Rajesh Khanna's beginnings
No rise of a Superstar has been as dramatic or as spectacular as that of Rajesh Khanna. From 1969 to 1974, the Rajesh Khanna phenomenon swept Bollywood off its feet and the hysteria he generated was unlike anything seen before and after. And it all began with Shakti Samanta’s ARADHANA (1969), Rajesh Khanna’s first blockbuster hit and after that there was no looking back.
O Kehdo Kehdo Haan Tum Jo KehdoShemaroo
Avtaar Movie Booklet Last PageShemaroo
He delivered 15 consecutive hits, a record that stands unchallenged even today. The ones who experienced his rise reveal that his stardom had to be seen to be believed. He remained every age group’s favourite - be it children, teenagers or college students, their parents or grand-parents.
But his female fan following was amazing and unprecedented. Much has been written about his female fans writing letters in blood and leaving his car with lipstick marks or even about girls who got married to his photograph.
Souten Movie BookletShemaroo
Music remained one of the biggest attractions of all Rajesh Khanna films throughout his career. The BBC made a film on him, titled ‘BOMBAY SUPERSTAR” in 1974, while a textbook prescribed by the Bombay University contained an essay, 'The Charisma of Rajesh Khanna’!
Roti Movie Booklet Last PageShemaroo
Despite a few failures in 1972 & 1973 he still ruled the roost with successful films like “Daag”, “Aap Ki Kasam”, “Namak Haram”, “Roti”, “Prem Nagar” and “Ajanabee”. But he could not stop the emergence of a new hero, “The Angry Young Man” Amitabh Bachchan, after the super success of his film “Zanjeer” (1973). Every hero fell to the Amitabh onslaught and Rajesh Khanna was no exception.
Yeh Jo Public Hai Yeh Sab Jaanti HaiShemaroo
Song: Gore Rang Pe Na ItnaShemaroo
The kind of craze witnessed by Rajesh Khanna has not been duplicated by anyone. While presenting the lifetime achievement award to Rajesh Khanna at an award function, Amitabh Bachchan had rightly said that "The word superstar in the Indian film industry was for the first time coined for Rajesh Khanna”.
Amrit Movie BookletShemaroo
Rajesh Khanna fell sick in 2011 and after battling a prolonged illness, passed away on 18th July, 2012. The entire industry stormed his landmark bungalow “Aashirwad” to pay their last respects.
Time seemed to have rewound to the early 1970s as thousands of his fans braved the heavy rains and joined his funeral procession to give a fitting farewell to “The Original Superstar”.
The thread linking images of the following six films would represent different phases of Rajesh Khanna’s film career
Sachaa Jhutha (1970)
He was bestowed with the title of a ‘Superstar’ after the stupendous success of ‘Aradhana’ (1969) & ‘Do Raaste’ (1970). Directed by Manmohan Desai, ‘Sachaa Jhutha’ (1970) was Rajesh Khanna’s first superhit film after being called a ‘Superstar’.
Yun Hi Tum Mujhse Baat Karti Ho YaShemaroo
Roti (1974)
After witnessing consecutive successes from 1969 to 1971, Rajesh Khanna did witness a few failures in 1972 & 1973. Yet he balanced every flop with several hits till 1974.
Song: Yaar Hamari Baat SunoShemaroo
ROTI served as one of the bright spots of his career at a time when he started experiencing some failures.
Roti Movie Booklet Roti Movie BookletShemaroo
Director Manmohan Desai repeated the hit pair of Rajesh Khanna & Mumtaz after the previous hit “Sachaa Jhutha”.
Chhailla Babu
Rajesh Khanna had a very lean phase from 1975 to 1978 when all his films flopped. CHHAILLA BABU was the only silver lining in this period and a much deserved hit for the Superstar.
Chhailla Babu Movie Booklet Chhailla Babu Movie BookletShemaroo
Zeenat Aman played the romantic lead in a glamorous role opposite Rajesh Khanna.
Song: Yaar Dildar Tujhe Kaisa ChahiyeShemaroo
It was directed by actor Joy Mukherjee who preferred to stay behind the camera.
Film Poster for Movie AvtaarShemaroo
Avtaar (1983)
Rajesh Khanna’s 2nd innings as a leading hero seemed to start in 1979 and lasted till about 1987. He reached his pinnacle again in 1983 with 2 superhits & 1 semi-hit, viz. AVTAAR, SOUTEN & AGAR TUM NA HOTE.
AVTAAR featured his lucky heroine Shabana Azmi and was directed by Mohan Kumar.
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The film found its inspiration from a Sanjeev Kumar – Mala Sinha starrer ZINDAGI (1976) while AVTAAR itself inspired Amitabh Bachchan – Hema Malini starrer BAGHBAN (2003) a decade later.
Song: Chalo Bulawa Aaya HaiShemaroo
Souten (1983)
Saawan Kumar Tak, the master of love triangles took inspiration from Hindu Mythology of Krishna, Rukmini & Radha and made SOUTEN with Rajesh Khanna, Tina Munim & Padmini Kolhapure.
Souten Movie Booklet Souten Movie BookletShemaroo
The film was a big hit because of the terrific chemistry between Khanna & Tina, a sensitive performance by Padmini and terrific music by Usha Khanna.
Zindagi Pyar Ka Geet Hai Ise Har Dil Ko Gaana PadegaShemaroo
Song: Shayad Meri Shaadi Ka KhayalShemaroo
Beautiful locations of Mauritius added to the overall impact of SOUTEN.
Amrit (1986)
Amrit, released in 1986, assumes importance because it is one of the last hits of Superstar Rajesh Khanna in the lead.
Film Poster for the movie AmritShemaroo
Directed by Mohan Kumar, it does have a lot of ‘Avtaar’ hang-over with the main theme centering around senior citizens.
The striking visible change is Smita Patil playing the female lead instead of Avtaar’s Shabana Azmi.
Duniya Mein Kitna Gham Hai (Male)Shemaroo
The song “Duniya Mein Kitna Gham Hai’ contributed considerably to the movie’s success.
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