Legend he is, Legends never die..

My Tribute:

Zindagi… kaisi hai paheli.. haaye.. kabhi to hasaye, kabhi ye rulaaye.. remember? How the legend picturised this song, in his Anandesque Kurta Payjama, dimple cheeks, elegant hairstyle and charismatic smile with colourful ballons in his hand along the seaside. Yes I am talking about THE Rajesh Khanna.

I remember, I was eight when I saw my Uncle’s black and white photo with belt over his shirt and then tried it in front of the mirror. Even in late 90’s I liked it, tough I could not boast it in front of girls of my class. My uncle told me ‘It’s a Superstars Style, It’s a Superstars sign’ – none other than Rajesh Khanna he was.

I then switched on to his movies. Dad got the 'Video Home System' of ‘Bawarchi’ and I watched it twice that weekend. Born in 90’s I never had the privilege to watch his stardom in real. But what heard of him makes me believe that he was next to God.

There were a whole lot of actors before Kaka came up, there were brilliant actors too but none was crowned with the title ‘Superstar’. If the term ‘Superstar’ was ever coined in Bollywood it was just and the first for him. For some he introduced romance on screen, for some he enjoyed the largest fandom, for some he brought tears with his heart warming performances.

Kaka did his debut in ‘Aakhri Khat’ in 1966 and then from 1969 – 1971 he was the only one to give 15 consecutive solo hits. I wonder if anyone else would have achieved that yet!

There were thousands of crazy females craving for Kaka, many wrote him love letters in blood and many married to his photographs but then Dimple Kapadia was the lady whom Kaka tied the knot with. In 70s and 80s Bollywood gossip columns were full of Khanna’s affairs and khanna’s stardom.

It was pure literature – the dialogues and the songs of Kaka. His verses from Anand have become the most hit dialogues of Bollywood and I still have off pat how I recited the poem ‘Zindagi ek rang manch hai’ in a school play. Kaka was deeply attached and associated with his songs and it’s worth remaining attached. His songs fit in all the phases of life, be it romantic, be it contentment or be it sorrow. You won’t just enjoy the songs but also understand the songs. He was lively and charismatic when he said – “Zindagi badi honi chahiye, lambi nahin”. A deep philosophy which Anand truly lived.

He had such a fandom that in the era of 70s fans came down all the way from Spain to meet him; most unheard occurrence then. However, his last occurrence on TV screen truly justifies his last dialogues ‘mere fans mujhse koi nahi cheen sakta’. He was the epitome of stardom. Reality it is. The trend which he set drove all the stylish males to wear Guru kurta and belts over their shirts.

He was one of his kind and no one ever did and can ever replace him. The way he presented his dialogues with tilted neck, dimple cheeks and his crumpling eyes would make anybody his go crazy for him. Young and veteran – celebrities of all age groups remember Rajesh Khanna as an idol he was.

From a dashing young pilot in Aradhana to an ill humorist in Anand to a determined old man in Avatar, he fits in all roles. And he lived all his roles in over more than 100 flicks. His heart warming performance in Anand would surely get tears in your eyes.

In 1974 BBC made a film on kaka and titled ‘Bombay Superstar’. What else is needed to justify his SuperStardom. Kaka was the lead protagonist in majority of the films he did and they were all big hits of their time. 3 Filmfares and a life time achievement award are less to praise his smartness.

Some major hits by Rajesh Khanna include – Baharon Ke Sapne, Aradhana, Aap Ki Kasam, Kati Patang, Amar Prem, Anand, Bawarchi, Namak Haram and space would be less if I keep on naming them all. His romance in Roop Tera Mastana song was the most romantic scene on screen that time. Lovers kept singing it to their girls.

"time ho gaya hai ! Pack Up !" were his last words as Babumoshai (Amitabh Bachchan) wrote on his blog. Everyone’s voice is choked and eyes are wet. The symbol of excellence he was. He will live on. His style, his Ada can never fade.

Today, everywhere the headlines say – ‘Rajesh Khanna dies’. Has he really?? Anand mara nahin, Anand marte nahin..

Sukesh