'Mera ghar bikwana…'; Rajesh Khanna once refused to sell his 'Aashirwad' bungalow to this actor, even during..., he is…
In Rajesh Khanna's biography, 'Dark Star: The Loneliness of Being Rajesh Khanna', written by Gautam Chintamani, reveals how Bollywood's first superstar bought the magnificent Aashirwad bungalow. But even during his financial crisis, he refused to sell it. Initially, the property was owned by Rajendra Kumar. He then became a jubilee star of the film industry by living in it. His relative was Ramesh Bahl, and he was making a film named 'The Train' with Rajesh Khanna. Interesting story behind Rajesh Khanna's property
One day, Rajesh Khanna was going from Carter Road. When he saw the crowd in front of the bungalow, he asked why there was such a crowd. On this, his driver said that this is Rajendra Kumar's bungalow. That's it, from that day onwards, that bungalow settled in Kakaji's mind. Rajesh Khanna asked Ramesh Bahl to get this bungalow for him somehow. On this, Ramesh Bahl told Rajendra Kumar that there is a lot of noise of vehicles here. People keep coming and going. There is no such thing as privacy; pollution is also very high. There is another bungalow behind this. It is quite big and very peaceful too. In this way, Ramesh Bahl convinced Rajendra Kumar, and then Rajendra Kumar sold that bungalow. Rajesh Khanna took this bungalow from him. Rajesh Khanna named this bungalow Aashirwad. When Rajesh Khanna faced a financial crisis
After the sale of this bungalow, Rajendra Kumar's stardom started fading and Rajesh Khanna's started increasing. Seeing this, Rajendra Kumar also felt that along with the bungalow, his luck also went to Rajesh Khanna. Well, it was in 1999, 2000, and 2001 that Mr Khanna faced financial trouble. He got a notice of one crore, one and a quarter crore rupees from Income Tax. When Salman Khan was interested in buying Rajesh Khanna's property
Meanwhile, one day Rajesh Khanna got a call from Salman Khan. He asked Rumi Jaffery that he had an important work with Rajesh Khanna. Salman Khan requested Rumi to help him purchase Rajesh Khanna's property. It was Sohail Khan who was interested in buying Rajesh Khanna's property. Sohail heard that Rajesh Khanna was selling his bungalow, and he was interested in buying it. Whatever price Rajesh Khanna quoted, Sohail Khan was ready to purchase it. Sohail assured that there will be no negotiation from his side. When Rajesh Khanna came to know about Sohail Khan's plan on buying Aashirwad
Rumi further revealed, 'When Khanna finally spoke, he asked him how he could even think of suggesting such a thing and accused him of stabbing him in his back. 'Kakaji said, 'I consider you a son-in-law aur tu mera ghar bikwana chahta hai… Sadak par lana chahta hai!' I had a tough time explaining that I was merely a postman delivering Sohail Khan's message.'
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Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
THIS actress battled leprosy as a child, delivered Bollywood's biggest romantic hit, married a superstar twice her age, and ended it at 27
Dimple Kapadia's life is a cinematic saga, from battling illness and a surprising Bollywood entry to overnight stardom with 'Bobby.' Her marriage to superstar Rajesh Khanna at a young age led to family life, but cracks appeared, prompting a bold comeback with 'Saagar.' She navigated highs, lows, and reinventions, solidifying her enduring presence in Indian cinema. From battling a childhood illness and being plucked from obscurity by Raj Kapoor , to becoming the face of one of Bollywood's biggest romantic hits and marrying Hindi cinema's first superstar twice her age — Dimple Kapadia 's life has been nothing short of cinematic. Her journey has seen dizzying highs, heartbreaking lows, and fearless reinventions, making her one of the most enduring and intriguing figures in Indian cinema. Dimple's early break in Bollywood Dimple gave her screen test for Bobby when she was just 14 years old. The film was a massive box office success, making her an overnight star. Earlier, while talking to FICCI Flo Jaipur Chapter, Dimple had shared how she landed the role in Bobby. She revealed that her father, Chunnibhai Kapadia, knew many influential people in the film industry, and a 'famous director,' who was 'like a family friend,' had once said something horribly unkind to her. At just 14, Dimple Kapadia gave her screen test for Bobby — the film that would become a box office blockbuster and turn her into an overnight sensation. Speaking at the FICCI Flo Jaipur Chapter, she recalled how she bagged the role. Her father, Chunnibhai Kapadia, was well-connected in the film industry, but one 'famous director,' a family friend, had once made a shockingly unkind remark to her. Battling leprosy and stigma Dimple revealed that at around the age of 12, she was battling leprosy, with visible patches on her elbow. