Hindi cinema's first superstar Rajesh Khanna may have passed away in 2012, but his legend continues to thrive, as evidenced by a heartwarming episode of 'Indian Idol'. Veteran actress Asha Parekh and music composer Vishal Dadlani recently graced the show, sharing extraordinary personal memories of the late actor's once-in-a-generation stardom that left audiences thoroughly nostalgic.
Asha Parekh on the Moment She Knew Rajesh Khanna Was a Superstar
When host Harsh Limbachiyaa asked Asha Parekh when she first realized Rajesh Khanna's star power, the veteran actress had a vivid answer. She recalled, "His film became a massive hit overnight, and all the girls went crazy for him. That's when I felt he had become a superstar. About this, I would say that the kind of craze and madness girls had for Rajesh Khanna I had only seen for one other hero, and that was Dev Anand. Girls would faint for him too. Similarly, I heard that people used to kiss Rajesh Khanna's car, and some even married his photographs."
Asha Parekh Recalls 200-300 Girls Storming a Recording Theatre
Pressed for a live memory, Asha Parekh shared an unforgettable incident from the sets of 'Mere Sapno Ki Rani'. She said, "We were shooting, and we had gone to the dubbing theatre for 'Mere Sapno Ki Rani.' It was a small theatre, and around 200-300 girls rushed inside. The moment they saw Rajesh Khanna, everyone went crazy."
About Rajesh Khanna
Widely regarded as Hindi cinema's first-ever superstar, Rajesh Khanna delivered iconic films including 'Anand', 'Aradhana', 'Kati Patang', 'Amar Prem', 'Haathi Mere Saathi', and 'Safar' across a career spanning over six decades. He was married to actress Dimple Kapadia and is survived by daughters Twinkle Khanna and Rinke Khanna. He passed away in 2012, but as this 'Indian Idol' episode makes abundantly clear, his hold on the public imagination has never faded.
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