formidable influence on her life. The impressions he has left behind cannot be wiped away. Today, if Dimple remembers the trauma of living in ‘Aashirwad’, she cannot forget the tenderness, either. ‘When he wants to charm you, he always succeeds. He is very generous - both with his purse and his heart. Anyone who comes into close contact with him will vouch for this.’ Life with Rajesh Khanna had its highs and lows. When Saagar was released two years ago, Dimple said, ‘I would have loved to have someone to share Saagar with. On second thoughts, if Mr. Khanna had been around, there would probably be no Saagar! He would never have allowed me to act in films. But when my first film flopped, I did miss Kaka.’

http://www.screenindia.com/old/fullstory.php?content_id=7148

Super Star Rajesh Khanna in Serial " RAGHUKUL REET SADA CHALT AAY":

VETERAN STAR ACTOR RAJESH KHANNA AGAIN WILL BE APPEAR ON SMALL SCREEN AFTER A LONGH GAP. MEGA T V SERIAL " RAGHUKUL REET SADA CHALI AAYI " IN WHICH HE PLAYS HEAD OF A BIG FAMMILY. THIS SOAP WILL BE AIR ON D D 1, FROM 20TH NOV. 2008. RAJESH KHANNA AND THE ENTIRE TEAM OF ABOVE SERIAL WERE PRESENT FOR THE PRESS CONFERENCE ON 14 / 11 / 08IN MUMBAI

.

PHOTOS SHOWS ON THE OCCASION

1) RAJESH KHANNA ADDRESSING THE PRESS.
2) WRITER ACHALA NAGAR WITH HER SON PRODUCER- DIRECTOR SIDDHARTH
NAGAR AND RAJESH KHANNA.
3) ACTRESS JAYA BHATTACHARYA AND RAJESH KHANNA ARE CELEBRATING
LAUNCH WITH CHEERS.
4) RAJESH KHANNA IS SEEN WITH JOURNALISTS VIPUL SHAH, I M PANNU, SUMANT
MISHRA AND BHUPENDRA PATEL. KAKAJI SPENT LONG TIME WITH THESE
JOURNALISTS AT THE SAME EVENT.


http://www.mumbainagaria.com/

Producer GP Sippy Passes Away

On Tuesday night, veteran filmmaker Gopaldas Parmanand Sippy died at his Altamount Road residence after a prolonged illness. He was 93. GP Sippy was cremated in the presence of family and close relatives. Incidentally, no known faces from the film industry were seen at the funeral of the man, who gave the country one of its biggest blockbusters, Sholay.


In a career spanning more than five decades and 18 films, GP Sippy became a household name with Sholay. The film was directed by his son Ramesh Sippy and it is believed that no efforts were spared to create the right effect and ambience. According to trade pundits of that time, close to Rs 3 crore, an unheard of sum in the Seventies, was pumped into the film. Of course, the gamble paid off, and the returns were believed to be almost ten times more than the investment. He entered the world of films in 1955 and set up Sippy Films. He made films like Marine Drive, Adle-e-Jahangir. He also produced other memorable films like Shrimati 420, Chandrakanth, Light House, Bhai Behan, Mr India and Andaaz. He faced a financial crisis in the late sixties and early seventies. He had creative differences with Bhappi Soni, who was directing Brahmachari, starring Shammi Kapoor and Rajshree. The film was almost shelved. It affected his next venture, Bandhan, starring Rajesh Khanna and Mumtaz. Dejected, GP Sippy was ready to quit the film business but both the films did well at the box office. That is when he asked his son Ramesh Sippy to quit his studies in London and join his production business. Ramesh Sippy the director was then born with films like Andaaz (1971), starring Rajesh Khanna, Shammi Kapoor and Hema Malini; Seeta Aur Geeta (1972), with Hema Malini in a double role. The father-son duo created a hattrick of sorts at the box office with the success of Sholay in 1975. GP Sippy never could never replicate the success of Sholay, but he continued to produce films like Shaan (1980), Saagar (1985), Pathar Ke Phool (1991), Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman (1992), Aatish (1992), Zamana Deewana (1985) and Hamesha (1997).

http://in.movies.yahoo.com/news-detail/15840/Sholay-Producer-GP-Sippy-Passes-Away.html

Super Star Rajesh Khanna has come back

By glamsham
Monday Nov 10 3:46 PM

Joginder Tuteja, Bollywood Trade News Network

One look at the promo of WAFAA and the immediate thought that comes to the mind is and#150; Rajesh Khanna has truly lost it! Otherwise how else could one believe that the man who ruled the late 60s and early 70s could stoop down to working in a film which kick starts its promotion in a manner akin to that of a C Grade sex potboiler.

