Texy Posted July 22, 2012 Posted July 22, 2012 It is considered discourteous to write in negative tones after any person's demise. Never speak ill of the dead, the saying goes. Journalists and writers, however, must remain faithful to their calling and document the truth about Rajesh Khanna before it is drowned in a crescendo of blandishments from publicity-hungry cronies. Rajesh Khanna's worst enemies were the sycophants in his lifetime. They created the destructive genie which lurks within but is kept in leash by most of us. Not so with 'Kaka', as the actor was popularly known. He allowed his ego full play and, at a later date, even rued his lifestyle; but, by then, it was too late. He had alienated his well-meaning lady friends, his old schoolmates, his aides, servants and relatives. Kaka had a mean streak. He used his star power to demolish any opposition. Actress Anju Mahendroo could have much to add to my own story which I wish to share. The time was when Rajesh Khanna was about to get married to Dimple Kapadia after a long-drawn romance with Anju Mahendroo. The latter and her mother had a royal tiff with Khanna before Mahendroo walked out of the home in which she had been a regular. The film industry was with her. What made Kaka furious was the reaction from even his well-wishers. He blamed Mahendroo and her friends for all the negative publicity. My close friend Basu Bhattacharya had just completed his latest film "Daku" featuring Kabir Bedi and Anju Mahendroo. One working print was sent to Delhi by the producer for private screenings. The film came to me for tax exemption as I was the film expert on board the official committee of the Excise Department in the Delhi Administration. "Daku" was based on a novelette written by the famed Punjabi writer Amrita Pritam. The writer did not charge any royalty because she had tremendous regard for Basuda as a film director. The film was issued a tax exemption for a period of one month after its first week's commercial run in Delhi. I had found the film worthy of the exemption. The film, however, was never released. Rajesh Khanna's fierce battle with Mahendroo led him to order the private confiscation of all films in the country featuring her. He even went so far as to declare that he would pay double the cost incurred to all filmmakers with rights over their films in which Anju Mahendroo had a role. He demanded that even lobby prints, posters, trailers and advertisement films et al featuring Mahendroo be handed to him or his representative. He paid for all the material seized. The entire record of Mahendroo's film career to date virtually disappeared. Films already released, like "Road to Sikkim", were withdrawn. The advertisement for a well-known brand of talcum powder endorsed by Mahendroo also disappeared and, of course, there remained no trace of the film "Daku" . Basu Bhattacharya was furious at the turn of events. "Daku" had already got full tax exemption in Punjab and more credit would be forthcoming. Kaka had other ideas. He probably had all the material destroyed. At one time Bhattacharya even contemplated re-shooting "Daku" with a new star cast, but funds were his insurmountable problem. I think "Road To Sikkim" might still be in some private possession as a 16-mm print in eastern India. If it is still around, I would wish for it to re-surface now and its print be sent to the National Film Archives for preservation. Anju Mahendroo deserves to be resurrected. Rajesh Khanna came to Delhi for a charity premiere I had organized for the film "Shakti" in which he played the role of a policeman. At the press meet I asked Kaka about the release of the film "Daku". His reply was that he had not heard of any such film. I told him about the Anju Mahendroo story. Khanna simply stared at me transfixed and expressed the desire to meet me separately, but I decided not to oblige him. From time to time I am asked: Could Rajesh Khanna have been rescued? I do think that Kaka could have been saved from himself. In 1984, Rajesh Khanna's last big hit film "Maqsad" became successful and he was in good spirits. At this time, one of his physician friends could have prevailed upon Kaka to move out of Bombay for an extended period of detoxification and recovery from his problems. Khanna nearly succeeded in 1991. He was asked (by the Congress) to stand in a by-election for the Lok Sabha seat from New Delhi against (the Bharatiya Janata Party's) L.K. Advani . He lost by a whisker. He stood again (because Advani vacated the seat, having also won from Gandhinagar in Gujarat) against Shatrughan Sinha (also of the BJP), and won. But he wasted away his gains due to his wayward behaviour. Rajesh Khanna's worst enemies were his arrogance and self-indulgence. He was a poor listener, always bent upon dominating the lives of his dear and loved ones. He had mood swings and could be very generous to someone at one moment and an utter miser in the next moment. The constant refrain around him touting his superstar image had turned his head and he could no longer lead a proper private life. He became consumed by an overpowering need to be surrounded by fawning flatterers at all times. The entire machination could well have been filmdom's clever strategy to create a counter point against the camps of Dev Anand, the aging Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor. The phantom created by vested interests for public consumption ultimately consumed him. Kaka remained a lonely man. He had numerous affairs with women whom he could not marry. Dimple, foreseeing the ultimate fate of her husband, had left him to himself in his big house Ashirwad, refusing to grant him a divorce. The public never knew much about all this. Rajesh Khanna's last supposed romance was with Devyani Chaubal, a gossip columnist cast in the mould of Hollywood's Hedda Hopper. The Khanna-Chaubal romance ended with her untimely death. In later life Kaka also became a frequent visitor at hospitals for his many ailments caused by his erratic lifestyle. Something had to give and, in his case, it was his weak and thinning body. Aware of Kaka's declining health, Kapadia knew that she would inherit some of his wealth as his surviving widow and share it with her daughters. Her return to Kaka in his last days could be an indication of her foresight. Many like me must feel that she rightfully deserves to inherit Rajesh Khanna's wealth after all the physical abuse she suffered from her superstar egoistic husband during the ten years of their married life. Kaka did not want his illness to be made public nor disclose any information regarding his disease. Even on his deathbed, Kaka reigned over his body, come what may. (The author Gautam Kaul is a film historian.) Quite shocking to read this about Rajesh Khanna. How much truth is there in this article? :hmmm:
India-KXIP fan Posted July 22, 2012 Posted July 22, 2012 If true I don't care that this guy died. But then again article is probably bs like most of these types are.
