Thanks to Havells, we can now relive the magic of Rajesh Khanna, undoubtedly India's first and by far the biggest Bollywood or Hindi film superstar of his time.
Below is the latest commercial for Havells fans, featuring Rajesh Khanna, which is being showcased prominently during the IPL.
Today, people talk about Amitabh Bachhan and Shahrukh Khan as being the Big Bs and the King Khans of Bollywood, but if ever there really was a superstar in the industry, that epithet simply has to go to Rajesh Khanna.
With his unique gestures and hand movements, as well as a sense of style which was unique and unparalleled to the Hindi film industry of the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s, Rajesh Khanna easily managed to sweep the young women of that era, off their feet, my mother included!
Although Aakhri Khat was his first film, Rajesh Khanna truly arrived on the scene with Aradhana, Shakti Samanta's 1969 blockbuster, alongside Sharmila Tagore (mother of Saif Ali Khan).
From thereon, there was practically no looking back for Rajesh Khanna, with superhit after superhit, in the form of films such as Safar in 1970, Kati Patang (1971), Anand (also 1971), Aan Milo Sajna (yet again 1971) as well as Andaz, once again in 1971, where he had a guest appearance in the evergreen haunting melody, 'Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana, Yahaan Kal Kya Ho Kisne Jaana' which loosely translates to 'Life Is A Pleasant Journey, Who Knows What Will Happen Tomorrow'.
The song's picturization, with Rajesh Khanna serenading Hema Malini atop a motorcycle while crooning to the inimitable voice of Kishore Kumar, accompanied by the latter's yodeling, seemed simply incredulous for its time and era. The song also proved ironical, given the meaning of its lyrics as mentioned above, since Jaikishan, one of the music composers of the song along with partner Shankar, died soon after from cirrhosis of the liver.
Rajesh Khanna's dream run in Bollywood continued long after 'Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana, Yahaan Kal Kya Ho Kisne Jaana' came and went, in the form of films such as Haathi Mere Saathi (1971), Mere Jeevan Sathi (1972), Bawarchi (also 1972), Namak Haraam (1973) as well as Aap Ki Kasam (1974), to name only a handful of his mega-hits.
At the same time, this was the period when Amitabh Bachchan, Bollywood's towering icon, both literally and figuratively, was coming to the fore, with films such as Zanjeer in 1973 and of course Anand prior to that - in 1971, where he starred alongside the legendary Rajesh Khanna himself.
Gradually the clout of Rajesh Khanna did begin to fade, especially when Amitabh Bachchan came to the fore in a really big way, especially in the 1980s. It was then that Rajesh Khanna began to pursue a career in politics, joining the Congress Party and also managing to contest and win the elections in 1992, from the New Delhi constituency.
Of course, Rajesh Khanna has come a long way, even from those days in politics, whereby he leads a relatively quaint life in the company of his family, especially daughters Twinkle and Rinke Khanna, with the former being married to current superstar, Akshay Kumar.
In that spirit, it is certainly very refreshing to see Rajesh Khanna in the Havells ad which is being aired at the moment during the IPL - THANK YOU HAVELLS! You have certainly brought back some truly wonderful memories!
Below is the latest commercial for Havells fans, featuring Rajesh Khanna, which is being showcased prominently during the IPL.
The latest commercial of Havells Fans, featuring yesteryear's
Hindi film superstar and legend, Rajesh Khanna
The original song, 'Yeh Shaam Mastani' from the film
Kati Patang (1971) on which the above commercial is based
Kati Patang (1971) on which the above commercial is based
Today, people talk about Amitabh Bachhan and Shahrukh Khan as being the Big Bs and the King Khans of Bollywood, but if ever there really was a superstar in the industry, that epithet simply has to go to Rajesh Khanna.
With his unique gestures and hand movements, as well as a sense of style which was unique and unparalleled to the Hindi film industry of the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s, Rajesh Khanna easily managed to sweep the young women of that era, off their feet, my mother included!
Although Aakhri Khat was his first film, Rajesh Khanna truly arrived on the scene with Aradhana, Shakti Samanta's 1969 blockbuster, alongside Sharmila Tagore (mother of Saif Ali Khan).
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| Poster of Aradhana (1969) |
From thereon, there was practically no looking back for Rajesh Khanna, with superhit after superhit, in the form of films such as Safar in 1970, Kati Patang (1971), Anand (also 1971), Aan Milo Sajna (yet again 1971) as well as Andaz, once again in 1971, where he had a guest appearance in the evergreen haunting melody, 'Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana, Yahaan Kal Kya Ho Kisne Jaana' which loosely translates to 'Life Is A Pleasant Journey, Who Knows What Will Happen Tomorrow'.
The song's picturization, with Rajesh Khanna serenading Hema Malini atop a motorcycle while crooning to the inimitable voice of Kishore Kumar, accompanied by the latter's yodeling, seemed simply incredulous for its time and era. The song also proved ironical, given the meaning of its lyrics as mentioned above, since Jaikishan, one of the music composers of the song along with partner Shankar, died soon after from cirrhosis of the liver.
Rajesh Khanna and Hema Malini in the song 'Zindagi Ek Safar
Hai Suhana, Yahaan Kal Kya Ho Kisne Jaana' from Andaz (1971)
Hai Suhana, Yahaan Kal Kya Ho Kisne Jaana' from Andaz (1971)
Rajesh Khanna's dream run in Bollywood continued long after 'Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana, Yahaan Kal Kya Ho Kisne Jaana' came and went, in the form of films such as Haathi Mere Saathi (1971), Mere Jeevan Sathi (1972), Bawarchi (also 1972), Namak Haraam (1973) as well as Aap Ki Kasam (1974), to name only a handful of his mega-hits.
Rajesh Khanna in the heart wrenching song, 'Zindagi Ke
Safar Mein Guzar Jaate Hain' from Aap Ki Kasam (1974)
At the same time, this was the period when Amitabh Bachchan, Bollywood's towering icon, both literally and figuratively, was coming to the fore, with films such as Zanjeer in 1973 and of course Anand prior to that - in 1971, where he starred alongside the legendary Rajesh Khanna himself.
Rajesh Khanna singing 'Zindagi Kaisi Hai Paheli Hai'
from the film Anand (1971) in the voice of Manna Dey
Gradually the clout of Rajesh Khanna did begin to fade, especially when Amitabh Bachchan came to the fore in a really big way, especially in the 1980s. It was then that Rajesh Khanna began to pursue a career in politics, joining the Congress Party and also managing to contest and win the elections in 1992, from the New Delhi constituency.
Of course, Rajesh Khanna has come a long way, even from those days in politics, whereby he leads a relatively quaint life in the company of his family, especially daughters Twinkle and Rinke Khanna, with the former being married to current superstar, Akshay Kumar.
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| Rajesh Khanna - as he looks today, in the company of his daughter (from estranged wife Dimple Kapadia), Twinkle Khanna |
In that spirit, it is certainly very refreshing to see Rajesh Khanna in the Havells ad which is being aired at the moment during the IPL - THANK YOU HAVELLS! You have certainly brought back some truly wonderful memories!
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