Directed by Rakesh Sawant, brother of Rakhi Sawant, WAFAA indeed looks like the one if the first look of the film is anything to go by. A sleaze fest in the making all the way, the movie showcases Rajesh Khanna as a multi millionaire who comes in close proximity of a sexand#150;starved airhostess (played by Saana Khan, import from Pakistan) who is desperate to marry him only for his wealth.

Nothing wrong with the theme; after all one has seen countless films and TV serials with a theme like this. What is astonishing though is the manner in which the subject seems to have been treated. While Amitabh Bachchan's tryst with a girl much younger than him was treated in a classy manner by Ram Gopal Varma in NISHABD, WAFAA looks like the kind of film which used to be screened in morning shows in the times when single screens ruled before the advent of multiplexes.

Even though Rajesh Khanna has claimed that after acting in over 170 movies, he doesn't need to do a film which has vulgarity as its theme, his director Rakesh Sawant seems to be thinking otherwise, especially with his portrayal of Khanna and Saana in the film.

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http://in.movies.yahoo.com/news-detail.html?news_id=37742

Comparisons in bollywood

Comparisons in bollywood have always existed, be it singers, actors, directors or even musicians, comparisons has always been a hot topic over mugs of coffee. In the black and white era, people compared Madhubala with Nargis, Kishore Kumar with Dilip Kumar; in the Eastman colour age, it was Rajesh khanna with Amitabh Bacchan , Mithun chakraborty with Jackie Shroff, Rekha with Hema Malini, Sridevi with Juhi… the list goes on. These days the argument is rife over who is the hottest babe in bollywood - Kareena Kapoor or Katrina Kaif ?

Bebo as Kareena Kapoor is lovingly known as, stepped into bollywood at a very early age with Refugee. Playing a simple bangladeshi girl sans make-up and the razzmatazz, she delivered a strong performance. On the other hand Kat’s started her career with BOOM — which went bust the moment it entered the theatres. But this is where their journey started; Bebo’s Poo character in K3G was the kick start for her success. And Kat’s Namastey London bought her all success.

Kareena has had her share of media space having been earlier linked to Shahid Kapur and now to Saif Ali Khan. Coming from the kapoor background also helped her establish her some anchor within the industry. Katrina Kaif, has been linked to Salman Khan and has had a series of box office hits to talk about (not sure if she can be given credit for it), her onscreen chemistry with Akshay Kumar is commendable and loved by many across the world.

My personal choice would be Kareena. She has come a long way since Refugee, having delivered some memorable roles coupled with strong acting skills as seen in Chameli and Jab we met. I still cannot forget the outstanding dialogue delivery from jab we met “Bachpan se hi na, mujhe shaadi karne ka bada shauk hai By God” & “Sikhni hoon main Batinda ki“, & “Ab toh mera haath chodo, itni bhi sundar nahi hoon“. Katrina is all glamour and her biggest plus is the exceptional wow factor that she brings in front of the camera, her acting skills, however, leaves much to be desired for, particularly her linguistic shortcomings has ensured that she gets to smile more than talk or emote onscreen.

http://www.zorsebol.com/movies/bebo-or-kats-who-wins-the-cat-race-in-bolloywood/

Interview of Akshay Kumar son-in-law of Super Star Rajesh Khanna

Monday, December 03, 2007

Interview with Akshay Kumar
My guest this week is the lone man standing in the way of the total condemnation of Hindi cinema. No, he's not a Bachchan or a Roshan. He's Akshay Kumar.Akshay: Thank you, Sir.

It's marvellous to have you on Walk the Talk. You're one of the most popular actors among young people, women, grown-ups, and even old people.Akshay: Am I? Thank you very much. I feel very nice about that.

And you are the most fun star.Akshay: Yes, I like doing fun stuff. I like doing things that people enjoy. I love entertaining people. Actually, I didn't realise that. Some of my directors made me realise that I like doing comedy and entertaining people. So I started doing it. It was great.

