Rajesh Khanna, the legendary Bollywood star, was adored by millions of fans, especially women, during the height of his career. However, his personal life was marked by turmoil, particularly in his later years, when he was involved in a complicated relationship with Anita Advani. Anita, who claimed to be Rajesh Khanna's girlfriend during the last decade of his life, opened up about the challenges she faced living with him. In a candid interview with Rediff in 2013, she revealed the darker side of the man who was known as the "First Superstar" of Indian cinema.
Anita described Rajesh Khanna as a “difficult man to live with,” explaining that he became rude and sometimes even hurtful after a few drinks. She recalled that he would often drink from around 6:30 pm, and this would set off a chain of events that would make him unpredictable and difficult to be around. "The bad time was from 6:30 pm when he started drinking, till dinner time. He would go to sleep at 9 or 9:30," Anita shared.
She went on to explain that his behavior during this time could be very erratic, with no clear or logical reason for his anger. “Anything could upset him. It was like he had to get angry; the reasons were never important or logical. It was really difficult,” she said, revealing the strain she endured.
Despite this, Anita also emphasized that Rajesh Khanna was not always like this. "When he was not drunk, he was the best person to be around," she said. This duality in his personality made the relationship difficult to navigate, as Anita learned to tread carefully around him. She recalled that Rajesh had specifically asked her to not argue with him when he was drunk, even if he was wrong. "He told me, ‘Even if I am wrong, just keep quiet,’" Anita revealed.
One of the most distressing aspects of their relationship was that Rajesh Khanna would sometimes "hurt" her when he was under the influence of alcohol. Anita described how, during his drinking sessions, he could become physically and emotionally abusive. “When he was drunk, he would even hurt me sometimes. But when he was not drunk he was the best person to be around,” she confided, acknowledging the pain she endured in the relationship. Despite this, she did not seem to regret her choice to be with him, adding, “He was my choice. I didn’t regret it.”
However, it wasn’t all difficult. Anita also shared that Rajesh had a gentler, more affectionate side. She spoke about the unusual hours they kept, saying that Rajesh would often wake up around 3 a.m. in a cheerful mood. "Around 3 in the morning, he would wake up and be in such a good mood. He would laugh and talk and smoke," she said. During these late-night hours, they would often go for drives to places like Juhu or other parts of the city, talking and laughing as if everything was normal. She also mentioned that Rajesh would always get up early for his morning tea, making sure to get one for her as well. "He would get me my cup of tea too every morning," she added with a hint of affection in her voice.
In another part of the interview, Anita revealed that Rajesh had become somewhat of a recluse in his later years. She described how he feared being alone and would leave the lights on and the television running to create the illusion of having people around him. "He missed having people around him. We would switch on all the lights and switch on the television and go to sleep because he wanted to feel that people were around," Anita recalled.
The truth about Rajesh Khanna’s personal life reveals a man who was a complex mix of charm, talent, and inner turmoil. While he was celebrated as a star on screen, his off-screen life was fraught with difficulties, particularly in his relationship with Anita Advani. She seemed to have been deeply invested in him, despite the painful aspects of their time together. In the end, Rajesh Khanna passed away in 2012 at the age of 69, leaving behind a legacy of iconic roles and an enigmatic personal life.
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