Kakaji Bollywood's Superstar

The life in a Glass House- Kaka’s story

The news of Rajesh Khanna's demise was not that impacting as was a man and his repertoire of films which swayed a generation of youngsters and levels of adulation never seen till then reserved for gods during pujas. This lasted as long as it brought about the fall of a smiling giant.

Yes this sounds like a movie of quick buck millionaire going from BANG to DOOM. But India's first Superstar tag does not do justice to the roles he had essayed and what made him a super star.

His mannerisms which were quintessential Rajesh Khanna had blossomed into a wonderful characterisation which charmed women of their perches until then reserved for Dev Anand, Shammi Kapoor, Raj Kapoor, Rajendra Kumar to some extent. But this late 60’s sensation poured in youth and mix of good looks especially his drop of petal smile.

The documentary by BBC’s Jack Pizzey in 1973 at the height of Bollywood Superstar’s reign shows a glimpse what a superstar’s life is made of and made from- stubborn late arrival to any appointment or commitment, rebel who would not bow to conventions even to the extent of hosting a rival party when all the cinema world has turned to a annual movie awards function and how one gets hooked to all beautiful dames around.

Definitely he was fair skinned to be fair and he did fit the bill for common man's HERO tag. This gentleman hails from a hallowed (wealthy) background but with fire to succeed: he had in him to emote and romance in equal measure and add to that would be his OWN style which audience and cine goers of that generation where grappling to overcome the heavy dose of Dilip Kumar/ Dev Anand/ Raj Kapoor/ Raj Kumar/ Sunil Dutt/ Manoj Kumar/ Rajendra Kumar/ Ashok Kumar....................Yes he did not have the best of dance moves but his ace card Style and charm did wonders among millions of young female fans.

Few critics’ quip that Rajesh Khanna was at the right place and right time when he was able to give 14 film HITS in a row which is considered a landmark in any Cinema Industry. To add to this was the chain of directors who adorned his hit parade giving some of memorable movies by Shakthi Samantha to Hrishikesh Mukherjee to Yash Chopra. The next piece in his dream jigsaw were dream girls who paired with him in movies and giving them a cult like status and last to give the flavour for his movies were the RD Burman/ SD Burman/ Laxmikant-Pyarelal compositions to mellifluous re-invented Kishore da’s voice.

I belong to a 80's generation and my idea of Hindi in Madras was songs of RD Burman and SD Burman hits of Rajesh Khanna; humming to those melodies ever even seeing those movies made the songs nostalgic. Later when i had watched Bawarchi; which super star would ever dare to think of taking such a role at their height of glory?

But now a second thought does strike us asking what kind of roles he would have performed under a action or a suspense ring master; because 70’s & 80's did produce some memorable comedy and Melodrama movies and the later years produced some finest directors magical movies. Rajesh Khanna as history goes was stereotyped on his hit movies which made him handicapped to handle any out of box roles during present generation movies. Nevertheless he still can be counted as the Supergod of Love moves and swoons. But Alas the God too had a Director to define his moves. I must confess he could not have made it if not for the HIT SECRET- MUSIC+SCRIPT+KAKAJI MAGIC. Let his soul rest in peace, for there is no more dignity in love the manner win which Kakaji expressed on a large than life canvas.