You started out being serious. More of a maar-dhaad (kind of hero).Akshay: A lot of action and all that. But then everything started changing, thanks to the media, which said, 'He only does action, he's an actor who is just like furniture.' Actually they were being nice, for when I saw some of my old films, I don't think I was furniture but a furniture showroom. It was quite bad. I wanted to change my image, challenge myself, try to do something different.

We've now caught you on the sets of another fun film.Akshay: Yes, that's "Tashan". I'm shooting for it. Vijay (Krishna Acharya) is the director. It's a great film for me to do.

Your fighting image came naturally, because you had learnt martial arts.Akshay: Yes.

And you had the body.Akshay: Well, I did, because I loved doing martial arts, which I started learning when I was nine or ten. I was learning here in Bombay. I asked my dad if he could send me somewhere to learn. I think at that time Bangkok was one of the cheapest places where you could go and learn martial arts. My uncle was working there, so I got this opportunity to go there and learn Thai boxing.

Did you learn it seriously?Akshay: Yes, yes, absolutely. When I came back, I started classes here. I used to teach people. I used to train children and grown-ups. I always thought of being a martial arts instructor; never did I think I'll be in the entertainment business.

But you had a tough time in Bangkok? Was it a struggle?Akshay: Do you want me to be honest?

Yes.Akshay: No, I didn't have a tough time. It was actually a lot of fun. I used to wake up in the morning, start practising. Then I was a small-time cook there, so I used to cook.

In a restaurant?Akshay: It wasn't even a proper restaurant, Shekhar. It was just a small dhaba, a Thai dhaba, where lots of Indians and Thais used to come.

And you did everything, including washing the dishes?Akshay: Everything, even serving. I used to make food, serve people. Well, life was very good. I used to enjoy it. People used to come there, and the best part was, when Thai women used to come there, they never gave any tip, they used to just peck you, kiss you, and go. That was the biggest tip we used to get. Then I used to learn martial arts in a school that was in a small lane. It had a rope and a small boxing bag. I used to train there. A lot of English people, lots of Australians, we used to train together. There used to be combination fights, we call it kumite, that's hand-to-hand combat, and contact fights and things like that. Lots of time I used to lose a lot of battles with them; they were experts. And the Thais were there . . .

So the Thais are very good at this . . .Akshay: They are very good at Thai boxing. They are excellent. The kind of conditioning they go through is practical. I'd say Thai boxing is very practical in life.

I read somewhere that you had a poster of Sridevi in that dhaba or restaurant.Akshay: I must say you've done your homework. Yes, I did have a poster of Sridevi. At that time there was that movie Tohfa, with Jeetendraji and Sridevi. I forget that song now. She was my hot favourite. We used to start work looking at her, and before sleeping we used to look at her. I never thought I'd work with her. So when I saw her for the first time after I started working (in movies), it was like a flashback from my life coming (alive) in front of me.

Did she look as pretty as the poster?Akshay: Oh yes, much prettier than in the poster. In fact I meet her sometimes at the Marriot gym, when she works out there. Whenever I see her, that's the thing that comes to my mind.

And you've told her about the poster in the dhaba?Akshay: No, I haven't. But she's going to watch your programme and know about it. You've revealed the secret.

You were brought up around eating places and food -- Old Delhi, which is all about food, chana bathura, chaat, jalebi, ghantewala mithai . . .Akshay: There are still places (in Old Delhi) where it's written, 'Nakli ghee sabit karney waley koh Rs 1,001 inaam.' But after coming to this line, it's been five years since I left all that stuff. You can't eat it because you have to, as they say, maintain yourself. Still, when I go there, I make sure that for those five days I enjoy myself, go back to my roots, eat all the stuff, whatever I used to eat.

Then you detox. Who do you have in Old Delhi now, and where?Akshay: My naani lives in Chandni Chowk and refuses to come here. We tried telling her to come here, saying we'll all stay together in Bombay, but she doesn't want to come here. She hates Bombay and she wants to be there in Chandni Chowk.

Tell us a bit about your early days in Chandni Chowk.Akshay: I have great memories. We were 24-25 people staying together in a joint family, all my mamas, mamis, my dad's family. We used to stay together in a small house, not bigger than this bus. People used to say, 'You must be so uncomfortable.' But I think those were my most comfortable days. Not only was I with all of them, but we used to know each other so well. The whole idea was togetherness, and I think the best time of my life was when we were all together.

