In death, Rajesh Khanna unites India, Pakistan
In this photograph taken on January 25, 2012, Indian Bollywood actor Rajesh Khanna waves as he arrives for the “7th Apsara Awards” ceremony in Mumbai. – AFP (File Photo)
NEW DELHI, July 18: He carried his fame lightly. He was a stout-hearted Punjabi from Amritsar who probably forgot to take care of his liver and perished at 69 to its seductions. Women flirted with his images for all of the two decades or more when he ruled Mumbai’s film industry as India’s first and possibly only superstar.
Female fans worshipped his framed pictures and slit their wrists when he married Dimple Kapadia, a one-movie starlet in 1973, when she was half his age. Rajiv Gandhi, in his last political duty before flying to his death in Tamil Nadu, came to vote for him when he switched from films to politics in the 1991 parliamentary elections.
Rajesh Khanna was narrowly defeated in that election from New Delhi by opposition leader L.K. Advani. But when Advani quit the seat in favour of his election from Gandhinagar in Gujarat, Rajesh Khanna easily beat rival and fellow actor Shatrughan Sinha in the ensuing contest to enter parliament.
He had replaced Amitabh Bachchan as the Gandhi family’s Mumbai mascot.
Naturally, Sonia Gandhi grieved Rajesh Khanna’s death in Mumbai on Wednesday and so did Prime Minister Manmohan Singh among millions of Indians. In Pakistan, special programmes were broadcast by TV channels to mark the passing of an era.
Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf described him as a “great actor”. Ordinary fans from across the border took to social networking websites to share their sorrow and memories.
In a special message, Prime Minister Ashraf said Khanna was “a great actor whose contribution to the field of films and arts would be long remembered”.
He said Khanna had a “large fan following across the borders and captivated audiences with his excellent acting skills”. He said he shared the grief of the bereaved family.
In a message to Khanna’s daughter Twinkle, Prime Minister Singh recalled the fame of the late actor and noted that his popularity as a romantic hero in the 1960s and 1970s is a part of our film folklore.
Observing that Khanna was a celebrated artiste who entertained millions of Indians with his performance in a variety of films, Dr Singh said: “His legacy will live on in the form of the numerous entertaining and acclaimed films that he leaves behind.”
The prime minister noted that the late actor was called the first superstar of the Indian cinema and the powerful roles he essayed in classics like Anand, Aradhana, Kati Patang and Amar Prem stand testimony to his artistic genius. Some years ago, the new reigning movie star Shahrukh Khan had described Rajesh Khanna as the only superstar the Indian film industry ever had.
Nothing can prevent the twin brothers come together again. Blood is thicker than water they say. It is the politicians on both the sides that are to be blamed. More than anything else misinformation in the curriculams at schools in both the countries
I is to be blamed. It shall take another fifty years to live like brothers even if initiative is ceases today. Act fast. Chawla
My friends
Why don’t we just except & respect each other? Why because of the few evil mind people let you believe that reset of the world is the same. Be smart look listen & then make a smart decision. All people are not alike, just like your five-finger on your hand.
Not all Muslim are bad just like not all Hindus are bad. Just because you meet someone on the road did not smile at you because he may have bad hair day that day that doesn’t mean rest of his kind or he him self may not be bad. Gave a chance to piece & try to learn about each other before making a hate full decision for the rest of world.
As for the attacks that happened in India & Pakistan, its both the countries, we are so weak & easy to sell our self & cheap. All you have to do is look at our history we had traders from the beginning, what so different now. We are the cause of those attacks DON’T point fingers at each other.
Deep down we have only love for each other, nothing else, because we are one people.
This truely is a great loss to the cultural community of India & Pakistan.
Rest in peace KAKA
i am pleased to see so many people talking about improving relationship between india and pakistan i hope this works for betterment of both nations so we can get rid of poverty and resume full trade between both nations.
Oh so many people have already poured their emotions for friendship, fraternity and on Rajesh Khanna. So nothing else left for me to write.
There are infect thousands reasons and ways to unite both of us – may not be within a constitutional frame work (as one country), but off course as a federation. Someone said, US and Canada can cooperate, European Union can cooperate and so CIS nations, then why not both of us – Pakistan & India?
We as humans have evolved since 1947 and old theories are dying if not fully dead. Religion has no meaning; it is just a way of spirituality and connecting with belief. Lets’ live with our religions.
We all are intelligent people having sharp nose, black hairs, and good complexions. Our women are also beautiful!! So why not work together – develop together – grow together – and – live together ??
-Dipankar Kaul
Most of the Muslims all over the subcontinent are converts..mostly low cast hudras and few who were high caste still retained their surnames proudly..world peace
I have read a lot about the pro & cons about us living in harmony.I think to overcome all distrrust it is up to the elders of both sides to teach their children love and not hatred. ( there are a lot who teach non hatred). it is only then that our two countries can come together, and all the money being spent on arms and ammo can be spent for the betterment of the people of our great nations and together we can be a force to rekon with.