One of Indian cinema's first superstars who appeared in 15 consecutive hit films in the course of three years
Rajesh Khanna, who has died aged 69 after a long illness, was Indian cinema's first superstar. At the height of his fame he generated adulation that sometimes verged on mass hysteria and appeared in 15 consecutive hit films over the course of three years.
He first achieved acclaim in Aradhana (Worship, 1969), playing two roles – the husband and grown-up son, both air force pilots, of the established star Sharmila Tagore. Notable among the romantic drama's musical numbers was the sexy Roop Tera Mastana (Your Beauty Is Intoxicating), recorded in a single take, a first for Hindi cinema.
Further highly commercial films followed, including Aan Milo Sajna (Come Meet Me, Beloved, 1970), Kati Patang (Broken Kite, 1970) and Haathi Mera Saathi (Elephant My Partner, 1971). More thought-provoking were Daag (Stain, 1973), dealing with the subject of bigamy, and Anand (1971), in...
Rajesh Khanna, who has died aged 69 after a long illness, was Indian cinema's first superstar. At the height of his fame he generated adulation that sometimes verged on mass hysteria and appeared in 15 consecutive hit films over the course of three years.
He first achieved acclaim in Aradhana (Worship, 1969), playing two roles – the husband and grown-up son, both air force pilots, of the established star Sharmila Tagore. Notable among the romantic drama's musical numbers was the sexy Roop Tera Mastana (Your Beauty Is Intoxicating), recorded in a single take, a first for Hindi cinema.
Further highly commercial films followed, including Aan Milo Sajna (Come Meet Me, Beloved, 1970), Kati Patang (Broken Kite, 1970) and Haathi Mera Saathi (Elephant My Partner, 1971). More thought-provoking were Daag (Stain, 1973), dealing with the subject of bigamy, and Anand (1971), in...
- 7/29/2012
- by Asjad Nazir
- The Guardian - Film News
Long before Shah Rukh wiggled his eyebrows and raised his arms for a hug, and well before Salman built that body, there was the inimitable Rajesh Khanna. If the late 70s were Amitabh Bachchan’s one man industry, then the early 70s were Rajesh’s domain. Truly, the era of the first superstars in Hindi cinema has come to an end when Khanna passed away this past Wednesday.
Often called the Prince of Romance, Khanna offered up a gentler and tender side to romance that is sorely missed in today’s era. Born as Jatin Khanna on December 29th 1942, he was a keen lover of films since an early age. His rise to the top also seems like a struggler’s dream, as he was picked from thousands of applicants from the All India Talent Contest. It’s easy to see why. That twinkle in his eye, the tilted head,...
Often called the Prince of Romance, Khanna offered up a gentler and tender side to romance that is sorely missed in today’s era. Born as Jatin Khanna on December 29th 1942, he was a keen lover of films since an early age. His rise to the top also seems like a struggler’s dream, as he was picked from thousands of applicants from the All India Talent Contest. It’s easy to see why. That twinkle in his eye, the tilted head,...
- 7/21/2012
- by Rumnique Nannar
- Bollyspice
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