On this solemn day, we honour the legendary actor Rajesh Khanna, who graced the silver screen with his enigmatic presence, charisma, and talent. As we commemorate the anniversary of his death, it's an opportune time to recall his remarkable contributions to Indian cinema and his lasting legacy. The first Superstar of Bollywood, Rajesh Khanna, is still very much loved by millions of people all over the world.
Born on December 29, 1942, in Amritsar, Punjab, Rajesh Khanna began his acting career in the late 1960s. With his captivating charm, distinctive style, and intense on-screen performances, he quickly gained unprecedented fame. The 1969 film Aradhana was his breakthrough film, where he portrayed a double role and won audiences' hearts with his captivating presence.
Rajesh Khanna's legendary success can be credited to his prowess in bringing romance to the big screen. He was the visual of romance with his wide, expressive eyes, contagious smile, and effortless expression of emotions. His versatility as an actor was demonstrated in films like Kati Patang, Amar Prem, and Daag: A Poem of Love, solidifying him as the utmost romantic symbol of his time. Rajesh Khanna became a sensation never before seen in Indian cinema because of his distinct romantic acting style, which inspired a brand-new wave of adulation among his fans.
The legacy of Rajesh Khanna goes well beyond his films. He had a significant influence on Indian popular culture, and his admirers still hold him in the highest regard. He created a path for other actors to follow, leaving a lasting impression on the business. We are reminded of the strength of genuine talent and the enduring attraction of a celebrity by Rajesh Khanna's presence on film and the enchantment he created.
Here are some of his movies in which we fell in love with his nuanced acting skills and his charisma.
Director: Shakti Samanta
Cast: Rajesh Khanna, Sharmila Tagore, Farida Jalal
First up on our list is the ever-classic Aradhana. The movie perfectly captures Arun Verma and Vandana's romance with songs like Kora Kagaz Tha Ye Man Mera, Roop Tera Mastana and Mere Sapno Ki Rani. There are also many themes discussed in the movie, including motherhood, pregnancy before marriage, and others. The film tells the story of Vandana Tripathi falling in love with Arun Varma. However, after Arun’s death in a car crash, Vandana is forced to become a single mother to their son.
The movie expertly conveys the essence of melodrama, romanticism, and emotional depth. In Aradhana, Rajesh Khanna portrays the role of both Sharmila Tagore's lover and her son.
Rajesh Khanna's enthralling screen presence and contagious charm struck a profound chord with the audience. He brought the characters of Arun and Suraj to life with his speech delivery, distinctive mannerisms, and ability to portray emotions with conviction.
Director: Shakti Samanta
Cast: Rajesh Khanna, Sharmila Tagore
In the movie Amar Prem, Rajesh Khanna played the role of Anand Babu, a lonely man who develops a close relationship with Pushpa, a courtesan (Sharmila Tagore). Anand and Pushpa's relationship surpasses social conventions and expectations, despite the censure of society. Rajesh Khanna garnered acclaim for his portrayal of a complicated character in Amar Prem and received numerous compliments for his performance. The film is known for its soulful score by R.D. Burman, which features the timeless classic Chingari Koi Bhadke sung by Kishore Kumar.
Director: Hrishikesh Mukherjee
Cast: Rajesh Khanna, Jaya Bhaduri, Asrani, Harindranath Chattopadhyay, A.K. Hangal, Durga Khote, Manisha, Kali Banerjee, Usha Kiran and Raju Shrestha.
Rajesh Khanna portrays the role of Raghu in the film Bawarchi. Raghu is a humorous and talented cook who is recruited by a dysfunctional joint family to restore happiness and tranquillity to their life. The main emphasis of the movie is on Raghu's interactions with the family members and how, through his original strategy and culinary abilities, he manages to resolve their issues.
