Rajesh Khanna (Hindi: राजेश खन्ना; Punjabi: ਰਾਜੇਸ਼ ਖੰਨਾ) (born Jatin Khanna on December 29, 1942 in Amritsar) is an Indian Bollywood thespian and laureate of the Dada Saheb Phalke Legend Golden Actor Award, bestowed on him in 2008 and iifa 2009 Life Time Achievement Award on June 13, 2009 besides large number of other national and interntional repute Life Time Achievement awards and others high profile awards. He has also served a five year tenure as an MP in the Indian parliament (1991–1996)। Also known as Kaka or affectionately called just "RK", he has been officially termed first time "the Superstar of the Indian film industry"

Early life

Jatin Khanna, a Punjabi, was born in Amritsar on 29 December 1942, and was adopted by parents who already had three daughters of their own.

Adult life

In the late 1960s, Khanna dated Anju Mahendru. The couple eventually drifted apart, and split in the early-1970s. He married Dimple Kapadia, a Gujarati, in 1973 and has two daughters from the marriage. Khanna and Dimple Kapadia separated in 1984, as his schedule kept him away much of the time and she became interested in pursuing an acting career. After the separation, he was romantically involved with Tina Munim for a period of time. Following a few years of separation, the relationship between Kapadia and Khanna blossomed once again, and remained that of close friends. Their elder daughter Twinkle Khanna, an interior decorator and also a former Hindi film actress, is married to actor Akshay Kumar and younger daughter Rinke Khanna, also an Indian actress is married to an entrepreneur Sameer Saran.

Early success (1966–1974)

Rajesh Khanna joined the film industry after winning an All India Talent Contest through a nation-wide selection procedure. He made his film debut in the 1966 film Aakhri Khat, followed by Raaz opposite heroine Babita, but neither was a major success. He was noticed for his performance in his next film Baharon Ke Sapne followed by box office successes like Aurat (1967), Khamoshi, and Aradhana (1969) were more successful at the box office. Established as a popular protagonist, he appeared in many romantic, melodramatic and social films, often appearing with the same actresses - such as Sharmila Tagore, Mumtaz, Hema Malini and Asha Parekh.

During the peak of his career, he would be mobbed during public appearances. Fans kissed his car, which would be covered with lipstick marks, and lined the road, cheering and chanting his name. Female fans sent him letters written in their own blood.

Several of the popular songs sung by Kishore Kumar in the 1970s were based on Khanna and were mostly composed by R.D.Burman.

Rajesh khanna hold the record for giving 15 consucutive hits between 1969 to 1971 which remain intact even today. These films are Aradhana(1969), Do-Raaste(1969), Bandhan(1969), Doli(1969), Saccha Jhuta(1970), Kati Patang(1970), Aan Milo Sajna(1970), Safar(1970), Anand(1970), The Train(1970), Haathi Mere Saathi(1971), Dushman(1971), Maryada(1971), Andaz(1971), Amar Prem(1971). Mehboob ki Mehendi ends this record as it flops badly. He continued the magic with Apna Desh(1972), Daag(1973), Namak Haraam(1973), Prem Nagar(1974), Aap ki kasam(1974) and Roti(1974) with silver jubilee hits but the phenomenal craze started diminishing in term of box office results of his films in mid 70s (1976-78).

Later career (1976–present)

Post-1976, Khanna had a string of box office flops, including Aaina and Mehbooba. Media reports in the late seventies suggested that success had perhaps caused Khanna to be complacent, often turning up late for shoots and throwing tantrums, as well as having a whole entourage of sycophants accompany him for his shoots. This behaviour coupled with the changing trend from romantic and social movies to action oriented multi-star films in the late-1970s and early-1980s caused the decline of Khanna's career in terms of box office ratings.

Khanna met with more success with critically acclaimed box office hits such as ,Amardeep,Thodi si Bewafai, Dard, 'Dhanwaan' 'Avtaar' 'Agar Tum Na Hote, Soutenetc. (1979 onwards). The 1980s saw him perform varied roles in films, including college student, psychopath, politician, rickshapuller, barber,TV Cameraman,Multimillionare, physically challenged motor mechanic,retired rly. personnel, Police Superintendent, etc. And in action multistar era, he showed his versatility in characterization of above different characters most high profile manner maintaining box office status as well as artistic aspect of film media. He also performed in few Multistar films with Central Characters such as Kudrat, Rajpoot, Dharam Aur Kanoon, Ashanti, etc.

He shared a very close relationship with R.D.Burman and Kishore Kumar. The trio, who had a great working relationship, were very close friends and have worked together in more than thirty films. Several actors who were part of the cast of most of his films included Sujith Kumar, Prem Chopra, Madan Puri, Asrani, Bindu, Vijay Arora and A K Hangal, who remained part of his "team" until the late eighties.

