Dear Kaka,
Zindagi ke safar mein guzar jaate hain jo makam…woh phir nahin aate..woh phir nahin aate…
True…but a phenomenon like you will never cease to exist. Your persona, your charisma, your style and your performances shall keep enriching and enchanting us for life. You were home to impeccable talent that could never be eclipsed by anything, for you were above all and everything in the world of Hindi celluloid.
I might be too insignificant a person to be writing a testimony, but whatever little I have known and felt about you will suffice to show the deep respect I have for you.
Babumoshai…you, our very own Kaka, India’s first SUPERSTAR and known to the world as Rajesh Khanna have entertained generations and will continue to do so for eternity.
You had a mysterious knack of wooing women. Your smile alone could make women go weak in their knees and secretly dream of you. You could instantly strike a romantic chord with the wo
men of your era and make them believe you were their man, and would some day make them your “sapnon ki rani”. You truly epitomised romance.
Even the men of your times had gone ga-ga over you. Your dance was a style statement, your hairstyle a craze and your dressing sense a trend that everyone aped with least inhibitions. On the contrary they took pride in looking like “the” one and only Rajesh Khanna!
I vividly remember meeting people from a community in Kolkata who admitted that they were big fan of yours and had named their sons after you. Every boy in their community was christened Rajesh! Incredible isn’t it?
Such was your aura…
Aate jaate khoobsurat aawara sadkon pe…kabhi kabhi ittefaq se kitne anjaan log mil jate hain…unmein se kuch log bhool jate hain…kuch yaad reh jaate hain…
You are indeed one of those “kuch” people we can never afford to forget. Forgetting you would be like forgetting a part of ourselves. You are very much a part of our lives.
Jab jis waqt kisi ka yaar juda hota hai…kuch na pooch yaaron dil ka haal bura hota hai…
Yes, I wouldn’t deny admitting I am saddened and pained to have lost you but the separation is purely physical. The memories will always keep you connected with each and every one of us and will remind us that you “hate tears”. So we wouldn’t shed even a drop.
If I could name a few films that I have seen umpteen number of times, ‘Aaradhana’, ‘Aamar Prem’, ‘Anand’, ‘Kati Patang’, ‘Khamoshi’, ‘Safar’, ‘Apna Desh’, Bawarchi’, ‘Namak Haram’, ‘Aapki Qasam’, ‘Dushman’, have left an indelible impact on my mind.
Every film had a distinct message to give and your performances shook me from within and inspired me to imbibe the good and get rid of all that’s not right.
Kahin To Ye Dil Kabhi Mil Nahin Paate, kahin Se Nikal Aaye Janmon Ke Naate, ghani Thi Ulajhan Bairi Apanaa Man, apanaa Hi Hoke Sahe Dard Paraaye Dard Paraaye…
It feels amazing to be writing about you. I have never known you in person and can only recall your existence as a screen idol. Yet, I believe there is a string that has connected me with you and many of your fans as you had rightly said, Kahin Se Nikal Aaye Janmon Ke Naate- something which none of us is conscious of.
Maut Aani Hai Ayegi Ik Din, Jaan Jaani Hai Jayegi Ik Din, Aisi Baaton Se Kya Ghabrana, Yahan Kal Kya Ho Kisne Jaana zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana…
I know, you are comfortably resting in the heavens and smiling at us, for you believe “Zindagi pyaar ka geet hai ise har dil ko gana padega”.
Here’s paying adieu to the conqueror of hearts. Hail to the King of romance. Rest in peace.
(The views expressed by the author are personal)