Director: Hrishikesh Mukherjee
Cast: Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Sumita Sanyal, Ramesh Deo and Seema Deo
Considered one of his most iconic performances, Rajesh Khanna in Anand portrays the role of a terminally ill cancer patient, Anand Sehgal. The story follows Anand and his friendship with a doctor named Dr Bhaskar Banerjee. Despite his disease, Anand has a zeal for life that inspires and changes everybody he meets. Both critics and audiences praised Rajesh Khanna's portrayal of Anand. He perfectly captured the essence of Anand's contagious energy by bringing a great deal of charm, warmth, and sensitivity to the role. The dialogue from the movie, especially the well-known utterance "Babumoshai," became recognisable and is still affectionately recalled by viewers.
Director: Yash Chopra
Cast: Rajesh Khanna, Sharmila Tagore and Raakhee
The movie chronicles a young man named Sunil falls in love with Sonia and they get married. While on their honeymoon, they stay at Sunil's boss's bungalow due to bad weather. Sonia is almost assaulted by Sunil's boss's son, but Sunil saves her and unintentionally kills the attacker. Sunil is arrested, and sentenced to life imprisonment, but a fatal accident during his transportation frees him. Years later, Sonia, working as a teacher, discovers that Sunil is alive and living under a new identity as Sudhir. He is now married to a wealthy woman named Chandni, whom he married to legitimise her child. However, Sunil now faces a new legal complication of being accused of bigamy.
Critics praised Rajesh Khanna for his portrayal of Sunil, which also demonstrated his acting range. He brought depth and intensity to the role by skillfully capturing the emotional turbulence and struggles that his character experienced.
ALSO READ: Remembering the late Rajesh Khanna
Director: Shakti Samanta
Cast: Rajesh Khanna, Asha Parekh
The plot centres around Madhu, an orphaned woman who flees her arranged marriage for her lover, who turns out to be an infidel and joins up with her friend Poonam, a young widow with a child. Poonam perishes in a train catastrophe that they encounter while traveling. Madhu assumes her identity and rears the child as her own. On her journey to Poonam's in-law's house, Madhu meets Kamal, a forest ranger who turns out to be Madhu's planned groom. Kamal, who is still oblivious to Madhu's true nature, develops feelings for her under the guise of Poonam. Madhu struggles to conceal her secret while safeguarding her new family as her past catches up with her.
ALSO READ: Rajesh Khanna's Top 5 Filmfare Covers
Born on December 29, 1942, in Amritsar, Punjab, Rajesh Khanna began his acting career in the late 1960s. With his captivating charm, distinctive style, and intense on-screen performances, he quickly gained unprecedented fame. The 1969 film Aradhana was his breakthrough film, where he portrayed a double role and won audiences' hearts with his captivating presence.
Rajesh Khanna's legendary success can be credited to his prowess in bringing romance to the big screen. He was the visual of romance with his wide, expressive eyes, contagious smile, and effortless expression of emotions. His versatility as an actor was demonstrated in films like Kati Patang, Amar Prem, and Daag: A Poem of Love, solidifying him as the utmost romantic symbol of his time. Rajesh Khanna became a sensation never before seen in Indian cinema because of his distinct romantic acting style, which inspired a brand-new wave of adulation among his fans.
The legacy of Rajesh Khanna goes well beyond his films. He had a significant influence on Indian popular culture, and his admirers still hold him in the highest regard. He created a path for other actors to follow, leaving a lasting impression on the business. We are reminded of the strength of genuine talent and the enduring attraction of a celebrity by Rajesh Khanna's presence on film and the enchantment he created.
Here are some of his movies in which we fell in love with his nuanced acting skills and his charisma.
Aradhana
Director: Shakti Samanta
Cast: Rajesh Khanna, Sharmila Tagore, Farida Jalal
First up on our list is the ever-classic Aradhana. The movie perfectly captures Arun Verma and Vandana's romance with songs like Kora Kagaz Tha Ye Man Mera, Roop Tera Mastana and Mere Sapno Ki Rani. There are also many themes discussed in the movie, including motherhood, pregnancy before marriage, and others. The film tells the story of Vandana Tripathi falling in love with Arun Varma. However, after Arun’s death in a car crash, Vandana is forced to become a single mother to their son.
