Rajesh Khanna (29 December 1942 – 18 July 2012) was an Indian actor, film producer and politician who worked predominantly in Hindi cinema. Widely regarded as the first superstar of Indian cinema, he had an unprecedented run of consecutive solo box-office hits between 1969 and 1971, a phenomenon often described in the Indian press as "Rajesh Khanna mania". Over a career spanning more than four decades, he appeared in over 160 feature films and won several Filmfare Awards. He was honoured with the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 2013, posthumously.
| Born | Jatin Khanna, 29 December 1942, Amritsar, Punjab, British India |
|---|---|
| Died | 18 July 2012, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Other names | Kaka |
| Occupation | Actor, film producer, politician |
| Years active | 1966–2012 |
| Spouse | Dimple Kapadia (m. 1973; separated 1984) |
| Children | Twinkle Khanna, Rinke Khanna |
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
| Constituency | New Delhi (Lok Sabha), 1992–1996 |
| Notable awards | Filmfare Best Actor Award (3 times); Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (2005); Padma Bhushan (2013, posthumous) |
Rajesh Khanna was born Jatin Khanna in Amritsar to a Punjabi Hindu family. He was raised by his foster parents, Chunnilal Khanna and Leelawati Khanna, who were relatives of his biological parents. He grew up in the Thakurdwar neighbourhood of Girgaon in Mumbai, and was educated at St. Sebastian's Goan High School and later at K. C. College, Mumbai. He developed an interest in theatre during his school and college years and participated in inter-collegiate drama competitions.
In 1965 he was one of the winners of the All India Talent Contest organised by United Producers and Filmfare, an event that brought him into the Hindi film industry.
Khanna made his debut as a lead actor in Aakhri Khat (1966), directed by Chetan Anand, which was India's official entry to the Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category. He followed it with Raaz (1967) and appeared in supporting and lead roles through 1967 and 1968 in films such as Baharon Ke Sapne and Aurat.
Khanna's breakthrough came with Shakti Samanta's Aradhana (1969), opposite Sharmila Tagore, which became one of the highest-grossing Hindi films of the year. Between 1969 and 1971, he delivered a string of consecutive successful solo-hero films, an achievement that remains a benchmark in Hindi cinema. Major releases of this period include Do Raaste (1969), Bandhan (1969), Doli (1969), Sachaa Jhutha (1970), Kati Patang (1970), Safar (1970), Anand (1971), Haathi Mere Saathi (1971), Andaz (1971) and Amar Prem (1971).
His pairing with playback singer Kishore Kumar and music director R. D. Burman produced several enduring hit songs. He was also frequently associated with directors Shakti Samanta and Hrishikesh Mukherjee, and lyricist Anand Bakshi.
Khanna continued to appear in commercially and critically successful films in the 1970s, including Daag (1973), Yash Chopra's directorial venture under Yash Raj Films, Namak Haraam (1973) opposite Amitabh Bachchan, Aap Ki Kasam (1974), Roti (1974), Prem Nagar (1974), Mehbooba (1976), Amar Deep (1979) and Thodisi Bewafaii (1980). The rise of Amitabh Bachchan and the "angry young man" persona shifted the box-office landscape during this decade.
In the 1980s, Khanna remained a leading actor in films such as Kudrat (1981), Dard (1981), Avtaar (1983), Souten (1983) and Agar Tum Na Hote (1983). Through the late 1980s and 1990s, his on-screen appearances became less frequent. He returned occasionally in supporting roles and made a final on-screen appearance in Riyasat (2014), which was released after his death.
Rajesh Khanna joined the Indian National Congress and was elected to the 10th Lok Sabha from the New Delhi constituency in a by-election in 1992, defeating Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Shatrughan Sinha. In the 1991 general election he had narrowly lost the same seat to L. K. Advani. He served as a Member of Parliament until 1996 but did not contest the 1996 general election.
Rajesh Khanna married actress Dimple Kapadia in March 1973, shortly before the release of her debut film Bobby. The couple had two daughters, Twinkle Khanna and Rinke Khanna, both of whom later worked briefly in Hindi films. Twinkle Khanna is married to actor Akshay Kumar. Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia separated in 1984 but remained legally married. His Mumbai bungalow, Aashirwad, located in Bandra, became closely associated with his public image.
Rajesh Khanna died on 18 July 2012 at his Aashirwad bungalow in Mumbai after a period of ill health. He was cremated at Vile Parle crematorium with state honours. In 2013, the Government of India conferred the Padma Bhushan, the country's third-highest civilian honour, on him posthumously.
Rajesh Khanna is credited with redefining the idea of stardom in Hindi cinema. The mass following he attracted at his peak — including frequent reports of crowds outside his home and fan rituals — established a template for the Indian film "superstar" that subsequent actors would be measured against. His romantic on-screen persona, mannerisms, and association with the Kishore Kumar–R. D. Burman musical era shaped a distinct phase of Hindi film music and melodrama in the late 1960s and 1970s.