Today marks the birth anniversary of India’s first superstar, Rajesh Khanna, who not only ruled the industry but also the hearts of women. Fondly known as ‘Kaka’ by his fans, Rajesh Khanna’s charisma and popularity knew no bounds. His female fans were so smitten with him that they would write letters to him in blood, marry his photographs, and even fill their mang (the parting in the hair) with the dust from his car.

While everyone was waiting for that one glimpse of the superstar, Khanna had given his heard to actor and fashion designer Anju Mahendru, with whom he was in a live-in relationship for 7 years, between 1966 and1972. But the love story ended after Anju Mahendru rejected Rajesh Khanna’s proposal. In an interview years later, Anju revealed that it was due to compatibility issues. “He is a very orthodox man, yet somehow, is always attracted to ultra-modern girls. Confusion was a part of our relationship. If I wore a skirt, he’d snap, why don’t you wear a sari? If I wore a sari, he’d say, why are you trying to project a Bhartiya nari look?”

A year later, Khanna married Dimple Kapadia. But even that wedding was no less than a Bollywood film. Interestingly, on his wedding day, Rajesh Khanna changed the route of his wedding procession (baraat) to pass by Anju Mahendru’s house.

As we remember Rajesh Khanna on his birth anniversary, we celebrate his life, legacy, and the indelible mark he left on Indian cinema.

Romance Rekindled

Rajesh and Anju parted ways and never reconnected until few days before Rajesh Khanna’s death. Rajesh Khanna’s best friend Bhupesh Raseen revealed in an interview that Anju was with the love of her life when he passed away.

“Yes, that was the saddest day of my life. I remember Akshay Kumar and I were by his feet and his pulse was dipping. Twinkle and Rinke were on his other side. Dimple was near his daughters. Anju Mahendru was also in the house, near the room’s door,” he had shared.