From the early nineties onwards he stopped acting and served as an M.P. of New Delhi Constituency from 1991 to 1996. During that period, he returned to acting, appearing in Khudai (1994). He made a come back as a NRI in Aa Ab Laut Chalen (1999), and Kyaa Dil Ne Kahaa (2002). In September 2007, he officially announced his planned return to the big screen, signing a contract for several new films, including some T.V. serials. ^[8][9][12]

Rajesh Khanna is now the life member of International Film And Television Club and International Film & Television Research Center of Asian Academy Of Film & Television.

Political career

Between 1991 and 1996, Rajesh Khanna was a member of Parliament for the Congress Party, from the New Delhi constituency. He has since been a political activist for the Congress Party.^[11]

Awards

Filmfare Awards

Won

• 1970 – Filmfare Best Actor Award for Sachcha Jhutha
• 1971 – Filmfare Best Actor Award for Anand
• 1973 – Special Award for Guest appearance for Anurag
• 1974 – Filmfare Best Actor Award for Aavishkaar
• 1990 – Special Award for graceful completion of twenty-five years most successful career in the film industry
• 2005 Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award(Golden Jubilee function)

DADA SAHEB PHALKE ACADEMY AWARD

• 2008 Lifetime Achievement Golden Actor Award

IIFA AWARD

• 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award (Golden Decade function)

Nominated

• 1969 – Filmfare Best Actor Award for Aradhana
• 1969 – Filmfare Best Actor Award for Ittefaq
• 1971 – Filmfare Best Actor Award for Kati Patang
• 1972 – Filmfare Best Actor Award for Dushman
• 1972 – Filmfare Best Actor Award for Amar Prem
• 1973 – Filmfare Best Actor Award for Daag
• 1974 – Filmfare Best Actor Award for Prem Nagar
• 1979 – Filmfare Best Actor Award for Amar Deep
• 1980 – Filmfare Best Actor Award for Thodi Si Bewafai
• 1981 – Filmfare Best Actor Award for Dard
• 1983 – Filmfare Best Actor Award for Avtaar

Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards

• 1971 – Winner BFJA Awards, Best Actor for Anand^[13]
• 1972 – Winner BFJA Awards, Best Actor for Bawarchi^[14]
• 1974 – Winner BFJA Awards, Best Actor for Namak Haraam^[15]
• 1987 – Winner BFJA Awards, Best Actor for Amrit^[16]

