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This is an archive article published on July 18, 2023

Anju Mahendroo remembers Rajesh Khanna on his death anniversary, had spoken about holding his hand when he passed away

Anju Mahendroo and Rajesh Khanna were in a relationship for years before he tied the knot with Dimple Kapadia in March 1973.

Anju Mahendroo, Rajesh KhannaAnju Mahendroo has remembered Rajesh Khanna on his death anniversary. (Photo: Anju Mahendroo/Twitter)
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Anju Mahendroo remembers Rajesh Khanna on his death anniversary, had spoken about holding his hand when he passed away
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Veteran actor Anju Mahendroo on Tuesday remembered actor Rajesh Khanna on his 11th death anniversary. Anju took to Twitter and posted a picture of his photo frame, with a candle and garlands around it.

Before he tied the knot with actor Dimple Kapadia in 1973, Rajesh Khanna was in a relationship with Anju Mahendroo for years. Although the two never married, Anju was a prominent part of Rajesh’s life until he passed away in 2012. She took to Twitter and posted a picture of Rajesh, writing, “11 years !!! 🙏”.

Rajesh Khanna emerged as a superstar with his 1969 hit Aradhana and soon there were reports that he was in a relationship with Anju Mahendroo, which couldn’t last long. In Yasser Usman’s book on the life of the actor, Rajesh Khanna: The Untold Story of India’s First Superstar, Anju talks about how Rajesh was exhilarated when he saw the effect he had on women and expected the same out of her.

The book quotes a 1973 interview from Stardust where Anju said, “He wanted me to fuss over him like all those others who are perpetually falling at his feet. I loved him. I couldn’t fawn over him. To me, he was Jatin or Justin. A man I loved, not Rajesh Khanna, Superstar or The Phenomenon.”

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In an interview with Times of India after Khanna’s death, director Mahesh Bhatt recalled calling Mahendroo as he knew she would be affected by his death. He said he found out that Khanna and Anju had got together in the last years of his life. He said she used to take care of his medical needs and even accompanied him to hospital. He said holding back her tears, she said her only consolation is that she was holding his hand when he took his last breath.

Earlier this year, veteran actor Mumtaz spoke about Anju and Rajesh’s relationship, mentioning how she took care of the actor and even looked after his meals. Mumtaz said it was beyond her imagination when Rajesh and Anju parted ways. The 75-year-old actor shared with Times of India, “It was not right on his (Rajesh Khanna) part to do that. If you are not getting along with anybody, you need to call that person, sit down with him/her and inform that person.”

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