Rajesh Khanna is hale and hearty. The yesteryear superstar has just returned from a good holiday, and with Dimple and family around, seems to be recovering from a recent bout of illness rather well. Says the actor in his typical way, “I am no God. I am a human being made of flesh and blood, so obviously sickness at my age is a given thing. Frankly speaking, I have had a pretty hectic life all these years, but those were also the times of my life that I enjoyed the best. I lived like a king.”
True, he lived life king-size, courting and possessing what’s best around him, acting as lead hero in over 100 films, setting the world of male fashion on fire for a period, and launching new trends for the young and the yuppie crowds of his generation with a rare command and fervour.
Now, things have calmed down, though. The actor says he has turned a teetotaller at the behest of his doctor. Speaking about the change, he says, “This is the first time ever that I have left alcohol.” And one person made this possible is Dimple Kapadia, actress and his better half, off and on, separation, reunion et al. “Yes, Dimple is back in my family. This is the best phase of my family life, I can say. I would not like to discuss more about my family and me. Everything is fine now and I am enjoying every minute of it. My grandson is also very close to me. His antics give me immense joy.”
“I have to confess that I have never been so happy like I am today, at this moment,” says the screen legend flashing his heart-winning, million dollar smile. But talk about his retirement from the world of glitz and glamour and the Anand’s poet insists, “Rajesh Khanna has always been there. Rajesh Khanna has always been an actor and shall be one until his last breath. I am
here to stay.”
The star also gets nostalgic about the good old days: “I definitely get nostalgic about those times. I was known as the Matinee Idol. I was superstar. It was the title given to me by my fans and those who saw me perform. I was the first Indian actor to be called so. Usually this is a title that goes to Hollywood actors. I am grateful to my fans, who bestowed me with this honour. I do agree I made some mistakes. But then, to err is human. I may have been tagged as the ‘superstar’, but in reality I was an ordinary man, who had his moments of strength and weakness too.”
Talk about his not-so-successful stint in politics, and the actor says, “I have never been a whiner or a grumbler. I don’t have any qualms about my experience in politics. I have been the same, and so as a new entrant in politics I tried to adjust myself with the scenario. I had my principles when I was a superstar, which I followed even when I entered politics. I wanted to serve my country and my people. It’s sad that things didn’t turn out as I wanted them to be.”
But Rajesh Khanna, the fighter that he was, never let disappointment get the better of him and made a comeback into films with roles suiting his age.
You see, says the star, “Filmmakers of my time had stopped making films. But I was surprised to see a new generation of filmmakers approaching me, Still offering me a role. I was encouraged by their eagerness and acknowledged some good roles, which I thought would be the right kinds to mark my second innings in the industry.”
That too, however, proved to be a short-lived dream and soon the first Indian superstar disappeared into oblivion, making brief appearances as and when he desired. But, even in his absence, Rajesh Khanna has kept himself abreast with the changes in his beloved industry. This becomes clear when he says, “The innovative techniques, the fresh young directors with exclusively new approach to filmmaking, the corporate world coming into films and the multiplexes have all enhanced the prestige of our films. Sooner or later, these magical changes will bring about a good feed to our audiences. Changes need to be welcomed with open arms and people are appreciating these changes. The film industry is moving forward to a brighter future.”
Yes, Rajesh Khanna is an optimist, still having his date with the good things in life – as he has always been.
Sanskriti Media & Entertainment