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pierce Brosnan's Wife Lost 120 Pounds - This Is Her Now Undo A well-known director, considered close to her family, made a deeply hurtful remark and even threatened to have her shunned at school. It was the first time she had ever encountered such a word or the stigma attached to it. Dimple shared that her illness unexpectedly paved the way for her Bollywood debut. Raj Kapoor had heard about a beautiful young girl battling leprosy and wanted to meet her. What began as a personal setback soon turned into a life-changing opportunity, as she landed Bobby, marking the most magical phase of her life where every wish seemed to come true. Marrying superstar Rajesh Khanna at 15 At just 15, Dimple made the unconventional choice to marry 30-year-old superstar Rajesh Khanna. A devoted fan of his work, she deeply admired him, and their chance encounter on a flight eventually led her to take the life-changing decision to become his wife. Dimple once shared that her love story with Rajesh Khanna began on a private flight to Ahmedabad for a function. Sitting beside the superstar, she couldn't help but be in awe of him. In a playful moment, she asked if he would hold her hand in the crowd at their destination, and then cheekily added, 'Forever?' That lighthearted exchange marked the start of their journey together. Speaking at the FICCI Flo Jaipur Chapter, Dimple Kapadia confessed that she was so young and influenced by films that she actually believed Rajesh Khanna would sing to her like in his movies. 'When we went to the mountains and there was no song, no breeze, my dream was shattered,' she laughed, calling herself 'naive' for believing in such cinematic romance. Leaving films for family After their marriage, Dimple stepped away from films to focus on her family. The couple had two daughters, Twinkle Khanna and Rinke Khanna . While Rajesh Khanna never explicitly stopped Dimple from acting, he expected her to focus on raising their children rather than pursuing films. At the time of their marriage, Bobby had not yet been released, and he was unaware of her acting potential. Later, he admitted that if he had known how talented she was, he might not have discouraged her from working, as he considered curbing talent to be cruel. However, by the time the film released, their first daughter had already been born. The cracks in Dimple Kapadia's marriage with Rajesh Khanna began to appear in the late 1970s and early 1980s, as his stardom started to fade. With consecutive box-office failures, Khanna struggled to cope with the downturn in his career, and the strain gradually seeped into their relationship. Despite efforts to make it work, Dimple eventually moved out in 1984, leaving the superstar alone in his iconic Mumbai bungalow. Looking back, she admitted she had been too young at the time to fully grasp how deeply his fall from grace was affecting him. In a 1994 interview with Pritish Nandy, Dimple reflected that marrying the superstar had been a mistake, as she was too young to truly understand the responsibilities and realities of marriage. She explained that their personalities were vastly different and that she struggled to comprehend the mindset and behaviour patterns of someone living in the intense spotlight of stardom—something she had never personally experienced. She recalled that period vividly and acknowledged that it had been a deeply traumatic time for her. Making a bold comeback After parting ways with Rajesh Khanna, Dimple returned to the silver screen at 25 with Ramesh Sippy's Saagar, reuniting with her Bobby co-star Rishi Kapoor . The film created quite a buzz, not just for its storyline but also for a swimsuit scene that was seen as bold and unconventional for a mother of two in that era. Rumours of a romance between Dimple and Rishi Kapoor first surfaced after the release of Bobby and resurfaced with renewed intensity following Saagar, fuelled by the duo's on-screen kissing scenes. Since her comeback, Dimple has steadily carved a niche for herself in Indian cinema and continues to stay relevant today, captivating audiences with her powerful performances.
Indian Express
7 hours ago
- Indian Express
Suffering from leprosy as a child, she delivered Bollywood's biggest romantic hit, quit films to marry a man twice her age; walked out of a traumatic marriage at 27
Sometimes, the lives of actors mirror the characters they portray on the big screen, and the journey of this veteran actor is nothing short of a Bollywood film itself. She rose to fame at the young age of 15 after being cast by the legendary Raj Kapoor opposite his son Rishi Kapoor in her debut film Bobby. She went on to marry Rajesh Khanna, one of Hindi cinema's first and biggest superstars, and stepped away from acting to focus on family life — only to make a fearless comeback in a bold new avatar that had all of Bollywood taking notice. Here's the story of Dimple Kapadia's extraordinary life. She recalled, 'I was suffering from leprosy at that time. I was about 12 years old. I had it on my elbow. So this man, turned around and said, 'I'll see that you get ostracised from school'. That was the first time I heard that word. I didn't even know what that meant.' Dimple admitted that her medical condition ultimately led her to meeting Raj Kapoor. 'Raj Kapoor wanted to meet this girl. He was told there is this beautiful girl and she is suffering from leprosy. Out of this kind of a setback, there was a lot to gain and that's how I got Bobby. It was the most fabulous time of my life. Anything that I said or wanted or desired, just happened. It was magical. Absolutely magical,' she said. Despite gaining fame and money at such a young age, Dimple took the unusual step of marrying 30-year-old Rajesh Khanna when she was just 15. She had shared that she was his biggest fan, admired the superstar, and decided to marry him after meeting him in a flight. 'We were going to Ahmedabad on a private flight for a function. He sat next to me. I was looking at him. Rajesh Khanna, I mean come on guys, give me a break. I very chalaak-ly told him, 'Wahan toh bohot crowd hoga, bheed hogi. Aap mera haath pakdoge na? (That place will be very crowded right? Will you hold my hand?)' He said, 'Haan bilkul (Yes, why not).' I replied, 'Hamesha ke liye? (Will you hold my hand forever?)' And the rest is history. It happened,' she had recalled. While talking at FICCI Flo Jaipur Chapter, Dimple admitted she was so naive that she married Rajesh thinking he would sing songs to her like in his films. 