Anju Mahendru remembers Rajesh Khanna on his death anniversary, talked about holding his hand on his death
Anju Mahendru and Rajesh Khanna were in a relationship for many years before marrying Dimple Kapadia.
Veteran actress Anju Mahendru remembered India’s first superstar Rajesh Khanna on his 11th death anniversary on Tuesday. Anju posted a picture of the photo frame on Twitter, with candles and garlands all around it. Before tying the knot with actress Dimple Kapadia in 1973, Rajesh Khanna was in a relationship with Anju Mahendru for several years. Though the two never married, Anju was a major part of the actor’s life until Rajesh Khanna passed away.
Anju posted a picture of Rajesh on Twitter, writing, “11 years!!!”.
Rajesh Khanna emerged as a superstar with the 1969 hit film Aradhana and soon there were reports that he was in a relationship with Anju Mahendru, a relationship that did not last long. In Yasir Usman’s book on the actor’s life, Rajesh Khanna: The Untold Story of India’s First Superstar, Anju recounts that Rajesh was overjoyed when he saw the influence he had on women.
In an interview with Times of India after Rajesh Khanna’s demise, director Mahesh Bhatt called up Anju Mahendru as he knew she would be affected by his demise. He learns that Khanna and Anju got together in the last years of their lives. She said that she took care of his medical needs and even accompanied him to the hospital. Holding back her tears, she said that her only consolation was that she held his hand when Rajesh Khanna breathed his last.
Earlier this year, veteran actress Mumtaz had spoken about Anju and Rajesh’s relationship, describing how she used to take care of the actor and even took care of his food. Mumtaz said that it was beyond her imagination when Rajesh and Anju parted ways.