Filmography

• Aakhri Khat (1966) Indrani Mukherjee
• Raaz (1967) Babita
• Baharon Ke Sapne (1967) Asha Parekh
• Aurat (1967) Nazima
• Aradhana (1969) Sharmila Tagore
• Khamoshi (1970) Waheeda Rehman role Arjun
• Do Raaste (1970) Mumtaz
• Doli (1970) Babita
• Bandhan (1970) Mumtaz
• Ittefaq (1969) Nanda
• Safar (1970) Sharmila Tagore
• The Train (1970) Nanda
• Sachaa Jhutha (1970) Mumtaz
• Badnaam Farishte (1971) Sharmila Tagore
• Kati Patang (1971) Asha Parekh
• Anand (1971) Sumita Sanyal
• Aan Milo Sajna (1971) Asha Parekh
• Mehboob Ki Mehndi (1971) Leena Chandravarkar
• Maryada (1971) Mala Sinha
• Haathi Mere Saathi (1971) Tanuja
• Andaaz (1971) Hema Malini
• Chhoti Bahu (1971) Sharmila Tagore
• Dushman (1972) Mumtaz
• Amar Prem (1972) Sharmila Tagore
• Apna Desh (1972) Mumtaz
• Dil Daulat Duniya (1972) Sadhana
• Bawarchi (1972) Jaya Bhaduri
• Mere Jeevan Saathi (1972) Tanuja
• Maalik (1972) Sharmila Tagore
• Joroo Ka Ghulam (1972) Nanda
• Shehzada (1972) Raakhi
• Anuraag (1973) Nutan
• Raja Rani (1973) Sharmila Tagore
• Daag: A Poem of Love (1973) Sharmila Tagore
• Namak Haraam (1973) Rekha
• Avishkaar (1974) Sharmila Tagore
• Prem Nagar (1974) Hema Malini
• Humshakal (1974) Tanuja/Maushmi chetterjee
• Aap Ki Kasam (1974) Mumtaz
• Ajnabee (1974) Zeenat Aman
• Roti (1974) Mumtaz
• Prem Kahani (1975) Mumtaz
• Jinny aur Jonny (1975) Guest appearance
• Aakraman (1975) Rekha Special appearance
• Sawa Lakh Se Ek Ladaun (1976) Neetu Singh
• Maha Chor (1976) Neetu Singh
• Bandalbaaz (1976) Sulakshna Pandit
• Mehbooba (1976) Hema Malini
• Tyaag (1977) Sharmila Tagore
• Karm (1977) Vidya Sinha/Shabana Azmi
• Chhaila Babu (1977) Zeenat Aman
• Chalta Purza (1977) Parveen Bobby
• Anurodh (1977) Simple Kapadia
• Aashiq Hoon Baharon Ka (1977) Zeenat Aman
• Aaina (1977) Mumtaz - Special Appearance
• Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein (1977) Hema Malini
• Chakravyuha (1978) Neetu Singh
• Bhola Bhala (1978) Rekha/Mausami Chetterjee
• Naukri (1978) Zahira
• Til Til Dalekha (1979)
• Muqabla (1979) Special appearance
• Janata Havaldar (1979) Hema Malini
• Amar Deep (1979) Shabana Azmi
• Prem Bandhan (1979) Rekha/Mausami Chetterjee
• Phir Wohi Raat (1980) Kim
• Bandish (1980) Hema Malini
• Thodisi Bewafaii (1980) Shabana Azmi
• Red Rose (1980) Poonam Dhillon
• Aanchal (1980) Rekha
• Kudrat (1981) Hema Malini
• Sundara Satarkar (Marathi Movie -1981) Guest artist
• Fifty Fifty (1981) Zeenat Aman Tina Munim
• Dhanwan (1981) Reena Roy
• Dard (1981) Hema Malini/Poonam Dhillon
• Jaanwar (1982) Zeenat Aman
• Dil-E-Nadan (1982) Jaya Prada
• Ashanti (1982) Zeenat Aman
• Suraag (1982) Special appearance
• Rajput (1982) Hema Malini
• Dharam Kanta (1982) Sulakshna Pandit
• Nishaan (1983) Poonam Dhillon
• Avtaar (1983) Shabana Azmi
• Souten (1983) Padmini Kolhapuri/Tina Munim
• Agar Tum Na Hote (1983) Rekha
• Disco Dancer (1983) Special extended-appearance
• Paapi Pet Ka Sawaal Hai (1984) Jaya Prada/Tina Munim
• Maqsad (1984) Sri Devi/Jaya Prada
• Dharam Aur Kanoon (1984) Asha Parekh
• Awaaz (1984) Jaya Prada
• Aaj Ka M.L.A. Ram Avtar (1984)
• Asha Jyoti (1984) Rekha/Reena Roy
• Naya Kadam (1984)Jaya Prada/Sri Devi/Padmini Kolhapuri
• Zamana (1985) Ranjeeta
• Oonche Log (1985) Salma Agha
• Naya Bakrra (1985) Special appearance
• Masterji (1985) Sri Devi
• Insaaf Main Karoonga (1985) Tina Munim/Padmini Kolhapure
• Durga (1985) Hema Malini
• Aakhir Kyon? (1985) Smita Patil
• Bewafai (1985) Padmini Kolhapure /Meenaxi Seshadri
• Hum Dono (1985) Hema Malini/Reena Roy
• Alag Alag (1985) Tina Munim
• Babu (1985)Rati Agnohotri
• Shatru (1986) Sabiya
• Mohabbat Ki Kasam (1986) Jaya Prada
• Angaarey (1986) Smita Patil
• Ghar Pariwar (1986) Mausami Chetterjee
• Amrit (1986) Smita Patil
• Adhikar (1986) Zarina Wahab
• Nasihat (1986) Shabana Azmi
• Anokha Rishta (1986) Smita Patil
• Sitapur Ki Geeta (1987) Hema Malini
• Nazrana (1987) Shri Devi/Smita Patil
• Awara Baap (1987) Madhuri Dixit
• Avam (1987) Smita Patil
• Goraa (1987) Sulakshna Pandit
• Woh Phir Aayegi (1988)
• Vijay (1988) Hema Malini
• Main Tera Dushman (1989) Jaya Prada - Guest artist
• Mamta ki Chaon Mein (1989) Guest artist
• Ghar Ka Chiraag (1989) Deepika/Neelam
• Paap Ka Ant (1989) Hema Malini - Guest artist
• Swarg (1990) Madhavi
• Rupaye Dus Karod (1991) Amrita Singh
• Begunah (1991)
• Khudai (1994)
• Sautela Bhai (1996)
• Aa Ab Laut Chalen (1999) Mousmi Chatterjee
• Kyaa Dil Ne Kahaa (2002)
• Jana: Let's fall in love (2006)
• Wafa: A deadly love story (2008)
• Kash Mere Hote (2009)
• Phir tum mil gaye (Unreleased)