India, Dec 03 : If India’s first superstar Rajesh Khanna were alive today, he would have turned 83. Known as the undisputed King of Hindi cinema, Khanna’s later years were marked by solitude, with few true friends. Yet, he shared an extraordinary bond with Kamal Haasan, the doyen of Tamil cinema.
Kamal Haasan recalls their friendship, which began when Khanna visited Chennai frequently for South Indian remakes. “I refused to call him ‘Kaka’ like everyone else. I wanted to call him Bade Bhaiyya or Mr Khanna. That infuriated him. He introduced me as an upcoming actor from the South whenever we were in Mumbai,” Kamal said.
Their time together ranged from philosophical discussions on life to adventures in cinemas. Haasan recounted taking Khanna to watch the American film The Swarm at a public theatre in the city. Unaware of the crowd’s reaction, Khanna stayed until the end, giggling like a child as chaos erupted when audiences realized the superstar was present. “I became his bodyguard for that night,” Kamal laughs.
The friendship extended to cinema collaborations. Khanna watched many of Kamal’s films for potential remakes. When Khanna decided to remake Sigappu Rojakkal as Red Rose, he insisted Kamal attend the mahurat in Mumbai and even wanted the exact cap worn in the original film. “Mr Khanna was livid when the cap didn’t arrive in time. He wanted only that one cap,” Kamal recalled, highlighting the superstar’s meticulous nature and larger than life aura.
Despite their strong bond, their friendship eventually ended on a sour note at a party, where Khanna’s demeanor was less than courteous. Yet, Kamal Haasan remains fascinated by Khanna’s charisma and impact on Indian cinema.
“Observing him taught me the highs and lows of stardom. Our friendship may have ended, but the lessons, laughter, and memories remain unforgettable,” Kamal reflected.