He is widely recognized as the first true superstar of Hindi cinema, Rajesh Khanna He redefined popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s. His fame was so extraordinary that the word “superstar” became almost synonymous with his identity. But the story behind what came to be known with that title has an interesting backstory, recently revisited in a revamped video featuring advertising agent Tarak Nath Gandhi.Recalling the strategy, Gandhi shared, “Har news ke baad jab hum bhejte the kuch toh uske saath saath Rajesh Khanna ke aage hum ‘superstar Rajesh Khanna’ like the. Toh usme bohot se journalists ko takleef hoti thi. Voh bole, ‘Hum superstarkyu Rajesh?’ Unko samjana padta tha. Kabhi unse prem se baat karte the, kabhi samjha ke baat karte the, kabhi dinner pe le jaate the, kabhi present dete the…”
He further explained, “Ek cheez jab baar baar set hoti hai, baar baar jab kaha jaata hai, toh voh baat sahi nikalti hai.”The clip, which has been resurfaced on Reddit, sparked a wave of backlash from users, many of whom admitted that despite promoting the title, Khanna’s work ultimately vindicated it.One person wrote: “Dude, he was a big star regardless.” Another comment read: “And they made sure he had the title he deserved.” Someone added, “Specifically, Rajesh Khanna delivered 17 blockbusters in a span of two years – he deserved the title of superstar.” Someone else wrote: “Of course they care about their image, but it’s far-fetched to think that’s the only reason they got that label. They had crazy success to back it up.“Khanna’s journey began after winning the United Producers Talent Contest in 1965, which paved the way for him to enter cinema. However, it was 1969 that really transformed his career. Liberation of Aradhana, opposite Sharmila Tagorecatapulted him to overnight stardom. Songs like Mere Sapno Ki Rani and Roop Tera Mastana became timeless classics.What followed was a historic success. Between 1969 and 1971, Khanna had an unprecedented streak of 17 consecutive hits. Films like Do Raaste, Kati Patang, Safar, Anand, Amar Prem and Haathi Mere Saathi cemented his dominance at the box office.His fan following reached a level rarely seen before or since. Stories of admirers writing letters in blood, kissing cars and leaving lip marks became part of Bollywood folklore. Public appearances often turned chaotic, with huge crowds gathering to catch a glimpse of “Kaka,” as he was affectionately called. At movie premieres, fans would throw coins, scream uncontrollably, and wait hours to see him.Even after generations of stars, Rajesh Khanna’s peak is unmatched in terms of sheer hysteria and the deep emotional connection he shared with the audience.
