When Rajesh Khanna stood on his rooftop and questioned God after 17 consecutive flops

Late actor Rajesh Khanna

Rajesh Khanna, a Bollywood legend, is celebrated for his remarkable streak of 17 consecutive hits, earning him the title of the industry's first major superstar. Famous for films like Aradhana, Amar Prem, and Haathi Mere Saathi, Khanna once described his success as feeling "next to God." However, his career faced a significant setback with the rise of Amitabh Bachchan and a series of box-office disappointments. This sudden decline led him to make a pivotal decision in his life.

In a revealing interview earlier with Movie magazine in 1990, Rajesh Khanna opened up about a deeply personal moment of crisis that occurred during a dark and stormy night. The iconic actor, known for his earlier string of hits, described how he experienced a dramatic emotional breakdown while alone on his rooftop. At the time, Khanna was grappling with his first taste of failure after a streak of seven consecutive flops at the box office. The weight of this professional downturn overwhelmed him, leaving him feeling lost and vulnerable. In his state of despair, he found himself questioning his faith and his place in the industry that had once revered him.

This emotional outpouring, which deeply alarmed both his wife, Dimple Kapadia, and his staff, was a result of the stark contrast between the immense success he had once enjoyed and the crushing reality of his recent setbacks. Khanna's vulnerability on that rainy night revealed the human side of a star who had once felt untouchable.

In the same interview, Rajesh Khanna also confessed that during the decline of his career, he sought solace in alcohol. Acknowledging his vulnerability, he admitted that he wasn't superhuman and struggled to cope with the failures. He vividly recalled a moment when, after facing seven consecutive flops, he found himself intoxicated at 3 am, overwhelmed by the weight of his struggles.

Rajesh Khanna's career was marked by an incredible streak of 17 consecutive hits, with iconic films that became milestones in Bollywood history. Some of these unforgettable classics include Sachaa Jhutha, Aan Milo Sajna, Khamoshi, The Train, Do Raaste, Bandhan, Kati Patang, Doli, Aradhana, Choti Bahu, Andaz, Mehboob Ki Mehendi, Safar, Maryada, Ittefaq, Anand, and Haathi Mere Saathi.

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But this remarkable success came to an end in 1971 when the film Badnam Farishte failed at the box office, marking the first significant setback in Khanna's career.

However, fate had other plans for the actor. The very next day, in a twist of fortune, producer Balaji offered him the film Amar Deep (1958), which marked a significant turning point in his career. This unexpected opportunity helped Rajesh Khanna regain his footing in the film industry, and eventually, he would go on to solidify his legacy as one of Bollywood's greatest superstars.