In an era before Amitabh Bachchan took Bollywood by storm with his angry young man image, Rajesh Khanna wooed the entire nation with his charisma. On the occasion of his birth anniversary, here's reliving the best films of Kaka.
Updated On: 2022-12-29 01:16 PM IST
Aradhana: This 1969 film was the one that made Rajesh Khanna the superstar. Director by Shakti Samanta, the film had unforgettable songs and the man himself playing both lover and son of a suffering Sharmila Tagore.
'Amar Prem': Another Shakti Samanta classic, the 1972 film portrays human values and relationships in great depth, and has wonderful performances by Khanna as a businessman seeking love, and Sharmila Tagore as a woman sold to a brothel.
Anand: This 1971 film is arguably the actor's best work, in this wonderful Hrishikesh Mukherjee flick, Khanna played the role of a cancer patient who dies smiling with incredible ease.
Bawarchi: Here, Khanna plays the lovable cook, who unites a squabbling family. The 1972 film was remade as Hero No. 1 a few years back.
Kati Patang: The 1971 film had Asha Parekh pretending to be a widow, and deals with her trials and tribulations. Rajesh Khanna falls for her, but she keeps distancing herself from him.
Namak Haram: The 1973 film brought Kaka and Amitabh Bachchan together again after Anand. Khanna plays the poor friend of a rich Amitabh.
Safar: Another film in which Khanna played a cancer-afflicted patient, the 1970 film has Sharmila as her co-star again. The film also starred Feroz Khan.
Haati Mere Saathi: The biggest hit of 1971. Kaka plays an orphan, Raju, who makes a living by performing at street corners with elephants.
Daag: Sunil (Khanna), married to Sonia (Tagore), is forced to change identity and tie the knot with Chandni (Rakhee). The 1973 film is about how the mystery unravels.
Sachaa Jhutha: In a double role, Khanna plays a simple villager as well as a crook with equal conviction in this 1970 classic. The film also starred Vinod Khanna and Mumtaz.