The movie expertly conveys the essence of melodrama, romanticism, and emotional depth. In Aradhana, Rajesh Khanna portrays the role of both Sharmila Tagore's lover and her son.
Rajesh Khanna's enthralling screen presence and contagious charm struck a profound chord with the audience. He brought the characters of Arun and Suraj to life with his speech delivery, distinctive mannerisms, and ability to portray emotions with conviction.
Amar Prem
Director: Shakti Samanta
Cast: Rajesh Khanna, Sharmila Tagore
In the movie Amar Prem, Rajesh Khanna played the role of Anand Babu, a lonely man who develops a close relationship with Pushpa, a courtesan (Sharmila Tagore). Anand and Pushpa's relationship surpasses social conventions and expectations, despite the censure of society. Rajesh Khanna garnered acclaim for his portrayal of a complicated character in Amar Prem and received numerous compliments for his performance. The film is known for its soulful score by R.D. Burman, which features the timeless classic Chingari Koi Bhadke sung by Kishore Kumar.
Bawarchi
Director: Hrishikesh Mukherjee
Cast: Rajesh Khanna, Jaya Bhaduri, Asrani, Harindranath Chattopadhyay, A.K. Hangal, Durga Khote, Manisha, Kali Banerjee, Usha Kiran and Raju Shrestha.
Rajesh Khanna portrays the role of Raghu in the film Bawarchi. Raghu is a humorous and talented cook who is recruited by a dysfunctional joint family to restore happiness and tranquillity to their life. The main emphasis of the movie is on Raghu's interactions with the family members and how, through his original strategy and culinary abilities, he manages to resolve their issues.
Anand
Director: Hrishikesh Mukherjee
Cast: Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Sumita Sanyal, Ramesh Deo and Seema Deo
Considered one of his most iconic performances, Rajesh Khanna in Anand portrays the role of a terminally ill cancer patient, Anand Sehgal. The story follows Anand and his friendship with a doctor named Dr Bhaskar Banerjee. Despite his disease, Anand has a zeal for life that inspires and changes everybody he meets. Both critics and audiences praised Rajesh Khanna's portrayal of Anand. He perfectly captured the essence of Anand's contagious energy by bringing a great deal of charm, warmth, and sensitivity to the role. The dialogue from the movie, especially the well-known utterance "Babumoshai," became recognisable and is still affectionately recalled by viewers.
Daag: A Poem of Love
Director: Yash Chopra
Cast: Rajesh Khanna, Sharmila Tagore and Raakhee
The movie chronicles a young man named Sunil falls in love with Sonia and they get married. While on their honeymoon, they stay at Sunil's boss's bungalow due to bad weather. Sonia is almost assaulted by Sunil's boss's son, but Sunil saves her and unintentionally kills the attacker. Sunil is arrested, and sentenced to life imprisonment, but a fatal accident during his transportation frees him. Years later, Sonia, working as a teacher, discovers that Sunil is alive and living under a new identity as Sudhir. He is now married to a wealthy woman named Chandni, whom he married to legitimise her child. However, Sunil now faces a new legal complication of being accused of bigamy.
Critics praised Rajesh Khanna for his portrayal of Sunil, which also demonstrated his acting range. He brought depth and intensity to the role by skillfully capturing the emotional turbulence and struggles that his character experienced.
ALSO READ: Remembering the late Rajesh Khanna
Kati Patang
Director: Shakti Samanta
Cast: Rajesh Khanna, Asha Parekh
The plot centres around Madhu, an orphaned woman who flees her arranged marriage for her lover, who turns out to be an infidel and joins up with her friend Poonam, a young widow with a child. Poonam perishes in a train catastrophe that they encounter while traveling. Madhu assumes her identity and rears the child as her own. On her journey to Poonam's in-law's house, Madhu meets Kamal, a forest ranger who turns out to be Madhu's planned groom. Kamal, who is still oblivious to Madhu's true nature, develops feelings for her under the guise of Poonam. Madhu struggles to conceal her secret while safeguarding her new family as her past catches up with her.
ALSO READ: Rajesh Khanna's Top 5 Filmfare Covers
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