Excerpts from the conversation:
Today, on the 9th death anniversary of Rajesh Khanna, we are talking to you with a heavy heart. He was loved by many…
Today, I can’t remember the days when Kakaji (as Rajesh Khanna was fondly called) was slipping away.
It all started with a fever that didn’t go away and then some tests revealed that she had cancer. Do you know that he went to his doctor and already asked: ‘When is my visa expiring?’ The doctor did not tell me or anyone else about this diagnosis; He told directly to Kakaji.
And then?
Kakaji was of course shocked but he had the ability to assimilate things. He took the blow too and after some time said to me, “Okay, that’s it. Now what next?” you know what! He lived his real life like his role in ‘Anand’. And, according to him, his Babumoshai in ‘Anand’ was Amitabh Bachchan but in real life it was me.
We knew the end was near, especially in the last week. Akshay KumarWhen he breathed his last, Dimple, Twinkle, Rinke were all with him. Daughters were on his side, I was at his feet. Anju Mahendru was also present in the blessings at that time, she had come for a visit.
We understand how heartbreaking it must have been…
To be honest, I still haven’t fully recovered from it. We were soul brothers. Even today I went to Carter Road, where the blessing once stood. There is no blessing today. I sat on the road for a few minutes. I thought he was talking to me and I was talking to him (pause).
It must have been hard to see him go.
Kakaji was clear that he did not want to leave this world from the hospital; He wanted to take his last breath at home. Also, he was clear that he would not undergo chemotherapy, which was an option; He chose to take medications instead. But let me tell you one thing that haunts me even today.
Please continue…
I remember he called me one day long before I fell ill. I could not go. The next day, he told me, “Soon, you will yearn to meet me but I will not be able to meet you.” I think he had some intuition about his death even before he got cancer.
did he meet Dilip KumarWho passed away recently?
I clearly remember a meeting in Delhi when Kakaji was campaigning for the Congress. They met very warmly and Dilip sahib spoke to him in Punjabi, he decided to sit down for breakfast etc the next evening. But somehow he did not intervene.
Later Kakaji and Dilip Kumar Sahab met at an award function. Dilip Kumar Sahab was still not well and Saira kept telling him that Kakaji was with him.
Which other heroines came to visit him during his illness?
Except for Anjuji, it was Reena Roy and Mumtaz.
Why didn’t he marry Anju Mahendru?
Their relationship was kind of complicated. Then he met Dimple.
How did he change his mind?
I don’t think Kakaji needed to divert his attention. As I told you, he assimilated things well. But yes, his entertainment habit was Kishore Kumar. Whatever his state of mind and whatever day it was, he wanted to hear Kishore KumarSongs of. And pay attention to you, not only yours; In fact he also enjoyed Kishore Kumar’s songs sung for other heroes.
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