Person Biography:
Rajesh Khanna, born on December 29, 1942, in Amritsar, Punjab, India, is a renowned Indian film actor who dominated the Hindi film industry for over two decades. He began his acting career in 1965 and went on to star in over 180 films, including 163 feature films and 17 short films.
Khanna's early success came with his first three consecutive hit films, Aakhri Khat, Raaz, and Aurat. He soon became a household name and was hailed as the "First Superstar of Indian Cinema" and "Hindi Films." He held this title for seven years, from 1969 to 1976, and then shared it with Amitabh Bachchan from 1977 to 1991.
Khanna's films were known for their commercial success, with 47 films from 1966 to 1975 achieving Golden Jubilee status, including 36 Platinum Jubilee hits. He also holds the record for having 17 successive super-hits in three years from 1969 to 1971.
Khanna was in a relationship with actress Anju Mahendru from 1968 to 1972, but they broke up due to their differing views on marriage. He then married his fan, Dimple Kapadia, in 1973, eight months before her debut film Bobby was released.
Khanna's pairing with actress Mumtaz was particularly successful, with all eight of their films together achieving major Platinum Jubilee hits. He also had successful collaborations with actresses Sharmila Tagore, Asha Parekh, Tanuja, Hema Malini, and Zeenat Aman.
Khanna's career saw a decline in the late 1970s, with five box office hits and eight flops in a row. However, he bounced back with the success of films like Amardeep and Prem Bandhan, and went on to star in 35 Golden Jubilee Hits and 14 Silver Jubilee Hits from 1979 to 1991.
Khanna produced three films and co-produced four films during his career. He was awarded the Filmfare Special Award in 1991 for his contributions to the film industry, and was also awarded the maximum number of All India Critics Award for Best Actor, a record seven times.
Khanna left the film industry in 1991 to enter politics, joining the Congress Party and becoming a member of parliament. He remains a beloved figure in Indian cinema, with his songs and films still widely popular among audiences today.
