Rajesh Khanna recalled he ‘couldn’t say no’ to Rajiv Gandhi’s smile when he asked him to contest elections: ‘Ab aur kya filmein karni hain, bahut hogaya’

In an old interview, late actor Rajesh Khanna had opened up about how he couldn't turn down Rajiv Gandhi when he asked him to contest elections.

By: Entertainment Desk

New Delhi | June 9, 2025 04:42 PM IST

3 min read

Rajesh Khanna revealed that Rajiv Gandhi insisted him to contest for the elections (Photo: Express Archives)

Late actor-politician Rajesh Khanna shared a close relationship with former PM, late Rajiv Gandhi. After doing over 170 films in Hindi cinema, Khanna shifted his focus towards politics and even campaigned for the Indian National Congress in 1984. Moreover, it was his friend and former PM Rajiv Gandhi, who encouraged him to contest for his party in Rajya Sabha elections. In an old interview, the Anand actor revealed that Rajiv Gandhi insisted him to fight the elections and he couldn’t turn him down because of his smile. However, he pulled his guard up when the party asked him to contest again for Lok Sabha.

During a conversation with Lehren Retro, Rajesh Khanna shared that he refused to contest initially. He said, “After Indira Gandhi ji passed away and there was a tight friendship between me and Rajiv ji, I used to campaign for Congress in every election. Then one day, he asked me to contest the election. I told him ki hum doosri biraadari se hain (our fraternity is a bit different). This is not our work.”

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However, when asked again, he couldn’t say no and eventually won the elections. “But, he asked me again to contest from New Delhi. I still remember his smile, I couldn’t say no. I fought the elections and became the member of Parliament from Delhi after winning,” he added.

The actor also felt that he had already worked for years in the film industry and it was time for him to move on. “I had already done 170 films by then. I felt that I’ve already done so much work, ab aur kya filmein karni hain? Bahut ho gaya,” he recalled.

However, Khanna didn’t have any greed for political position and power, hence decided to take a step backwards. “For the next election for Lok Sabha, my high command asked me to contest again. But, I denied, because Lok Sabha is not our cup of tea. But, if you think I can be of any use for our country in Rajya Sabha, I am more than happy to be there. I have to serve the Congress, I don’t care about any position or power,” he said.

Rajesh Khanna won the 1992 by-election for Congress from the New Delhi constituency, retaining his seat until 1996 after which he wasn’t keen about active politics.

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