Veteran actress Asha Parekh recently revisited an interesting chapter connected to late Bollywood superstar Rajesh Khanna. During a special appearance on a music reality show, the actress shared a lesser-known story about one of Hindi cinema's most memorable phrases. The revelation came after contestant Diwakar Chobey performed the timeless track 'Kahin Door Jab Din Dhal Jaye', bringing back memories linked to Rajesh Khanna and his cinematic journey. The discussion soon shifted from the song to one of the actor's most recognizable expressions, 'Babu Moshai,' which over the years became deeply connected with his screen identity.
Asha Parekh Opens Up About the Phrase
While sharing the story, Asha Parekh explained that many people assumed the dialogue originally belonged to Rajesh Khanna. However, according to her, the expression had an entirely different beginning. Sharing the story, Asha Parekh said, 'The first song that was performed was of Rajesh Khanna. Do you know where Rajesh Khanna's famous 'Babu Moshai' expression came from? It is actually a Bengali word.' The actress revealed that the term already existed before becoming associated with Rajesh Khanna's screen image.
Raj Kapoor and Hrishikesh Mukherjee Connection
Asha Parekh further explained that the phrase had a connection with legendary filmmaker Raj Kapoor and director Hrishikesh Mukherjee. She added, 'Raj Kapoor Ji used to call Hrishikesh Mukherjee 'Babu Moshay'.' According to the actress, Hrishikesh Mukherjee later carried the expression into the world of cinema and attached it to Rajesh Khanna. 'That is why Hrishikesh Mukherjee gave the term 'Babu Moshai' to Rajesh Khanna Ji.' Asha Parekh also remembered the kind of response Rajesh Khanna received from fans whenever he used the phrase. She said, 'And whenever he would say 'Babu Moshai,' all the girls would go crazy for him.'
The phrase later gained legendary status through the film 'Anand', directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee. The film featured Rajesh Khanna in the lead role, while Amitabh Bachchan played a significant character. Asha Parekh also recalled the chaos during the shoot of 'Kati Patang', where fans threw stones to catch a glimpse of Rajesh Khanna.
