Rajesh Khanna (29 December 1942 – 18 July 2012) was an Indian actor, producer and politician, remembered as Bollywood’s first superstar. Between 1969 and 1971 he starred in a record run of 15 consecutive hit films, including Aradhana, Anand and Kati Patang, and he inspired a level of fan frenzy never seen before in Indian cinema.
Quick Facts
| Birth name | Jatin Khanna |
| Born | 29 December 1942, Amritsar, Punjab, India |
| Died | 18 July 2012, Mumbai (aged 69) |
| Known as | Kaka; Bollywood’s first superstar |
| Debut | Aakhri Khat (1966) |
| Spouse | Dimple Kapadia (m. 1973) |
| Children | Twinkle Khanna, Rinke Khanna |
| Politics | Congress MP for New Delhi (1992–1996) |
| Honour | Padma Bhushan (2013, posthumous) |
Early Life
Rajesh Khanna was born Jatin Khanna in Amritsar and was raised in Mumbai by relatives who adopted him. He took part in theatre at school and college. In 1965 he won a national talent contest held by Filmfare and United Producers, which opened the door to films.
Career
After a debut in Aakhri Khat (1966), Khanna’s career exploded with Aradhana (1969), whose songs were sung by Kishore Kumar. Between 1969 and 1971 he delivered 15 solo hits in a row, including Do Raaste, Safar, Kati Patang, Haathi Mere Saathi, Anand and Amar Prem. Fans wrote him letters in blood and mobbed his car. He won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for Sachaa Jhutha, Anand and Avishkaar.
From the mid-1970s Khanna’s dominance faded with the rise of Amitabh Bachchan, his co-star in Anand and Namak Haraam, but he continued to deliver hits into the 1980s. He then entered politics and won a 1992 by-election for the New Delhi Lok Sabha seat for the Congress.
Personal Life and Death
In 1973 Khanna married the teenage actress Dimple Kapadia, just before her debut film, Bobby, was released. They had two daughters, Twinkle and Rinke, and later lived apart. Khanna died of cancer at his Mumbai home, Aashirwad, on 18 July 2012.
Selected Filmography
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Rajesh Khanna born?
Rajesh Khanna was born on 29 December 1942 in Amritsar, Punjab, India.
When did Rajesh Khanna die?
Died: 18 July 2012, Mumbai (aged 69).
