Rajesh Khanna; born Jatin
Khanna; was an Indian actor, film producer and politician who worked
in Hindi films. Considered as one of the greatest and most successful
actors in the history of Indian cinema, he is known as the first Superstar of Hindi
cinema. His accolades include five Filmfare Awards, and in 2013, he was
posthumously awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian
honour.
Khanna made his debut in 1966 Aakhri Khat which was India's
first official Academy Awards entry in 1967. In 2005, he was
honoured with the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award on the 50th
anniversary of the Filmfare Awards. He was a Member of Parliament in the
10th Lok Sabha from New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency between 1992
and 1996, elected in the 1992 New Delhi by-election as an Indian National
Congress candidate.
He married Dimple Kapadia in March 1973, eight months before her
debut film Bobby was released and had two daughters from the
marriage. Their elder daughter Twinkle Khanna is a former actress married
to actor Akshay Kumar, while their younger daughter Rinke Khanna is
also a former film actress.
Khanna died on 18 July 2012, after a period of illness. He has been
honoured with a stamp and statue in his likeness, and a road renamed after him
by the Prime Minister of India.