Rajesh Khanna was Hindi cinema’s original superstar, a phenomenon whose popularity reached extraordinary heights. Admirers famously wrote him letters in blood, performed symbolic marriages with his photographs, and gathered outside his bungalow for hours hoping to catch a glimpse of him. Yet, according to Anita Advani, the man behind the legendary image carried deep emotional scars that existed long before stardom. She believes his childhood experiences, broken relationships, and repeated betrayals by those he trusted gradually left him unable to place faith in the people around him.Anita reflected on how Khanna’s experiences changed his outlook on life.She said on the podcast ‘Meri Saheli’, “He was suspicious of everyone. If you ask me psychologically, I think he lost his trust in people. First, he was adopted. Then he was betrayed in relationships. Friends in the industry she shared a close bond with Rajesh Khanna during the final decade of his life, alleged perception that Khanna had become increasingly reclusive and difficult in his later years, suggesting that few people truly1942, the legendary actor was adopted by his childless relatives, Chunnilal and Leelawati Khanna, who brought him up as their also betrayed him. Even those whom he had helped and made successful eventually went against him. He became suspicious of everyone.”Anita, who has long claimed she shared a close bond with Rajesh Khanna during the final decade of his life, alleged that many individuals exploited the actor’s generosity and goodwill.“Many people exploited him. During political campaigns, he would go wherever he was asked, but people in between would pocket the money. Kakaji himself never took any money.”She also addressed the widespread perception that Khanna had become increasingly reclusive and difficult in his later years, suggesting that few people truly understood the circumstances that influenced his personality.“People ask why there were so many changes in his personality, why he became so difficult. His life itself began on a complicated note. He was adopted, and when he came to know about it, it was a huge shock for him.”Born as Jatin Khanna in 1942, the legendary actor was adopted by his childless relatives, Chunnilal and Leelawati Khanna, who brought him up as their son. Anita believes discovering the truth about his adoption had a profound emotional impact on him.“He wasn’t close to his biological sisters or family. Once his sister came to meet him and he asked, ‘Who is she?’ There wasn’t much of an emotional connection.”Rajesh Khanna’s journey to superstardom remains one of the most remarkable stories in Hindi cinema. Following the success of Aradhana in 1969, he delivered an unprecedented run of 15 consecutive hit films, cementing his status as the country’s first true superstar. At the peak of his fame, producers lined up outside his home with signing amounts, while his devoted fans expressed an almost unparalleled level of admiration.
