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NOSTALGIA:

Indrani Medhi Fiction:

CMYK CMYK

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SUNDAY, JULY 15, 2018 Page 7

CMYK NOSTALGIA: CMYK Babumoshai’s legend lives on till eternity (Remembering legendary superstar on his 6th death anniversary on July 18) By Indrani Medhi mantic 'poem on celluloid' which was al- ready a hit. didn't want to ate Rajesh Khanna's stage prow break their hit director-actor combination. ess, who was also known as 'Kaka', But then, the 'Deewar' writers, Salim- Lremains unmatched even today. Javed, insisted on casting Amitabh Coined as the first superstar of Indian Bachchan as the lead. And the rest is his- cinema, he was born as Jatin Khanna from tory. Khanna started getting insecure over Amritsar in Punjab and who went on to time as Big B became gradually popular achieve something that most people can with time. only dream of. His claim to fame was his Khanna enjoyed a lot of popularity, acting career, but he also produced sev- mass appeal and stardom. He won the eral acclaimed films and served as a Mem- Filmfare Award for the best actor three ber of the Indian Parliament. He has left times - for 'Sachaa Jhutha' (1971), 'Anand' 'Bandhan', 'Doli', 'Khamoshi', 'Ittefaq', 'Safar', played a variety of roles - the terminally ill behind a legacy of unforgettable works (1972) and '' (1975). He also '', 'The Train', 'Sachaa Jhutha', Anand, a chef in '', a lonely hus- for his fans to cherish for ages to come. It received the Filmfare Special Guest Ac- 'Aan Milo Sajna', 'Mehboob Ki Mehendi', band in '', a psychiatric patient has been six years since he left us, but we tor Award for 'Anuraag' in 1973. His rise 'Dushman', 'Andaaz' and 'Anand'. Even in 'Khamoshi', a grief-stricken rickshaw- fondly remember Jatin aka Rajesh to fame was meteoric. By the late 80s, his though Rajesh Khanna had a 100 per cent puller in 'Babu', a psychopath in 'Red Rose' Khanna even today and cherish his cel- charm at the box office had waned but it success rate with actress , deliver- and many more. He worked with the best of ebrated works. did not affect his personal charisma. He ing eight blockbuster films with her, Hema the talents of his time, be it directors, ac- Rajesh Khanna was born in 1942 and held a Lok Sabha seat as a Congressman Malini was his heroine the most number of tresses and composers. Directors like Shakti was adopted and raised by Chunnilal from 1992 to 1996. Before joining poli- times. They appeared in 15 films together. Samanta, Yash Chopra, , Khanna and Leelawati Khanna who were tics, one of his last films he performed as It is mention-worthy that the song 'Roop Hrishikesh and Tera Mastana' from Aradhana (1969), star- worked with Khanna. His films' music made ring Rajesh Khanna and , them more memorable, with the trio of com- made history in Hindi cinema as the first poser RD Burman, and single-take song. Khanna himself working together in more In the year 1974, BBC made a film on than 30 films. him, titled 'Bombay Superstar'. He was re- Rajesh Khanna had a great interest in garded as one of the greatest and most in- music and a terrific sense of melody too. fluential actors in the history of Hindi cin- The music of his films are primarily domi- ema. No superstar is complete with his share nated by RD Burman and Laxmikant of super crazy fans and Rajesh Khanna's Pyarelal. Khanna would always request the fans too ranged from the aggressive wrist- music directors to accomodate Kishore slitting variety to the thousands of women Kumar wherever possible. Films by Shakti relatives of his biological parents. His who secretly had a crush on him. Even Samanta with Khanna in the lead, music biological parents were Lala Hiranand rumours about women having married his by RD Burman and lyrics by and Chandrani Khanna. His father photographs emerged at the time when had people swooning. During his Hiranand worked as headmaster of a Khanna was a national craze. superstardom era, Rajesh Khanna controlled the lead hero was 'Swarg', released in 1990. school in Burewala, Pakistan. His foster Films and fashion go hand-in-hand and every aspect of his projects: from director regards 'Swarg' as his parents moved from Lahore to Bombay Rajesh Khanna's 'guru kurtas' are a testi- to co-star and to the music director of his favourite directorial venture. in 1935. Hence, Khanna started living in mony to that. Collared kurtas with rolled- movies. There was only one director who After a prolonged bout of illness, Bombay (now ) with his parents. back sleeves have a Rajesh Khanna stamp could control Khanna and that was Rajesh Khanna bid adieu on 18th July, He attended school with his then friend on them even today. Kaka made his filmy . 2012. Shortly after Kaka's demise, Kapoor, who later took the screen fashion statement spill over in real life too Rajesh Khanna was the highest paid Bollywood actor was name of . Khanna gradually with people on the streets copying his style actor from 1970-79. Rajesh Khanna, the quoted saying, "The word 'superstar' was started taking interest in theatre and plays and fashion. It wasn't just the guru kurtas then superstar, worked with a relatively invented for Rajesh Khanna, and it shall in his school and college days and won forever remain his, and no other's." He also many prizes in inter-college drama com- cited that Khanna's last words were: "Time petitions. In 1962, Khanna played a is up, pack up!" wounded mute soldier in the play 'Andha Kaka's funeral was attended by nearly Yug' and impressed everyone with his nine lakhs people and his fans had come performance so much so, that the chief from places like Surat, Ahmedabad, Cali- guest suggested that he should get into fornia, Singapore and from other foreign films soon. Khanna became a rare new- countries. The whole country grieved and comer who had his own MG Sports Car, mourned the superstar's sad demise. Later, yet struggled to get work in theatre and he was posthumously awarded 's films in the early 1960s. Khanna studied third highest civilian honour, the Padma his first two years in Nowrosjee Wadia Bhushan. In 2013, he was bestowed with College in Pune and later studied in KC the title First Superstar of Indian cinema College, Mumbai. His uncle KK Talwar at the Dadasaheb Phalke Academy changed Khanna's first name to Rajesh Awards. A postage stamp, bearing his like- when he decided to enter films. His friends ness, was also released by India Post in CMYK and his wife called him 'Kaka' (meaning his honour in 2013. On his first death an- baby-faced boy in Punjabi) fondly. with pants but Kaka's safari suits too, popular Amitabh Bachchan in 'Anand' way niversary, a bronze statue of Rajesh Rajesh Khanna's debut film 'Aakhri accessorized with large belts, which took back in 1971 and walked away with all the Khanna was unveiled at Band- Khat' was India's official Oscar entry in him straight to the fashion pages of the praise and awards for his performance, once stand, Mumbai. A chowk (junction) in CMYK 1967 but it didn't make it to the final five yore. A tilt of the head and his signature again pushing his stardom higher. Rajesh Gurgaon has also been named 'Superstar cut. He gave 15 consecutive superhits as hand gestures were all he needed to com- Khanna was Yash Chopra's first choice for Rajesh Khanna Chowk' in his memory. a solo lead hero between 1969 and 1971. plete the look! 'Deewar' (1975). The two had discussed the Indeed, the 'Babumoshai' of Indian cin- The films were 'Aaradhana', 'Do Raaste', Despite his heartthrob status, Khanna project while shooting for 'Daag' - the ro- ema will remain as a legacy forever.

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