When Anju Mahendru revealed she never dated Sanjeev Kumar and her ex-bf Rajesh Khanna slapped him after reading about the rumours

Bollywood has always been rife with stories of camaraderie, rivalry, and sometimes intense personal misunderstandings that spill over onto sets. One such incident involves Bollywood’s first superstar, Rajesh Khanna, his ex-girlfriend Anju Mahendru, and the respected actor Sanjeev Kumar. This story took a turn when Khanna, affected by rumors, ended up slapping Sanjeev Kumar on set, leading to a lasting anecdote in Bollywood folklore.

During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Rajesh Khanna was a superstar like no other. His fame transcended cinema, making him a household name with an almost fanatical following. However, his personal life was equally dramatic. One of his most talked-about relationships was with actress Anju Mahendru. The two were together for six years, from 1966 to 1972, in what was a widely publicized relationship. However, things did not work out between them, and Anju Mahendru eventually rejected Rajesh Khanna’s proposal, leading to a painful split.

After the breakup, rumors began circulating about Anju Mahendru’s friendship with another leading actor of the time, Sanjeev Kumar. While Sanjeev Kumar and Anju Mahendru shared a close, platonic bond, whispers of a possible romance were enough to spark jealousy and misunderstanding.

According to Anju Mahendru, her relationship with Sanjeev Kumar was akin to that of a brother-sister bond. In fact, her mother even considered Sanjeev Kumar as part of the family, with Anju reportedly tying rakhi on his wrist as a symbol of sibling affection. “I never fell in love with Sanjeev Kumar,” she had once clarified in an interview with Filmfare. “For me, he was just my mother’s brother.”

However, in the heated world of Bollywood, where rumors can turn into supposed truths overnight, news of a possible affair between Anju  Mahendru and Sanjeev Kumar began to circulate. The rumours reportedly reached Rajesh Khanna, who, already upset over his breakup with Anju Mahendru, began to believe that she had moved on with Sanjeev Kumar. This assumption stirred jealousy and ignited a sense of betrayal in Khanna.

Years after these rumors had circulated, Rajesh Khanna and Sanjeev Kumar were cast together in a film. In one particular scene, Rajesh Khanna’s character was required to slap Sanjeev Kumar’s character. Usually, actors stage such scenes carefully to avoid any real physical impact. However, Rajesh Khanna, still harbouring resentment and influenced by the rumors of Sanjeev Kumar’s relationship with Anju, reportedly didn’t hold back. Instead of faking the slap, he delivered a real one, shocking the cast and crew present.

This slap became a widely discussed incident in the film industry, not just because of the physical act itself but because it highlighted the personal tensions and misunderstandings between two highly respected actors. Actress Anju Mahendru later confirmed that the slap was “out of sheer jealousy,” stemming from the unresolved emotions Rajesh Khanna harbored from their past relationship and the rumors that had surrounded her connection with Kumar.

Despite the dramatic incident, time healed some of the wounds. Anju  Mahendru and Rajesh Khanna eventually reconciled their differences. In the years following, particularly after 1988, the former lovers were known to have resumed speaking terms and even shared a friendship until Rajesh Khanna’s passing. In one of her interviews, Anju Mahendru reflected on her relationship with Sanjeev Kumar and how he had provided her moral support after her breakup with Khanna, describing him as “akin to a brother.”

The incident involving Rajesh Khanna’s slap is one of many Bollywood stories where personal lives impacted professional conduct. It serves as a reminder of how, even among stars, human emotions and misunderstandings can lead to actions that are later regretted. For fans and industry insiders, the story remains a fascinating chapter in Bollywood’s history, highlighting the complex relationships that defined the lives of these iconic figures.