8 years after his death, in 2012, Rajesh Khanna continues to be one of Bollywood’s most-loved romantic hero.
Rajesh Khanna was a celebrated star and was touted as the first superstar of Bollywood. Today, July 18, marks the 8th anniversary of his death as he died on this day in 2012. After 8 years of his death today, we celebrate one of Bollywood’s most-loved romantic heroes who was always known for his dashing looks and signature dance moves.
Rajesh Khanna rose to fame with 1969 film Aradhana and went on to star in 14 consecutive hits thereafter. However, even know Rajesh Khanna is known for his charisma and leading ladies from Mumtaz to Hema Malini. Here is a look at his top leading ladies.
1. Rajesh Khanna - Tina Munim's love affair on & off screen
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Rajesh Khanna and Tina Munim worked together for the first time in 1981’s Fiffty Fiffty. The duo went on to become one of Bollywood’s most-reported off-screen love affairs. Reports state that Rajesh Khanna ended up leaving his then-wife, the actress Dimple Kapadia. The duo also starred in Souten (1983) and Alag Alag (1985).
2. Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore's iconic 'Pushpa, I hate tears'
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Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore's chemistry is one for the books. Both actors first set the screen on fire with the famous Roop Tera Mastana song sequence in Aradhana, a film that got Sharmila her first – and only – Filmfare Award for Best Actress. After Aradhana, the duo went on to work in several films such as Safar (1970), Amar Prem (1972), and Daag (1973), making them India’s favourite on-screen couple.
3. Rajesh Khanna-Mumtaz & dancing in the rain
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Mumtaz and Khanna came together in several films, including Do Raaste (1969), Bandhan (1969), Sachaa Jhutha (1970) and Aap Ki Kasam (1974), and were perhaps best known for dancing in the rain in most of their films. For the uninformed, it was rumoured that Mumtaz fell ill after each shoot in the rain and has often described in interviews how her Rajesh Khanna would gently tease her saying, "Phir Mumtaz ko bheega diya, aa gaya na bukhar?" (Got Mumtaz wet again, of course she’s sick).
4. Rajesh Khanna - Hema Malini's 'Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana'
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Hema Malini did the most number of films with Rajesh Khanna including Mehbooba (1976), Dard (1981), and Kudrat which released in 1981 and was Rajesh Khanna's first multi-starrer. They also starred together in their first film which was Andaz (1971) in which Rajesh sang the lively Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana.
5. Rajesh Khanna, Zeenat Aman danced atop train before it got famous
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Rajesh Khanna and Zeenat Aman had also filmed a song atop a train way before Shah Rukh Khan did it in Chhaiyya Chhaiyya for 1998’s Dil Se. Their song Hum Dono Do Premi is a four-minute train sequence in the 1974 film Ajnabee, which saw Rajesh Khanna paired opposite Zeenat for the first time.