vvvslaxman Posted July 22, 2012 Posted July 22, 2012 Physical abuse of Dimple? But lot of cynicism in the article.
Lurker Posted July 22, 2012 Posted July 22, 2012 Some of that is definitely true. Although it is perhaps as much due to Rajesh Khanna as it is due to the fact that Indian celebrities are treated so royally it almost gets to them. Didn't Amitabh go completely out of his way to remove Aishwarya's kissing scene with Hrithik a few years back? And that was 2 decades later than when he used to be a Super star! With regards to Mahendroo and Dimple they both knew exactly what they were getting into. Mahendroo's sole claim to fame has been her socialite lifestyle. That she was girlfriend of Gary Sobers & Rajesh Khanna. Thats it. She was a terrible actress and even after break-up with Rajesh Khanna did nothing of note. Without making her sound like a gold-digger she very much landed with Rajesh Khanna because he was the super star of India and every girl wanted him. Dimple was a little different because she had a great start with Bobby and as she would prove later on she was also a terrific actress. But she also made the mistake of marrying Rajesh Khanna when she was way too young. Her relationship souring with RK is not really unique to people who get married very early. As she grew older and RK's charisma and superstardom dwindled the marriage went down the drain. What is true though is that RK was surrounded by a bunch of Yes-Boss kind of guy. He did not take to criticism very easily and as he lost his status to AB it only made him more bitter.
akshayxyz Posted July 22, 2012 Posted July 22, 2012 Nothing surprising. All the 'superstars' have big egos, and live in a shell. even BigB. BigB has been better than others at maintaining a 'humble' public image.
Desi Cartman Posted July 22, 2012 Posted July 22, 2012 I knew something was wrong with this guy when I read that he wanted a grab funeral and wishes to turn his 100+ cr bungalow into a museum. These things indicated that he wanted attention really bad and wants attention even after passing away.
JaFanatic Posted July 23, 2012 Posted July 23, 2012 So he was a phaggot then? Who cares if he died. That's why I really respect guys like SRT' date=' so much fame and money but he remains down to earth and humble.[/quote'] true
Sir john Posted July 23, 2012 Posted July 23, 2012 dumb op instead of paying tributes. Raising brainless question.move head message to op. Everyone have bad nd gud history mind
Rajiv Posted July 23, 2012 Posted July 23, 2012 Surprising no mention of Tina Munim? perhaps too high profile After every quarrel, he would inundate me with gifts as if he was courting me all over again.’- Tina Munim (August ’87). http://www.topix.com/forum/who/rajesh-khanna/T445S4PVDAUDA0T4I
Stuge Posted July 23, 2012 Posted July 23, 2012 Self Destruction started once the "Stardom" went over his head . By the time he could understand ,it was too late for him . I don't know much about his private life nor I care .
achilles Posted July 25, 2012 Posted July 25, 2012 Under the garb of "the media needs to do its duty", the journalist is starting a dangerous trend here.
Sir john Posted July 25, 2012 Posted July 25, 2012 Lock this thread. for god sake.we need to show our tributes not hatredness.
Guest Posted July 26, 2012 Posted July 26, 2012 Lock this thread. for god sake.we need to show our tributes not hatredness. :omg: :omg: :omg:
Laaloo Posted July 26, 2012 Posted July 26, 2012 This article is all very true' date=' though.[/quote'] Sir John line pe aa gaya :cantstop:
Prakat Posted July 27, 2012 Posted July 27, 2012 This article is all very true' date=' though.[/quote'] which mod is this?
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