The late superstar worked in every genre of cinema, from comedy to family drama to thriller to crime to action to tragedy to fantasy to political adventure and more.
"Babumushoi, zindagi badi honi chahiye … lambi nahin."
Fans used to come out in droves to catch a glimpse of him and would queue outside the studios and cheer his name. Every day, there used to line of cars of producers outside his bungalow. Women would marry his photographs, kiss his car (leaving it covered with lipstick marks), and even pull at his clothes. His mailbox was often inundated with thousands of letters written in blood. And whenever he stepped out on the street, traffic would come to a stop and the police would have to use lathis to disperse his fans.
We are talking about Rajesh Khanna, regarded as the First Superstar of Indian cinema, and such was his craze among fans. He didn't only define an era; he became an era in himself, leaving an indelible mark on the canvas of cinema. He reigned supreme at the box office as Hindi cinema's highest-paid actor throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
(Credit: Goldmines Gaane Sune Ansune)
Born on December 29, 1942, Khanna wasn't a mere actor or star; he was literally a national icon and a cultural phenomenon whose impact is still evident in various ways. Thanks to his magnetic charisma, unparalleled screen presence, and impeccable acting prowess, he became a guarantee for commercial success in Bollywood. Be it 'Aakhri Khat', 'Ittefaq', 'Anandd', 'Bandhan', 'Aradhana', 'Do Raaste', 'Haathi Mere Saathi', 'Khamoshi', 'Kati Patang', or 'Amar Prem'; his filmography continues to leave one and all in awe.
The late superstar would have been 81 today if he was alive. To mark his birth anniversary, we have compiled some of his iconic dialogues.
Rajesh Khanna - Top Iconic Dialogues
"Babumushoi, zindagi badi honi chahiye … lambi nahin." - Anand.
"Pushpa, mujhse yeh aasoon nahin dekhe jaate … I hate tears." - Amar Prem.
"Maut toh ek pal hai." - Anand.
"Log zindagi ka sabse chota, sabse keemti labz bhool gaye hain… pyar." - Bawarchi.
"Main marne se pehle marna nahin chahta." - Safar.
"Zindagi ke kuch chakkar aaise hote hai jinka mazaa sirf wohi le sakta hai ... joh zindagi ka share jaan-buchkar ghaate mein khareede." - Amar Prem.
"Bada aadmi toh woh hota hai joh doosron ko chota nahi samajhta." - Avtaar.
"Babumushoi, zindagi aur maut upar waale ke haath hai ... usse na toh aap badal sakte hai na main ... hum sab to rangmanch ki kathputliyan hai jinki dor upar waale ki ungliyon mein bandhi hai." - Anand.
"Na koi tarang hai, na koi umang hai ... meri zindagi bhi kya ek kati patang hai." - Kati Patang.
"Jab tak zinda hoon tab tak mara nahi ... jab mar gaya sala main hi nahi." - Anand.
"Kisi badi khushi ke intezaar mein ... hum yeh chote chote khushiyon ke mauke kho dete hain." - Bawarchi.
"Hum aane waale gham ko kheench taan kar aaj ki khushi pe le aate hai ... aur us khushi mein zehar ghol dete hai." - Anand.
"Jiska dil gham ki tanhaiyon mein ujadh gaya ho ... woh bahar se kitna hi sehatmand lagta ho, lekin andar se toh bimaar hi rehta hai." - Aa Ab Laut Chalen.
"Is duniya mein jab tak bhalai rupai aur paison se na tauli jaye ... woh bhalai nahin kehlati." - Bawarchi.
"Yeh joh vote hai na yeh kagaz ka tukda nahi hai ... ki dabbe mein daala aur chal diye ... yeh vote tumhare parivar, tumhare desh, uski unnati ki parchi hai ... yeh toh do dhaari talwar hai joh dono taraf se kaatti hai ... theek jagah pade toh desh khushal aur galat jagah pade toh desh ka satyanash." - Aaj Ka M.L.A. Ram Avtar.
"Apnepan ke liye kisiko apna banana zaroori nahi ... jisse bhi apnapan mil jaye wohi apna hai." - Kati Patang.
"Insaan ko dil de, jism de, dimaag de lekin yeh kambakht pet mat de ... usse pet deta hai toh usse bhook mat de ... usse bhook deta hai toh do waqt ki roti ka intezam karke bhej ... varna tujhe insaan ko paida karne ka koi haq nahi hai." - Roti.
"Jisme insaan ki bhalai ho woh kaam kabhi bura nahin hota." - Bawarchi.