'I swear I am not lying, because I was so young. And there was such an impact of the movies. Toh jab mountains pe pohanche aur gaana bhi nahi hua, hawa bhi nahi chali toh meri toh haalat kharab ho gayi (So when we reached on the mountains but there was no song and no gust of wind, I was in a bad state) because my dream was shattered. Because I seriously believed it. I mean how dumb can you get? But well that was me,' she said. After their marriage, Dimple quit acting and focused on her family life. The couple welcomed two daughters, Twinkle Khanna and Rinke Khanna. While Rajesh Khanna didn't explicitly prohibit Dimple from acting, he made it clear he expects her to take care of their children. In a later interview, he had recalled, 'I had no problems about my wife working. But when I married Dimple, I wanted a mother for my children. I didn't want them to be brought up by servants. And I had no idea of Dimple's talent; Bobby was still not released. If I knew at that moment that Bobby would prove her talent, I wouldn't have stopped her. To curb talent is cruel. By the time I saw Bobby our first daughter was already born.' The cracks in Dimple's marriage with Rajesh began to show when the actor's stardom started fading in the late 1970s and early 1980s. His films struggled at the box office, and he found it difficult to cope with the failure. This strain began affecting their marriage. After trying to make the relationship work, Dimple eventually left the superstar alone at his iconic Mumbai bungalow in 1984. She later said that she was too young to understand how the fall from grace was impacting Khanna. In a 1994 interview with Pritish Nandy, Dimple admitted that marrying the yesteryear star was a wrong decision, as she was too young to understand marriage and everything that came with it. 'I think we were two very different kind of people. And I was probably very young to understand what was happening to this man who was a superstar. I mean I have never been able to understand stars and their behaviour pattern at all because I am not one myself. It's very difficult for me to… I couldn't understand it. I just couldn't understand it,' she said. When asked if she remembered that period clearly, she said it was 'very clear.' And when the interviewer asked if 'it was traumatic,' she simply replied, 'Yes it was.' After separating from Rajesh Khanna, Dimple made a comeback to films at the age of 25 with Ramesh Sippy's Saagar, opposite her Bobby co-star Rishi Kapoor. The film became the talk of the town, partly due to a swimsuit scene that was considered daring for a mother of two at the time. Relationship rumours between Dimple and Rishi Kapoor were rampant after Bobby's release and gained traction again after Saagar due to the kissing scenes the two shared in the film. Since her comeback, Dimple has carved a niche for herself in films and continues to remain relevant even today with her powerful performances.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
When Rajesh Khanna tied the knot with Dimple Kapadia, fans who had married his photo wore white to symbolise widowhood: 'Hordes of women were heartbroken'
In 1973, was just 16 years old and poised for a dream debut in Raj Kapoor's 'Bobby opposite Rishi Kapoor. While she attained stardom with the film, life had other plans for her. The actress soon got married to and stopped doing movies. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now As recounted in Bombay Superstar, was unaware of a private conversation between her father and the man who would soon become her husband, Rajesh Khanna. The first public hint came when Khanna himself called his journalist friend Devi in the middle of the night, teasing 'the scoop of the century.' Word of their engagement spread almost instantly. On the wedding day, Khanna made an unannounced visit to his young nephew Rajeev's classroom, sweeping him and his sister away to shop for outfits for the evening ceremony. 'I couldn't believe he was getting married,' Rajeev remembered. 'I kept asking him if it was for real.' The event quickly became the year's biggest social buzz, leaving Khanna's female admirers n dismay. Khanna was called the first superstar of Hindi cinema and one has often heard stories of how his female fans were in awe of him. Some journalists of those times have also witnessed that Khanna's car was filled with lipstick marks as fans would kiss his car. In his biography, 'Dark Star: The Loneliness of Being Rajesh Khanna', author Gautam Chintamani said, 'Hordes of women were left heartbroken. Some of them went into a state of shock while some who had previously 'married' his photographs decided to wear white to symbolise widowhood!' Khanna's aunt, Madhu Talwar, recalled that the wedding unfolded exactly as the superstar envisioned. But reality soon intruded — the honeymoon was delayed so Dimple could complete Bobby. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Khanna had been clear from the start that he wanted a homemaker, not an actress. Dimple agreed, stepping away from her career after her debut. However, there was trouble in their marriage and Dimple admitted to have realised that the day she entered his house. Soon, the duo got separated and Dimple moved out of his house with their daugthers and Rinke. They lived apart but never got legally divorced. Despite their estrangement, Dimple stood by him during his toughest moments — including in 2012, when she was at his side as he lost his battle with cancer.