Tell us about how the break came. In terms of the jubilees, you're like Rajendra Kumar. In terms of personality, you are like Dharmendra.Akshay: Well, I take everything you say as a compliment. I just do films without thinking about the numbers game, not thinking about what they say. I just keep doing my work, that's all.

I'm surprised you say 'games'. Earlier, all your films had names with khiladi in them. How did that happen?Akshay: Well, that's only on screen, nothing else.

It was just a tashan (style)?Akshay: Yes, it was. And it worked.

How did that start?Akshay: It all started when I met Abbas-Mustan and Mr Ratan Jain, the producer of "Khiladi". They told me about this script and they really wanted me to do it. I really liked the script they were talking about. It was a new thing to watch myself on the big screen. And a very big thing, because none of my forefathers had come from this line. For my Mom, Dad, and sister, when I came on screen, it was the biggest thing.

How did the Khiladi mystique start?Akshay: The first "Khiladi" was a hit, so Ratan Jain came up with the idea of "Main Anari, Tu Khiladi", and even that worked. Then Mr Keshu Ramsay took over and he started with "Sabse Bada Khiladi" and that worked. "Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi", that also worked. It's only later that we did one more Khiladi and then stopped. I wanted to get rid of the whole action image.

Now you don't need the Khiladi prop. Now you're a funny guy more than . . .Akshay: No, not a funny guy, Shekhar. I'd say that now I do everything. I'm going back to action. Next year, I'm starting India's biggest action movie. It's called "Chandni Chowk to China". It's going to be like an autobiography -- in a very humorous way, but with lots of action. It's about a guy who started as a cook, goes to China to learn martial arts, and what happens . . .

Tell me a few humorous aspects of your life. We know about your time in a Thai dhaba, and accepting pecks on the cheek for tips.Akshay: I wouldn't remember anything like that off-hand . . .

Does comedy come naturally to you? Or have you had to teach yourself? Are you a funny guy in normal life?Akshay: I'd like to thank Priyadarshan, Raj Kumar Santoshi, and writer Neeraj Vohra. These three guys helped me a lot in trying to tap . . . (humour).

But in normal life are you a funny guy? Do you play pranks on people?Akshay: My friends find me funny. But my wife doesn't find me funny at all. She doesn't think I'm funny at all. So I am a little confused.

And your son?Akshay: My son enjoys my company. He likes to watch my movies. But when it comes to Tom & Jerry, he prefers that more.

Oh, he'll grow up. It would be troublesome if you were watching Tom & Jerry.Akshay: Oh, I love Tom & Jerry. I have grown up watching Tom & Jerry, and that's where I got a lot of ideas for doing action. I think I have learnt a lot from Tom & Jerry. It's surprising, but a lot of my earlier action was copied from Tom & Jerry.

Such as what?Akshay: If you watch "Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi", there were two stunts copied from there.

Can you describe some of them?Akshay: In "Sabse Bada Khiladi", there's a scene in which I'm hanging from a helicopter and then I swoop down and pick up Mohnish Behl off the ground. This is what I saw when Tom puts on wings and comes down and picks up Jerry and he wants to eat him. The eating part I missed out; that I didn't do. So I used to imagine the whole thing and make and adapt the cartoon figures for real life and try and do it.

That's interesting.Akshay: Yes, I've copied a lot of stuff from there.

Can you give us another example?Akshay: In a film called "Khiladi 420", I'm on top of a plane. I could never have imagined somebody could do that, you know, standing on top of a flying plane. I don't know, Shekhar, have you seen that stunt?

No, I haven't.Akshay:
But it was for real.Akshay: It's for real. Really. I've done it. I have footage of it.

Was Tom & Jerry the inspiration for that?Akshay: Absolutely.

How did you pick this up from Tom & Jerry?Akshay: Same thing again. He was standing on top of a plane because Jerry had skates and he wanted to catch Jerry. That's how the whole thing happened. I copied that whole thing.

I hope Tom & Jerry doesn't come up with any more dangerous stunt now.Akshay: I hope they don't charge me for copyright, that's all.

They'll pay you for endorsement. You spend a lot of time with your son?Akshay: Yes.

You have his name tattooed on your back, I read somewhere.Akshay: I have. That was on impulse, really. I was shooting for Hey Baby in Australia. I was missing my son a lot because he was in school and couldn't come there. It had been about 25 days, I was missing him, and I saw a tattoo place. So I just decided that I have to go there. That was a very fatherly impulse. So I went and got it done.

