MUMBAI: Rajesh Khanna, who is known as one of the first superstars of Hindi cinema, passed away in 2012, but his final project was an ode to his fans. Kaka, as he was fondly known by his admirers, was last seen on screen in an advertisement for Havells Fans. 

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In a recent interview, director R Balki, who shot that ad, recalled how Kaka was in the hospital just days before the shoot and flew to set in an air ambulance.

Balki shared that when he thought of casting Rajesh Khanna for the ad, Havells questioned his choice, but he said, “I don’t think anybody had as many fans as he did, and I don’t think anybody lost as many fans as he did.” 

In a chat with Radio Nasha, he recalled his first meeting with Rajesh Khanna at his bungalow Aashirvaad. Balki clarified that the ad was basically a dig on Kaka’s superstardom, and hearing this, the actor said, “Balki, you think I would have been such a big superstar if I didn’t have a sense of humour.”

Just three days before the shoot, the actor was in the hospital, and when Balki suggested that they postpone the shoot, Rajesh said, “Balki, I am coming.” The director recalled that in three days, “he made sure that he had an air ambulance.” 

The ad was shot in Bangalore, and Kaka came to the set from the airport. “He went to the room. He said, ‘Balki, I want to rehearse.’ I went to his room. There was a guy holding the drip bottle, there was another guy holding the stand. He was trying to dance in the room. I had tears in my eyes. He said, ‘Tomorrow morning, I am on’,” he recalled.

On the day of the shoot, Balki recalled that there were people there to assist him, but when the time came to face the camera, he ripped off he drips and said, ‘Come on, action.’ 

Balki recalled that Rajesh gave two takes, and after that he said, “Sorry I would like one more take but can’t do it.” The director shared that the ad was shot in an hour and a half, and soon after the wrap, the veteran actor left.

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Balki shared that Rajesh probably never even saw the ad, as he was severely ill and passed away shortly afterwards. “I don’t think he saw the ad when it was done finally because he passed away very soon after that. I didn’t know he was so close to going away on that particular day but he made sure that he came and enjoyed himself. This was a truly truly touching experience,” he recalled.

Rajesh Khanna passed away at the age of 69.

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Credits - The Indian Express