Kaka has and will always be my favourite Hindi filmstar. To start with , my father was a huge fan of his. I could say I saw my father in him [except for the fact that he was richer when it comes to having some hair on his head :)] Everyday morning , I woke up watching my father making tea for all of us, singing old Kaka songs. Sunday morning used to start with the loud "Mere sapnon ki Rani" playing on Rangoli on Doordarshan. All three of us settled in front of the TV, toothbrushes stuck in the mouth, butts resting on the feet tucked back. My mother swaying slowly in the kitchen as she made the breakfast. My father sitting cross-legged on the easy chair holding the newspaper completely opened in front of him, but just low enough to watch Kaka circle the Ghats in the jeep.
Very honestly, I have heartily cried in each Rajesh Khanna movie I have watched. May it be Amar Prem, Avtaar, Aap ki Kasam , Anand or Baawarchi. He was no macho who will kick some ass in every movie. He was the star who would happily die in the end. Its the humane characters he played that must have made him such a rage. The emotional scenes would see the blood rise in his cheeks, his eyes gleam with the hint of tears. A face so expressive, gestures that said so much more than words. And this was a man who stayed four train stations away, in his Bandra bungalow which we pointed out everytime we crossed and yelled " That's where Rajesh Khanna stays ".
Nothing will pretty much change. Just that now , it will be where he breathed his last ...
Nice memories..Indeed Rajesh Khanna has given many of us memories to cherish, thanks to his films. For me, it was the cine matinee on set max. The creche owner used to put on the TV while trying to coax us to sleep during the afternoons. An hour later, everyone used to be asleep ( creche owner too.. :) ) and I used to be watching the movie, empathizing with RK. Can't hold back tears once he starts on an emotional dialogue..Gr8 actor..Respect.
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