What does he think about it? Does he appreciate it? Or does he think, 'My dad is nuts'?Akshay: Well, he was very excited. When I came back to Bombay, I went to drop him at school and he literally made me remove my shirt so he could show all his friends, 'See, my Dad has my name written on his back.' It was the biggest high for him. It was the biggest high for me, too, to show it to his friends. Yes, he was very excited about it.

Tell me something, you come from a very ordinary background, just like any of us, and then, (you achieved) not just big stardom but you are also wedded into stardom. You are married to Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia's daughter (Twinkle), who herself was a star in her own right. I think that's the greatest star cast for parents-in-law that anyone has ever had. I mean, except for Aishwarya . . .Akshay: Shekhar, when I came here to Bombay, when I started teaching martial arts . . . I'm very lucky to have them as my parents-in-law. I must tell you that when I came here and I wanted to get into movies, I used to struggle at my father-in-law's office. I used to go with my photographs and things like that. At that time he was making a movie, but he had already signed somebody else, and he had promised me he would make another movie for me. I never in my life imagined I would marry his daughter.

Tell me some of your earlier memories of Rajesh Khanna?Akshay: Well, that's the biggest memory I remember. He was very nice to me, very kind to me. I still remember I was very hungry at that time and he had offered me food as well.

You were hungry as in hungry for food, not for work?Akshay: No, no, hungry for food. I mean I was very hungry for work also. I remember eating at his office. I'll never forget that. And when I got married, I would go to his office and I would remember each and every thing. All my memories came back. And I reminded him because he wouldn't remember. I told him I used to come here and struggled here and that at that time I had a moustache. Then I reminded him, and he said, 'Yes.' And he remembered everything after that.

Tell me a little bit about Dimple Kapadia and Rajesh Khanna.Akshay: Well, I'm very close to my mother-in-law. We practically meet every second day because she lives very close to our house in Juhu. Once a month we all get together, even my father-in-law, and we talk, we sit together, we eat our food together. But because of my busy schedule I have not been able to . . .

Do you pull your mother-in-law's leg sometimes?Akshay: No, I can't dare to do that.

Are you scared of her.Akshay: Yes, I'm scared. I'm scared of my wife too.

That's okay, but mom-in-law?Akshay: I'm scared.

Have you seen her movies? Have you seen Bobby?Akshay: Oh yes, I have seen all of them. Yes, I think I have seen all of them.

Do you pull her leg about Bobby?Akshay: No, I have never done that. Too much respect and all that.

Well, what's she like? Tell us a little bit about her.Akshay: Well, she is a great lady, she is a diva, she is beautiful, she is amazing, and she is a great naani to my son. My son is very fond of her and she is everything to my wife, to us, and she is one of the greatest ladies I have ever come across.

And something about Rajesh Khanna.Akshay: Whenever we meet, we call each other buddies. I have a more friendly relationship with him than with my mother-in-law. It's a very friendly kind of relationship and in fact we are having a huge party just next month. We are looking forward to it.

I'm sorry to drag you into this but I can't help it. Do you have any view on how Rajesh Khanna just faded away? You know, he is somebody who, like Amitabh Bacchhan, could have remained a star forever. What happened?Akshay: Well, I don't know what happened. But I do know that nobody could be as big a star as he was.

Once he had an eye-infection and young women all over the country were buying eye-drops and pouring them on the posters.Akshay: Well, I have also heard so many stories about him. I have heard that the moment his white car would come out of the compound, it would become pink because all the girls would make it pink with their lipstick. There are amazingly crazy stories about people cutting their wrists, writing letters with their blood. That's real stardom.

And then he became a recluse?Akshay: I don't know. I have no idea about how it happened, why it happened. I have never gone into it, never spoken about it. Maybe he didn't want to work anymore. I don't know.

I remember the last time I heard from him. He called me when your wife was making her debut. He called me and said, 'Shekharji, can you imagine that my daughter and Dharmendra's son are making their debut together? So can your paper do something special on it?' And I thought, 'Here's a man who comes out of his refuge because he is concerned about his daughter.' It was very touching. Since then, unless you run into him somewhere, you don't hear from him. For someone who has been a star, been in politics, it's very surprising how withdrawn he is.Akshay: I think he is a great person. I have interacted with him and have really enjoyed sitting down and talking to him. But we never speak about films or anything and he has never spoken to me about . . .

