New Delhi, Aug 18: “Nobody knows the man behind Rajesh Khanna, because that never existed,” is how wife Dimple Kapadia described the late superstar as she inaugurated a retrospective of his films here.
Khanna, India's first superstar and the man behind hits like “Aap Ki Kasam”, “Aradhana” and “Amar Prem”, passed away on July 18 at his bungalow in Mumbai at the age of 69.
Walking down the memory lane, Dimple, who married Khanna at the age of 16, said she was humbled by the love shown by the actor's fans during his last days.
“I have spent my entire life with him. I was 16 when I got married and I must say he was not a normal man but a very special man. There are so many things I want to say about him but one thing which strikes me is that he had a DNA of a superstar,” Dimple said after inaugurating the three-day retrospective on Khanna by Directorate of Film Festival here.
“Nobody knows the man behind Rajesh Khanna, because that never existed. In his last few days he had told me ‘pack up, show is over',” Dimple added.
The 55-year-old actress married Khanna in 1973 but they separated in 1984, though they did not complete the divorce proceedings. The couple united during Khanna's last days and Dimple says he lived his life with lot of grace.
“He had said that please see to it that I die with grace. I thank his fans all over India for all the love and support they have given, this is what he wanted.
“If he were here today, he would want to say this ‘Hume Tumse Pyaar Kitna Yeh Hum Nahin Jaante Magar Ji Nahi Sakte Tumhare Bina',” Dimple said.
Khanna's many hits like “Aakhri Khat”, “Aavishkar”, “Kati Patang”, “Bawarchi”, “Safar” and “Anand” will be screened during the three day event.
DFF officials said they had planned retrospective much earlier but as Khanna was not well that time, it could not take place.
