Rajesh Khanna

Rajesh Khanna
Khanna in a 2013 stamp of India
Born
Jatin Khanna

(1942-12-29)29 December 1942
Amritsar, Punjab, British India (present-day Punjab, India)[1]
Died18 July 2012(2012-07-18) (aged 69)
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
NationalityIndian
Alma materK. C. College
Occupations
  • Actor
  • film producer
  • politician
Years active1966–2012
WorksFull list
Political partyIndian National Congress
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1973; sep. 1982)​
Partners
(1980-1987)
Children
Relatives
AwardsFull list
HonoursPadma Bhushan (2013)
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
1992–1996
Preceded byL. K. Advani
Succeeded byJagmohan
ConstituencyNew Delhi
Majority28,256
Signature

Rajesh Khanna (pronounced [rɑːˈdʒeːʃ kʰənˈnə]) (pronunciationⓘ; born Jatin Khanna; 29 December 1942 – 18 July 2012) was an Indian actor, film producer and politician who worked in Hindi films. Considered as one of the greatest and most successful actors in the history of Indian cinema, he is known as the first Superstar of Indian cinema.[3][4] His accolades include five Filmfare Awards, and in 2013, he was posthumously awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian honour.

Khanna made his debut in 1966 Aakhri Khat which was India's first official Academy Awards entry in 1967.[5] In 2005, he was honoured with the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award on the 50th anniversary of the Filmfare Awards.[6][7] He was a Member of Parliament in the 10th Lok Sabha from New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency between 1992 and 1996, elected in the 1992 New Delhi by-election as an Indian National Congress candidate.[8] He was married to Dimple Kapadia in March 1973, eight months before her debut film Bobby was released and had two daughters from the marriage. Their elder daughter Twinkle Khanna is an actress who is married to actor Akshay Kumar, while they also have a younger daughter Rinke Khanna.[9]

Khanna died on 18 July 2012, after a period of illness.[10] He has been honoured with a stamp and statue in his likeness, and a road renamed after him by the Prime Minister of India.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Birthplace was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Rajesh Khanna and Anju Mahendru's Love Story: She Was Holding His Hands when He Breathed Last". 2 August 2018. Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  3. ^ "PM condoles the passing away of Rajesh Khanna". The PMO. 18 July 2012. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  4. ^ "Rajesh Khanna: The Superstar". The Express Tribune. 19 July 2012. Archived from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  5. ^ "11 things you don't know about Rajesh Khanna". India Today. 18 July 2012. Archived from the original on 16 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  6. ^ "When Kishore sang non-stop for Filmfare…". The Times of India. 28 February 2009. Archived from the original on 11 January 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  7. ^ "Emotional Rajesh Khanna thanks Amitabh Bachchan". The Hindu. 15 June 2009. Archived from the original on 21 July 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  8. ^ "Rajesh khanna : the politician and the phenomenon". Hindustan Times. 18 July 2012. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Superstar Rajesh Khanna breaks millions of hearts, says goodbye". Hindustan Times. 29 December 1949. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  10. ^ "'आनंद' के अंतिम संस्कार में प्रशंसकों पर लाठी चार्ज". Dainik Jagran. 19 July 2012. Archived from the original on 23 January 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2012.