Remembering Superstar Rajesh Khanna

Born: 29 December 1942, Amritsar
Died: 18 July 2012, Mumbai
Source:wikipedia
Rajesh Khanna was one of eight finalists in the 1965 All India Talent Contest organized by United Producers and Filmfare from more than 10,000 contestants. Khanna won the contest.
He made his film debut in the 1966 film Aakhri Khat directed by Chetan Anand, followed by Raaz directed by Ravindra Dave both of which were a part of his predetermined prize for winning the All-India United Producers’ Talent Competition. Aakhri Khat was India’s entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 40th Oscar Academy Awards in 1967
Being under contract with United Producers, he got projects like Aurat, Doli and Ittefaq. He was then noticed for his performances in films like Baharon Ke Sapne, Aurat (1967), Doli, Aradhana and Ittefaq. Through Aradhana he rose to "instant national fame" and film critics referred to him as the first superstar of India. In 1971, he acted in Haathi Mere Saathi, which became that year's highest-grossing film and the biggest grosser ever till then.
In 1972, Khanna acted in 11 releases of which 10 became successful, including a guest appearance in Telugu movie called Bangaru Babu directed by V.B. Rajendra Prasad. His Hindi films Dushman, Amar Prem, Apna Desh and Mere Jeevan Saathi, together earned more than Rs.5 crore. His other films of 1972 like Dil Daulat Duniya, Bawarchi, Joroo Ka Ghulam, Shehzada earned more than Rs.4.5 crores. His next release Anuraag was a hit.
In the 1970s, his chemistry with Sharmila Tagore, Mumtaz, Asha Parekh, Zeenat Aman, Tanuja and Hema Malini were also popular with audiences.
He had 17 consecutive hit films as the lead hero from 1969 to 1971 which included 15 solo hero films and 2 non-solo hero films Andaz and Maryada. These were Aradhana, Doli, Bandhan, Ittefaq, Do Raaste, Khamoshi, Safar, The Train, Kati Patang, Sachaa Jhutha, Aan Milo Sajna, Mehboob Ki Mehendi, Choti Bahu, Anand and Haathi Mere Saathi

Between 1976 and 1978, Khanna acted in 5 box office hits and in nine films that were not commercially successful. The change from romantic and social movies to action oriented multi-starrers caused the decline of Khanna's career in terms of box office ratings to some extent. However, Khanna continued basically in solo hero social sober household meaningful films during this era and played a variety of characters in films of various genres. During this phase too he had box office hits like Maha Chor, Chhailla Babu,Anurodh, Karm, Tinku and Bhola Bhala.

After 1978, Khanna starred in critically acclaimed commercially successful films such as Amar Deep, Phir Wohi Raat, Bandish, Thodisi Bewafaii, Dard, Kudrat, Dhanwan, Ashanti , Avtaar, Agar Tum Na Hote, Souten, Jaanwar, Asha Jyoti, Awaaz, Naya Kadam,  Hum Dono, Babu, Aaj Ka M.L.A. Ram Avtar,Shatru,Insaaf Main Karoonga, Anokha Rishta, Nazrana, Angaarey, Adhikar, Amrit, Awam, Rupaye Dus Karod.
Tina Munim and Rajesh Khanna became the leading on and off screen couple of the 80’s with hits like Fiffty Fiffty, Suraag – The Clue, Souten, Aakhir Kyun, Bewafai, Insaaf Main Karoonga and Adhikar.
Khanna performed in successful multi-star films including Rajput, Dharm Aur Qanoon, Paapi Pet Ka Sawaal Hai, Zamana, Dil-E-Nadaan and Ghar Ka Chiraag. He did three movies with Jeetendra: Dharam Kanta, Nishaan and Maqsad. In 1984, Maqsad was the second-highest ranked film in terms of box office results, earning 8.5 crores. In Aaj Ka M.L.A. Ram Avtar, Khanna played the character of a corrupt politician. Viewers praised his role in the film. In 1985 he produced Alag Alag. As per Guardian UK, he had 11 releases as solo lead hero in the year 1985 and eight of them were hits. In 1985, the film Bewafai, with Khanna as the lead hero and Rajnikanth in negative role, released and became a success and grossed Rs 11.95 crore at the box office that year.
 Before joining politics, one of his last films as the lead hero was Swarg released in 1990. David Dhawan regards Swarg as his favourite directorial venture.
From the early nineties, while serving as Congress M.P. from 1991 to 1996, he returned to acting, playing the lead in Khudai (1994), which was about a father and son both falling in love for the same woman. After 1992, he appeared in only 10 films and declined most film offers. He made a comeback as a NRI in Aa Ab Laut Chalen (1999), and Kyaa Dil Ne Kahaa (2002) and played the solo lead in films Sautela Bhai in 1996, Pyar Zindagi Hai in 2001, Kaash Mere Hote in 2009, Wafaa in 2008 and Riyasaat in 2014. He did 4 television serials in the period 2000–2009.
During his career, Khanna played the lead in 74 films that were shown in cinemas for more than 50 continuous weeks, and 22 films that were shown for more than 25 but less than 50 weeks.
In June 2012, it was reported that Rajesh Khanna's health had been deteriorating for some time. He died on 18 July 2012, at his bungalow, Aashirwad, in Mumbai.
Khanna won four Best Actor Awards in the Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards, and received 25 nominations. He won three Filmfare Best Actor Awards, one Filmfare Special Guest Actor Award in 1973, and received a Filmfare Special Award in 1991, after 25 years in the Hindi film industry. He received the Filmfare Life Time Achievement Award at the 50th anniversary Filmfare award ceremony in 2005.