On Rajesh Khanna’s 83rd birth anniversary, veteran actor Jackie Shroff paid a heartfelt tribute to the late star by dedicating the iconic song “Chala Jata Hoon” from the 1972 classic “Mere Jeevan Saathi.”
Jackie shared a series of images of the actor, who is celebrated as the first Superstar of Hindi cinema, on his Instagram stories. Accompanying the visuals was the evocative track “Chala Jata Hoon.”
In his caption, Jackie expressed: “Always in our hearts… Remembering Rajesh Khanna ji on his birth anniversary.”
Rajesh Khanna made his acting debut in 1966 with Aakhri Khat, which marked India’s first official entry to the Academy Awards in 1967. He was affectionately known by various titles like “RK,” “Shehzada,” “King of Romance,” and “Pasha of Passion.”
Some of his most iconic films include Aradhana, Anand, Amar Prem, Kati Patang, Haathi Mere Saathi, Safar, Do Raaste, and Sachaa Jhutha. He captivated audiences with his romantic roles, expressive eyes, and a remarkable record of 17 consecutive hits during the late 1960s to early 1970s.
Rajesh Khanna married Dimple Kapadia in March 1973, just eight months before her debut film Bobby was released. The couple had two daughters, Twinkle Khanna and Rinkie Khanna.
In addition to his illustrious acting career, he also served as a Member of Parliament in the 10th Lok Sabha from the New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency between 1992 and 1996. He was elected in the 1992 New Delhi by-election as a candidate for the Indian National Congress.
Rajesh Khanna passed away on July 18, 2012, at his bungalow, Aashirwad, in Mumbai. His health had been declining since July 2011 due to a cancer diagnosis.
His final film was Riyasat, co-starring Gauri Kulkarni, Aryan Vaid, Aryeman Ramsay, and Raza Murad, which was released on July 18, 2014—two years after his death.
On a different note, Jackie Shroff will next be seen in Ahmed Khan’s upcoming comedy film titled “Welcome To The Jungle.” This film boasts an impressive ensemble cast, including Akshay Kumar, Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty, Arshad Warsi, Paresh Rawal, Raveena Tandon, Disha Patani, Lara Dutta, Jacqueline Fernandez, Shreyas Talpade, Aftab Shivdasani, and many more.