‘Rajesh Khanna would sometimes hit me,’ claims alleged girlfriend Anita Advani: ‘I would also hit him, that was my reflex action’

Rajesh Khanna's alleged live-in girlfriend, Anita Advani, said that the superstar would hit her, and she hit him back.

New Delhi | February 22, 2025 01:56 PM IST

3 min read

Rajesh Khanna's alleged girlfriend Anita Advani said he would hit her. (Photo: Express Archives)

Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia got married in 1973, but in less than a decade’s time, they separated. They never got back together, but they did not divorce each other either. However, Rajesh allegedly started living with former actor Anita Advani in 2004, and continued to do so till his death in 2012. In a recent interview, Anita said that she would fast for him during Karva Chauth, but alleged that he would sometimes be physically abusive towards her. She admitted that she would hit him back in retaliation.

In a chat on the YouTube channel Avanti Films, Anita was asked about the legitimacy of their relationship since they never married each other, and she said, “He gave me a ‘kada’ in front of Balaji. He accepted me.” She added that for 28 years before that, there was no one with him, as he had already separated from Dimple. When asked about his nature, she said said he was “very calm,” and “wasn’t violent,” but immediately added, “But he would sometimes hit me. So I would hit him back. That was my reflex action. He would complain that my nail cut him.”

In the same chat, Anita was asked about Rajesh and Dimple’s relationship, and why they never divorced each other despite the long separation. “I don’t want to comment about them. That was their personal life. They knew why they were not doing it,” she said.

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After Rajesh Khanna’s death in 2012, Anita Advani participated in Bigg Boss 7 in 2013. In a chat with Rediff at the time, she had alleged that he would hurt her after getting drunk. “He was a difficult man to live with. After a drink or two, he could be rude. You had to really know his moves and manage him. I learnt to deal with him. Earlier, I would fight and argue with him. But he made me understand. He told me ‘Even if I am wrong, just keep quiet’. Anything could upset him. It was like he had to get angry; the reasons were never important or logical. It was really difficult. When he was drunk, he would even hurt me sometimes. But when he was not drunk, he was the best person to be around,” she said.

Rajesh Khanna passed away in 2012 at 69.

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