Yasser Usman's book on Rajesh Khanna gets Audible version on former superstar's 9th death anniversary

The ninth anniversary of Rajesh Khanna's passing is as good a time as any to look back on the uniqueness of his stardom. On the occasion yesterday, Audible revived author Yasser Usman's biography of the actor, Rajesh Khanna: The Untold Story of India's First Superstar.

The book, published by Random House, collates interviews, quotes and anecdotes from the late actor's colleagues, directors and peers to offer a peek at his celebrated life. The audio book is now available for listeners online.

An example in the audiobook is from Sharmila Tagore, Khanna's co-star in superhit films like Aradhana (1969), Safar (1970) and Amar Prem (1972). She mentions how women came out in droves to see Khanna and would stand in queues outside the studios to catch a glimpse of him, marry his photograph, tug at his clothes, and what not.

“There was a long queue of women from nine to ninety outside the studio where we worked," Tagore remembers, with just a hint of exaggeration. "The hysteria was unprecedented.”

Tagore also says, “He [Rajesh Khanna] probably didn’t have the attributes that are normally associated with a hero, what he had was a disarming smile, youthful energy and an innate sense of drama and a well-modulated voice which he used to his fullest advantage.”

To this, Yasser Usman adds, “Mostly remembered as a romantic actor as he had a vulnerable lost air about him that made women of all ages feel safe around him.

“The news of Rajesh Khanna tying the knot ended up becoming the biggest event of the year. Hordes of women were left heartbroken, some of them went into a state of shock, while some who previously married his photo decided to wear white to symbolize widowhood.”

Despite the popularity, Khanna had his share of run-ins with directors. Including the maker of his most famous film Aradhana, Shakti Samanta. The book details one incident where, in an altercation about a retake for a scene in Aradhana, Khanna looked director Samanta in the eye and said, “Isse better performance aapko India mei koi nahi dega [No one in India can give you a better shot than this].” To which Samanta later remarked, “Rajesh Khanna is finished. He is dead. If he thinks this third-rate shot was great, obviously his mind wasn’t working.”

But the history books would disagree with Samanta as Aradhana proved to be a step in Khanna’s rise to superstardom.

Another such incident happened on the sets of the 1979 movie Janta Hawaldar. Noted comedian Mehmood complained that working with Khanna was a “harrowing experience”. “Mehmood even beat up Khanna before the end of filming,” says Yasser. “Mehmood complained that it was the company that Khanna kept that destroyed his career.”

Later, with more than three flop films in a row and the not-so-cute-boy looks, Khanna could see his career coming to an end in front of his very eyes. In the audiobook, the biographer says, “His fascination for whiskey and love for food started showing more than he would have liked.”

Yet, as Usman notes, “From the years 1969 to 1972, you will find his [Rajesh Khanna’s] name in any discussion on Hindi cinema as he was the face of mainstream cinema then.”

Jatin Khanna, a boy from Amritsar, Punjab, with big dreams, adopted the screen name Rajesh. Who knew it would be etched in so many hearts across the globe? He did it the hard way, as his biographer says. “During the United Producers Combine Talent hunt contest (1965), Jatin used his well-modulated voice to engross the judges with each passing line as he delivered a monologue during the final, which helped him beat 10,000 participants.”

He adds, “Rajesh Khanna’s struggles ended the day signed his contract with the United Producers Combine.”