For fans of classic Hindi cinema, December 29 holds a special significance. It marks the birth anniversary of the legendary Rajesh Khanna, who was born in 1942 and rose to become Bollywood's first bona fide superstar. His unprecedented success, which included a record-breaking 15 consecutive solo hit films, remains unmatched to this day. However, alongside the celebrations of his legacy, stories of his alleged rivalry with fellow actor Sanjeev Kumar also resurface, the most famous being a controversial on-set slap.
Contrasting Stars: The Khanna-Kumar Divide
The professional worlds of Rajesh Khanna and Sanjeev Kumar could not have been more different. While Khanna was the epitome of the romantic, mass-appeal hero, Sanjeev Kumar was revered for his calm and profound acting prowess. Known for effortlessly portraying the common man, Kumar delivered memorable performances in iconic films like Sholay, Aandhi, Angoor, and Khilona. Despite mutual respect as artists, their contrasting styles often led to whispered comparisons, and over time, rumours of personal tension began to circulate, with one incident taking centre stage in Bollywood folklore.
The Anju Mahendroo Rumour Mill
Rajesh Khanna's personal life, particularly his long-term relationship with Anju Mahendroo, was constant fodder for the press. The couple lived together for nearly seven years before parting ways in 1972. Following their separation, gossip columns were abuzz with speculation that Sanjeev Kumar had grown close to Mahendroo. Reports suggest this rumour deeply upset Khanna. Anju Mahendroo later clarified her relationship with Kumar, stating he was like a maternal uncle to her, a family figure. Yet, the clarification did little to quell public perception, and the misunderstanding added significant fuel to the fire of the alleged feud between the two actors.
The Infamous Slap: Art Imitating Life?
The simmering rumours allegedly boiled over on the set of a film that featured both stars. During the shooting of a scene that required Sanjeev Kumar to slap Rajesh Khanna, reports claim the action was executed with more force than was necessary for the performance. Many on set and later in industry circles felt the intensity was not merely acting but a display of pent-up anger and unresolved personal grievance. This single moment became a massive talking point, cementing years of speculation about a bitter fallout between the two legends.
Around the same period, adding another layer to the narrative, Anju Mahendroo gave an interview to SCREEN magazine where she spoke about her troubled relationship with Rajesh Khanna. She revealed his controlling nature, citing instances like, “If I wore a skirt, he’d snap, why don’t you wear a saree? If I wore a saree, he’d wrinkle his nose and say, why are you trying to project a Bhartiya nari look?” Such insights painted a complex picture of the superstar's off-screen life, further intertwining with the stories of rivalry.
Thus, the legacy of Rajesh Khanna is a rich tapestry of unparalleled stardom and enduring mysteries. The slap story with Sanjeev Kumar remains an indelible part of Bollywood history, a dramatic episode that continues to fascinate cinema lovers on the superstar's birth anniversary and beyond.
