Bollywood bids farewell to its first superstar: Rajesh Khanna
“Time hogaya hai, Pack up” were the last words of Rajesh Khanna saab before he signed off from this world. To speak the truth, he is an angel (Farishta) who went back to his homeland. Rajesh Khanna passed away yesterday on 18 July 2012. His last rites ceremony started today from 10 Am; with the pyre lit by his grandson Aarav Bhatia, Akshay Kumar’s son. The term “superstar” was for the first time termed for this legendary actor in the film industry in India.
Born on 29 December 1942 as Jatin Khanna, he was brought up by his foster parents. He changed his name to Rajesh Khanna for the sake of films. RK sir was critically ill for the past 1 and half years and admitted in Lilavathi hospital in Mumbai. When he recently returned home after recovering, no one expected that this day will come. The film fraternity and his yesteryear co-stars remembered him and his memories. The grace with which he accepted his end just like the way he did in his film Anand is indeed a golden moment. He left us with a big responsibility of penning down his life history with golden words.
His last rites were attended by many personalities of bollywood with celebrities even expressing their condolences in Twitter. The cause of death is supposedly his cancer and liver failure. He was admitted under Dr. Jagannath, India’s top most cancer specialist in Lilavathi hospital. This exactly replicates the circumstances the star’s death in his super hit film Anand. His last appearance in TV was in Havells Fans commercial in April.
We present here his filmography and dialogues from some of his classic films:
"Ae Babu Moshai, Zindagi aur maut uparwale ke haath hai. Usse na aap badal sakte hain na main" "Anand mara nahin. Anand marte nahi” - Anand
“Yeh bhi toh nahin keh sakta, ki meri umar tujhe lag jaye”! – Anand
“Yeh toh main hi jaanta hoon ki zindagi ke aakhri mod par kitna andhera hai” - Safar
“Kisi badi khushi ke intezaar mein ... hum yeh chote chote khushiyon ke mauke kho dete hain” - Bawarchi
“Yeh lo, phir tumhari aankho main paani! Maine tumse kitni baar kahan hai ki, Pushpa mujhse ye aansu dekhe nahi jaate. I hate tears.” - Amar Prem
“Iss ek glass main ek majdoor ki ek mahine ki roti hai aur parivaar ki saans. Kabhi socha hai ki iss ek glass ko pite hi hum ek parivaar ko bhooka maar dete hai” – Namak Haraam
“Maine Maut ko dekha to nahi par shayad woh bahut Khubsurat hogi. Kambakht jo bhi usse milta hain, Jeena chod deta hain” – Rajesh Khanna
Some of his films are:
Aakhri Khat (1966); Raaz (1967); Aaradhana (1969); Safar (1970); Sacha Jhoota (1970); Kati Patang (1971); Anand (1971); Haathi mere Saathi (1971); Amar Prem (1972); Baawarchi (1972); Mere Jeevan Saathi (1972)
Namak Haram (1973); Avtaar(1983); Hum dono (1985); Aa Ab Laut Chale (1999)