Does he enjoy loneliness?Akshay: I don't think he's lonely. He has his people around with him. He enjoys the company of his friends. I don't think he is lonely.

And is he content?Akshay: Yes, he is very content and happy. I have never seen him complaining about anything.

Akshay, you are a man of many talents -- from cooking to serving to martial arts to jumping off planes to fantastic comedy. You're also a singer. You've cut a CD of shabad kirtan, I believe, Gurbani.Akshay: Well, I did that because I felt like doing it. Because it was one thing that was always on my mind. When I used to stay in Chandni Chowk, my grandmother used to take me to the gurdwara. I used to go there to eat kada (prasad). That was the biggest high for me. One particular song they used to play there, Nirgun . . . , remained in my head. So I decided to do this. I just sang one song on that CD and the rest have been sung by Sukhbir's father. They helped me make and compose the song. With their help I could do the whole thing. T-Series helped me out. We made a lot of money and we've given it all to charity. That's how I decided to do it, not that I decided to make it my profession.

From fighting to humour to spirituality -- you are obviously a multi-faceted actor. I believe there will be more twists in your career as you go along.Akshay: Hope it's in the right way.

Absolutely. And we'll see if your talent sort of flowers in more and more areas.Akshay: Thank you very much. I hope everything works out, because I am trying my level best and it's very hard to sustain yourself in this line because there are so many talents, so many new comers. To maintain your own status is the hardest job.

Yes, and to be Akshay Kumar is the toughest thing after stardom, isn't it?Akshay: I don't know about that.

Thank you very much, Akshay.

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Hip and Happening - Super Star Rajesh Khanna & Amitab Bachchan

Hip and Happening

Delhi Diary by Seema Sirohihi Diary by Seema Sirohi
Magazine 14 May 2001

ONCE upon a time, it was derided as an overgrown village teeming with dour bureaucrats and obese politicians. The very idea of living in Delhi was deemed a burden by those "fortunate" enough to be living in India's only true metro where local trains worked and the "dabbawallahs" created management history. Or so they thought. Bombay vs Delhi arguments with visiting relatives raged over the dinner table. It was a bit like the Rajesh Khanna vs Amitabh Bachchan divide—passionate and unbridgeable.
Today Delhi seems so "happening" with its aggressive money flaunting, blatant building sprees, loud billboard culture and breathless designer parties that Bombay is paler by comparison. There is a sense of urban renewal in the city—flyovers are sprouting like pimples on a newly adolescent face and there is even talk of cleaning the Yamuna. True, Bombay will always have Bollywood glamour and more underworld money but what they lack is one zippy ingredient—power. Delhi fizzes with money and power and today's bureaucrats are not even afraid of swinging.

http://www.outlookindia.com/diary.asp?fodname=20010514

Bollywood's Rajesh Khanna aims for a second innings

Bollywod star Rajesh Khanna is aiming to make it big in the second innings of his film career.

Starring in Kaash Mere Hote, Khanna hopes the audiences will appreciate his role.

"My role in the film (Kaash Mere Hote) is exceptional and unusual. I hope my audience would bestow me with the same love they gave me in my first innings," says Khanna.

Well-known music director Shravan is the song director of the film.

Kumar Sahil of Ludhiana play's the lead role in the film.

"We call Sahil the Prince of Ludhiana. And, if he becomes tomorrow's superstar, it's not just Ludhiana and Punjab, but the whole country which will be proud of him," said Khanna.

"Punjabis are a hit, and have ruled the Hindi film industry. With their emotions and talent, they have entertained people and made them laugh and cry," he added.

Commenting on the change in Bollywood, Khanna said: "Young directors and technicians with their latest equipment are as good as Hollywood. The only thing missing is the 'soul' in screenplays. I want them to work on good scripts."

Khanna has eight more films in the pipeline, out of which three are near completion and are expected to be released in two months time.

Bollywood's first officially acknowledged `superstar', shot to fame with the 1969 film Aradhana.

In the early 1970s, Khanna appeared in many romantic films and melodramas, where he was often paired with Mumtaz or Sharmila Tagore. Some of his most successful films in this period included Anand (1970), Amar Prem (1971), Andaaz (1971), Bawarchi (1972), Daag (1973) and Namak Haraam (1973).

Khanna recently appeared in Aa Ab Laut Chalen (1999), Kyaa Dil Ne Kahaa (2002) and Jana (2006)