The Reluctant Star: Rajesh Khanna's Journey to Aradhana
In 1965, a young Rajesh Khanna achieved something remarkable. He won a prestigious talent contest. This victory led to a massive twelve-film contract with United Producers. This powerful group included industry giants like G P Sippy, Shakti Samanta, and B R Chopra. One film in that deal was Aradhana. Ironically, this very project would launch him into superstardom, creating a phenomenon Hindi cinema had never seen before.
"Main Kya Karunga?": Khanna's Initial Refusal
Despite the golden opportunity, Rajesh Khanna felt deeply unconvinced. After hearing the story, he believed the film leaned too heavily toward the female protagonist. He reportedly asked producer-director Shakti Samanta a direct question: "Main kya karunga?" (What will I do?).
In a recent interview with Radio Nasha, Shakti Samanta's son, Ashim Samanta, revisited the film's creation. He revealed that Aradhana came together almost by chance. "Dad was supposed to make a film with Shammi Kapoor," Ashim recalled. "But he had gained weight and asked for six months. At that time, my dad decided to make a new film."
Ashim explained that writer Sachin Bhowmik had narrated the story to his father nearly a decade earlier. The fact that Shakti Samanta still remembered it made him feel it was truly special. Rajesh Khanna was already under contract with United Producers, so he was a natural consideration.
The Casting That Almost Wasn't
Shakti Samanta finalized Rajesh Khanna after a recommendation. He called director Nasir Husain, who was making Baharon Ke Sapne. Samanta asked to see one reel of film featuring Khanna. After watching it, he liked the young actor and signed him for the role.
However, Khanna's doubts persisted. "He was not willing to do the film," Ashim stated clearly. "He did it only because he was bound by the United Producers contract. Otherwise, he wouldn't have." Shakti Samanta had to persuade him, telling the reluctant actor, "You do this, it will become a hit."
Overnight Transformation at the Premiere
Ashim Samanta provided a vivid account of the film's charity premiere in Delhi. Jagjivan Ram attended as the chief guest. At the start, Rajesh Khanna was a newcomer who attracted little attention. "Nobody was interested in him," Ashim said. "People were only interested in Sharmila Tagore and the songs."
Then came a dramatic shift. "By interval, they had all become fans," Ashim recalled. "And by the time the film ended, Rajesh Khanna had already become a star. The entire crowd surrounded him, asking for autographs." Indifference had turned into adoration within a single screening.
Last-Minute Troubles and Creative Solutions
The production faced a significant hurdle during the shooting of the iconic song Mere Sapno Ki Rani. Ashim revealed that Sharmila Tagore cancelled the shoot at the very last minute. She explained that legendary director Satyajit Ray had called her, and she felt she couldn't refuse him.
"Dad got really angry but couldn't do anything," Ashim shared. Undeterred, Shakti Samanta proceeded with the shoot. He filmed most of the song using Rajesh Khanna and actor Sujit Kumar. Later, the team built an outdoor compartment set. They shot Sharmila Tagore's close-ups separately and integrated them into the final sequence.
Juggling Commitments: Sharmila Tagore's Perspective
Sharmila Tagore later addressed the scheduling conflict in an interview. She explained that Satyajit Ray had asked her to work on his film for one month in May. Without thinking, she immediately said yes. She then realized she was already committed to Shakti Samanta for Mere Sapno Ki Rani during that same period.
Tagore highlighted the immense pressure surrounding Rajesh Khanna's dates. "Rajesh Khanna had won a talent contest and was indebted to twelve producers," she said. "His dates were very precious." She managed to negotiate, finished her work with Satyajit Ray, and then returned to complete the song for Aradhana.
The Legacy of a Reluctant Hit
What began with hesitation, creative compromises, and near-misses culminated in Aradhana. This film did far more than make Rajesh Khanna a star. It fundamentally rewrote the very idea of stardom in Hindi cinema. The journey from a reluctant actor asking "Main kya karunga?" to a premiere where crowds mobbed him for autographs remains one of Bollywood's most legendary tales.
