Death Anniversary: Why 'Kaka' Rajesh Khanna Couldn't Handle Stardom – Through the Eyes of Sharmila Tagore

Rajesh Khanna, hailed as the first superstar of Indian cinema and fondly called ‘Kaka’, was nothing short of magical when he appeared on screen. From the late 1960s to the early 1970s, he delivered one superhit film after another and ruled the hearts of audiences. His smile, style, and dialogue delivery made him a heartthrob, especially among women.

However, the dizzying height of stardom that Kaka achieved was followed by an equally rapid decline. His co-star and close friend Sharmila Tagore, who worked with him in several classic films like Aradhana, Amar Prem, Daag, and Aavishkar, witnessed both the highs and lows of his life up close. She spoke candidly about it in the foreword of a biography.

Kaka Couldn't Hold On to Stardom

The foreword to the biography “Dark Star: The Loneliness of Being Rajesh Khanna”, written by Gautam Chintamani and published by Rupa Publications, is penned by Sharmila Tagore. In it, she writes,

“Just as he couldn’t value friendships, he also let his stardom slip through his fingers. He failed to recognize that times were changing, audience preferences were evolving, and the roles he played were becoming outdated.”

According to her, Rajesh Khanna either couldn’t adapt with time or simply refused to — which eventually led to people mocking him.

Gave His Heart to Friends, But Expectations Created Distances

Tagore also observed Khanna’s immense generosity toward his close friends. He would shower them with expensive gifts — even gifting flats at times. But in return, he expected too much from them, which created tensions in his relationships. He believed his friends should repay the favors he extended.

Negligence That Came with Stardom

With complete honesty, Sharmila Tagore admitted that one of the things that bothered her the most was Rajesh Khanna’s habitual tardiness on set.

“I used to reach the studio at 8 AM and wanted to be home by 8 PM. But Kaka, despite a 9 AM shift, rarely showed up before noon. As a result, the entire unit would pressure me to work overtime and stick to the schedule. This became a common issue.”

She further added that although their on-screen pairing was successful, his unprofessional habits led her to work more with other actors — and she admitted that doing so came as a big relief.

Rajesh Khanna’s Iconic Films

Throughout his career, Rajesh Khanna delivered many iconic and memorable films such as Saccha Jhootha, Aan Milo Sajna, Anand, Andaz, Haathi Mere Saathi, Bawarchi, Joru Ka Ghulam, Baharon Ke Sapne, Aurat, Doli, Ittefaq, Aakhri Khat, Raaz, Aradhana, Amar Prem, Daag, and Aavishkar. These films continue to be loved by audiences even today. He was last seen in an advertisement for ‘Havells’ fans in early 2012. Later that year, on July 18, 2012, he passed away due to cancer.

An Eternal Star

Even though his passing marked the end of an era, the shine of ‘Kaka’ has never faded. He remains immortal in the history of Indian cinema as its first true superstar — a star who portrayed love, pain, romance, and loneliness on screen with unmatched intensity… and who continues to live on forever in the hearts of his fans.

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