Click here to follow Screen Digital on YouTube and stay updated with the latest from the world of cinema.
© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Rajesh Khanna was one of the biggest superstars of his era, but towards the end of his life, his stardom declined. Kaka, as he was fondly known by his fans, could not cope with his dwindling fame, and so, he contemplated participating in the reality show Bigg Boss. Rajesh was approached to be a contestant on the show and though he rejected the offer at first, he appeared to reconsider his decision later. In a recent chat, his alleged girlfriend Anita Advani recalled that period in his life, and said that she was in shock when Kaka expressed his willingness to be on the show.
In a chat with Mid-day, she shared that she was there when he was offered Bigg Boss. “They were paying him a huge amount. They also went to Delhi to convince him and he was contemplating, whether he should or not. So, one night, he said, ‘I think if I go to Bigg Boss, I will become a better person’. I said, ‘What?’ I got the shock of my life. He and Bigg Boss? I said, ‘No Kakaji, not at all. You have such an aura and personality, I don’t think you can fit there’.”
Anita recalled telling him how the show works, and that the contestants have to participate in household chores, which was perhaps not something that Rajesh had ever done in his life. “I told him ‘Vahan bartan manjwate hain (They make you do the dishes). He said ‘Mere se bhi manjwayenge? (They will ask me to do it?)’ I said ‘Nahi, aapse toh shayad nahi (No, not from you I guess.) I told him, ‘Vahan khana bhi nahi milta theek se (They don’t give you proper food.). He said ‘Refugee hain kya? (Are they refugees?)'” Anita participated in the show after Rajesh’s death in 2012.
As per a Rediff article from 2012, journalist Ali Peter John claimed that Bigg Boss makers approached him to secure Rajesh Khanna’s participation. He recalled, “Once, the makers of Bigg Boss called me to fix a meeting with him; they wanted him in the Bigg Boss house. But he said, ‘Nahin, nahin, Rajesh Khanna aise show thodi karega (Rajesh Khanna won’t work in such shows)’.” The channel was willing to pay him Rs 3.5 crore per episode but Rajesh said no. Later, when he said yes, the channel had moved on.
Click here to follow Screen Digital on YouTube and stay updated with the latest from the world of cinema.
