At the peak of his fame, Rajesh Khanna’s visit to Pune caused such chaos that paramilitary forces had to step in as thousands of fans blocked roads and surrounded his car.
Long before the advent of social media and fan clubs, Rajesh Khanna captured the hearts of millions like no other. During his peak in the 1970s, he was hailed as the original ‘superstar of Indian cinema’ and once caused Pune to come to a complete standstill – so much so that paramilitary forces had to intervene to rescue him from an overwhelming crowd of fans.
This incident was brought back into the spotlight recently when actor Satyajeet Puri, who shared the screen with Khanna, reminisced about that unforgettable day during a discussion on the Friday Talkies podcast.
ЁЯОм Seven Hours of Chaos in Pune
Puri recounted that the chaos unfolded while filming a Shakti Samanta movie in Pune. Khanna’s arrival sparked mass hysteria as thousands of fans flocked to the location for a glimpse of their idol. The roads were blocked for a staggering seven hours, effectively paralyzing the city.
Women were seen clinging to the tires of his car, unwilling to let it pass, while throngs of people surrounded his vehicle from every direction. The situation became so intense that paramilitary forces were called in to manage the crowd and ensure the actor’s safe passage to the filming site.
Even though he was the most beloved celebrity in India at that time, Khanna’s immense fame also brought its own set of challenges – he ended up arriving seven hours late to the shoot, which prompted a furious reaction from director Shakti Samanta, renowned for his classics like Aradhana, Amar Prem, and Kati Patang.
ЁЯТл Stardom Beyond Imagination
Rajesh Khanna’s superstardom during the late 1960s and early 1970s was truly unparalleled. Affectionately known as ‘Kaka’ by his fans, he delivered a string of blockbuster hits and became synonymous with Indian romance and allure.
From fans penning letters in blood to his images being revered, Khanna’s fame went beyond the realm of cinema. His magnetic presence defined a generation before Amitabh Bachchan’s emergence and continues to set a standard for contemporary icons like Shah Rukh Khan.