Latest news with #DarkStar:TheLonelinessofBeingRajeshKhanna
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- 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.
Time of India
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Rajesh Khanna's last wish remained unfulfilled; When 64 suitcases were discovered at Ashirwad post his death; Read in details
India's first superstar, Rajesh Khanna , spent his final days not basking in fame but in quiet solitude. Despite a career filled with applause, his last moments revealed a man deeply introspective. He was heartbroken over dreams that never saw the light of day. Lonely in stardom: The man behind the icon As revealed in Gautam Chintamani's biography 'Dark Star: The Loneliness of Being Rajesh Khanna', his inner world was far removed from the glitter of stardom. One of the most haunting discoveries after his death in 2012 was the presence of 64 unopened suitcases at his iconic Mumbai home, Aashirwaad , each filled with gifts he had collected during foreign trips, meant for friends and loved ones, but never delivered. A complicated marriage; A silent, unspoken bond His marriage to actress Dimple Kapadia was another chapter filled with both love and turbulence. He was married in 1973, when Dimple was just 16. The couple's relationship quickly frayed. All of it happened due to the weight of fame, personal struggles, and Rajesh Khanna's emotional volatility. They separated in the 1980s but never divorced. Despite the distance, Dimple stood by him during his final days, caring for him as he battled a long-term illness, reportedly cancer. Aashirwaad was his temple; A museum that never happened One of the greatest regrets of Rajesh Khanna's life, as revealed by his late-life partner Anita Advani, was that he could never fulfill his dream of turning his beloved bungalow Aashirwaad into a museum. Offers of Rs 150 crore didn't change his mind. The house wasn't just real estate. It was a symbol of his legacy, his heart. Sadly, that dream died with him. The house was eventually demolished, leaving behind only memories and what-ifs. 'Aashirwad' was just a piece of land for Rajesh Khanna's family: Anita Advani
India.com
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
After death of Rajesh Khanna, 64 closed suitcases were found in his home, they were full of..., actor kept crying in his last days because of...
In the twilight of his life, Rajesh Khanna, India's first superstar, revealed a poignant contrast between his public persona and private solitude. Despite a career adorned with adulation and success, his final days were marked by introspection and unfulfilled desires. What was found in those 64 suitcases? Following his death in 2012, a surprising discovery was made at his iconic Mumbai residence, Aashirwaad. Sixty-four unopened suitcases, filled with gifts intended for friends and acquaintances, were found scattered throughout the bungalow. These items, collected during his numerous overseas trips, remained undelivered. Gautam Chintamani's biography, Dark Star: The Loneliness of Being Rajesh Khanna, delves into this aspect of Khanna's life. The book portrays a man who, despite his regal lifestyle and immense popularity, grappled with deep-seated loneliness. How was his marriage life with Dimple Kapadia? Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia's marriage was famously complex. They married in 1973 when Dimple was just 16, shortly before the release of her debut film Bobby, helmed by legendary Late Raj Kapoor. Their relationship quickly became strained due to Rajesh Khanna's dominating personality, mood swings, and his struggle with fame and loneliness. The couple separated in the 1980s but never legally divorced. Despite their separation, Dimple stood by Rajesh during his final days, caring for him during his illness, showing that their bond, though distant, remained emotionally intact. What was the last wish of Rajesh Khanna that remained unfulfilled? During the conversation with Avanti Films, superstar's girlfriend Anita Advani revealed that Rajesh Khanna wished to turn his beloved bungalow, Aashirvaad, into a museum. Despite a Rs 150 crore offer, he refused to sell it, hoping to preserve its legacy. Sadly, after his death, the bungalow was demolished, and his dream remained unfulfilled. For the unversed, Rajesh Khanna and Anita Advani reportedly came into a relationship during the later years of his life, around the early 2000s. Their relationship became public knowledge mostly after he died in 2012, when Anita claimed to have been his live-in partner and expressed emotional and legal concerns regarding his legacy. Rajesh Khanna passed away on 18 July 2012 at the age of 69. He had been battling a prolonged illness, widely believed to be cancer, though the family never officially confirmed the exact nature of his condition.
