Rajesh Khanna - India's First Superstar

On 18th July 2012 the world said farewell to India's first superstar - Rajesh Khanna.  It was very sad to see another one of India's finest actors go.  In his prime, Rajesh Khanna was in a league of his own.  From  the late 60's to the mid 70's he dominated the silver screen like no other.  His aura and style was indeed unique and unmatchable.

Born on 19th December 1942, Jatin Khanna as he was then known started his career as a stage actor.  After some years, upon entering and winning the All India Talent contest he got his first role in Akhri Khat (1966).  However, it wasn't until Aradhana (1969) that Rajesh Khanna started to be referred to as 'superstar'.  Right up until the mid 70's, Rajesh Khanna had success at the box office like no other actor before him.

Clearly without doubt, any person can understand why Rajesh Khanna had such a mass fan following, especially amongst younger female audiences.  He was a very handsome man along with the fact that his mannerisms and personality had this attraction that was never seen before.  On some of his shoots, the crowd would wait hours on end only to get a glimpse of him.  His onscreen pairing with the likes of Mumtaz, Sharmila Tagore, Asha Parekh and Hema Malini created magic.  It is with these four heroines that he worked the most and the films were very successful.

His poised dialogue delivery was so effortless and had a muturity about it.  Some of his famous dialogues include 'O babu mushai', from the film Anand.  After his actual death, the final death scene from the film has an even more deeper emotional feeling.  How about another classic, 'O Pushpa, I hate tears', (Amar Prem).  Sometimes I wonder how nowadays these classic, close-to-the-heart films are no longer made.  He was also very lucky when it came to music.  Nearly all his films boasted great music.  Why wouldn't they if they had R D Burman and Kishore Kumar.  Kishore Kumar did sing for others.  However, arguably his voice best suited Rajesh Khanna more than any other actor.  Together the trio were responsible for some of the most mesmerising songs in indian cinema, whether it be from Amar Prem, Kati Pang, Mere Jeevan Saathi or Agar Tum Na Hote just to name a few.

Rajesh Khanna gave indian cinema a period where the hero was elegant and handsome.  He had a commanding presence both on screen and in the hearts of his audience.  Many would argue that he represented the 'perfect hero' in every aspect.  Whether it be through his looks or how he carried himself.  Today indian cinema should mourn.  They should mourn because a true superstar is no longer with them.  However, they should look back at his films and appreciate his talent, truly he was a rare talent.