India Today
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
64 unopened suitcases were found at Rajesh Khanna's home Aashirwaad after his death
Gautam Chintamani's 'Dark Star: The Loneliness of Being Rajesh Khanna' tells the story of the man who was India's first superstar - an icon, yet an enigma. While the book traces Khanna's meteoric rise in the film industry, it also paints him as a mystery - a man who reveled in his stardom and never abandoned his regal lifestyle, even during his excerpt from the book reveals how Khanna loved to splurge during his overseas trips. True to his king-like personality, he often bought gifts for people, but would frequently forget about them after writes in 'Dark Star' that after Khanna's death in 2012, as many as 64 packed suitcases were found at his bungalow, Aashirwaad, carrying gifts he had brought from abroad but never gave away. The excerpt reads:"Every time Khanna made an overseas trip, he returned with gifts. Sometimes he presented them to the people he had picked them up for, and sometimes he forgot about them. Many a times, he didn't even bother opening the suitcases he returned with. After his death, almost 64 unopened suitcases were found strewn across Aashirwaad - quite odd for someone who loved to play the host and lived to regale people he considered close." These unopened suitcases seemed to stand as a testament to Khanna's loneliness or selective companionship. He cherished having people around at his bungalow, often reminiscing about his glory days, his collaborators who were no longer around, and an industry that changed entirely by the book notes:"Rajesh Khanna's loneliness was not something that was locked or hidden from sight. Neither was it a burden left behind by unprecedented fame. As is evidenced by the unopened boxes, it was possibly ingrained deep within him." The author tries to read the symbolism of those unopened suitcases."Locked up in the suitcase of his heart was the need to be alone - something that had always existed. But the world was either too blinded by the radiance of the star or too lost in the darkness surrounding it to notice." Khanna, a superstar like no other, died in Mumbai on July 18, 2012, after a prolonged illness. He is survived by his wife, Dimple Kapadia, and daughters, Twinkle and Rinke Khanna.- EndsMust Watch
Time of India
25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Did you know superstar Rajesh Khanna once got beaten by Mehmood? 'I had worked with stars much bigger'
Rajesh Khanna , the first superstar of Hindi cinema, was also fondly known as Kaka by his fans. The actor who delivered 17 superhit movies back-to-back once got a beating from actor Mehmood. This happened when they worked together on a project. What exactly happened? The Gautam Chintamani-penned biography, Dark Star: The Loneliness of Being Rajesh Khanna, has the episode mentioned in it. The book has addressed the infamous Mehmood-Khanna controversy. According to it, in the mid-1970s, Mehmood approached Rajesh Khanna for a special appearance in 'Ginny and Johnny.' The former loved the way the superstar treated him. As per the biography, they both agreed to shoot the very next day and got it done, without the megastar throwing any tantrums at all. Khanna even denied taking the fees for the cameo. However, Mehmood's experience of working with the actor for the long term was not good. As per the book, the legendary comedian recalled, "I had worked with stars much bigger than Rajesh Khanna." Rajesh Khanna gets a beating from Mehmood In the same book, it was revealed that Mehmood got frustrated with Rajesh Khanna before the film could be finished. Excerpts from the book read that Mehmood even "beat up" Khanna. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Swelling and internal bleeding in the brain, help this baby Donate For Health Donate Now Undo The biography also mentioned that Mehmood later stated that Khanna's downfall was not only because of the attitude but also due to the company he kept. The film was 'Janta Hawaldar,' which was released in 1979. Yogita Bali played the female lead in the film. However, the movie didn't work at the box office. Rajesh Khanna's death Rajesh Khanna passed away on July 18, 2012, at the age of 69. He was fighting a prolonged illness. However, no one confirmed what the illness was. The actor took his last breath at his Carter Road bungalow, Aashirwad, in Mumbai, surrounded by family, including his estranged wife, Dimple Kapadia; daughters Twinkle and Rinke Khanna; and son-in-law, Akshay Kumar .
