Bollywood actress Dimple Kapadia Saturday called for naming a Rajesh Khanna Road, in memory of her late husband, who is considered Bollywood's original superstar.
Dimple, the estranged wife of Rajesh Khanna, made the request to union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajeev Shukla, who was present at the unveiling of a statue of the legendary actor here.
"He (Rajesh Khanna) was a Congress man. My request is that a road or a 'marg' be named after him. Also, if Carter Road could be named Rajesh Khanna road," Dimple said at a press conference here.
Rajesh Khanna had witnessed the biggest highs and lows of his life while he stayed at his Carter Road bungalow Aashirwad. He had also breathed his last at his iconic residence July 18, 2012 due to prolonged illness.
(L) Teary eyed Twinkle Khanna and Dimple kapadia unveil the statue. Photo by Bhaskar Paul
Shukla said he will take up the matter of naming a road after the actor, who gave five decades of life to entertaining movie buffs.
"His work and contribution was immense. I will take this wish up with the urban development ministry and see if a road can be named. He was a great parliamentarian and a very popular person.
"The concept of the superstar was started by him. Regarding Carter Road, I will have to talk to the Chief Minister if it has not been named after (music director) Naushad Ali-ji," he said.
Carter Road was reportedly renamed after Naushad Ali in 2008.
Photo by Bhaskar Paul
Rajesh Khanna's statue unveiled in family's presence
A statue of Bollywood's original superstar Rajesh Khanna was unveiled here Saturday in the presence of his family members - estranged wife Dimple Kapadia, daughter Twinkle Khanna, son-in-law Akshay Kumar, and other industry members.
Dimple and Twinkle had moist eyes as they stood next to the reverred actor's statue, which will be placed at the Walk of the Stars at the Bandra Bandstand Promenade here.
The statue is made of brass and signifies an iconic pose from Rajesh Khanna's "Anand". It features him holding a bunch of balloons. It will be installed along with statues of icons like Yash Chopra, Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand and Shammi Kapoor.
Praising the statue, Akshay said: "It is a nice statue. It means freedom and happiness...the balloons signify that one should always be free in life."
(L) Akshay Kumar, Twinkle Khanna, Dimple Kapadia and Zeenat Aman. Photo by Bhaskar Paul
Dimple thanked everyone for "gracing" the event in honour of "Kakaji", as Rajesh Khanna was lovingly called.
"I feel honoured to have known him and for being the mother of his two children," Dimple said while addressing a press conference here.
"Kakaji was an enigma. He lived and died on his own terms. His contribition to cinema was unparalleled. He was a superstar. His courage, bravery and fearlessness even in the time of death can't be forgotten. He was Anand and he lived like Anand. Life with him was like a rollercoaster," she added.
Akshay read out a note penned by his son Aarav for the event.
"My son has written something and I want to read it out. He was very close to him (his grandfather)," he said.
The note read: "I remember 10 days before my nana passed away, he was in bed. He had forgotten everyone, but remembered me. I don't know what happened to him and I still don't know. I know that he was great and still stays next to me."
Akshay said the unveiling of the statue was not just an important event for the family, but for everyone who knew the superstar, who breathed his last on July 18, 2012 following prolonged illness. He was 69.
"It is not only a great moment for the family but for everyone. It is a big thing that the statue will be placed with lot of actors like Shammi Kapoor and Raj Kapoor," he said.
Dimple Kapadia. Photo by Bhaskar Paul
Twinkle said it was a "sentimental" moment, and that her father "is there in my heart".
At the event, an audio-visual based on Rajesh Khanna's work in films over five decades of his association was shown too.
Other guests present at the unveiling included Asha Parekh, Mithun Chakraborty, Rakesh Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Jeetendra, Anju Mahendru, Zoya Akhtar, Randhir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Poonam Sinha, Hema Malini and Zeenat Aman.
Veteran actress Hema Malini said: "It is nice that they are honouring actors for their contribution. He was my colleague and we had a good time working together. I worked with him in good films, he was a good friend."
Dimple, the estranged wife of Rajesh Khanna, made the request to union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajeev Shukla, who was present at the unveiling of a statue of the legendary actor here.
"He (Rajesh Khanna) was a Congress man. My request is that a road or a 'marg' be named after him. Also, if Carter Road could be named Rajesh Khanna road," Dimple said at a press conference here.
Rajesh Khanna had witnessed the biggest highs and lows of his life while he stayed at his Carter Road bungalow Aashirwad. He had also breathed his last at his iconic residence July 18, 2012 due to prolonged illness.
(L) Teary eyed Twinkle Khanna and Dimple kapadia unveil the statue. Photo by Bhaskar Paul
Shukla said he will take up the matter of naming a road after the actor, who gave five decades of life to entertaining movie buffs.
"His work and contribution was immense. I will take this wish up with the urban development ministry and see if a road can be named. He was a great parliamentarian and a very popular person.
"The concept of the superstar was started by him. Regarding Carter Road, I will have to talk to the Chief Minister if it has not been named after (music director) Naushad Ali-ji," he said.
Carter Road was reportedly renamed after Naushad Ali in 2008.
Photo by Bhaskar Paul
Rajesh Khanna's statue unveiled in family's presence
A statue of Bollywood's original superstar Rajesh Khanna was unveiled here Saturday in the presence of his family members - estranged wife Dimple Kapadia, daughter Twinkle Khanna, son-in-law Akshay Kumar, and other industry members.
Dimple and Twinkle had moist eyes as they stood next to the reverred actor's statue, which will be placed at the Walk of the Stars at the Bandra Bandstand Promenade here.
The statue is made of brass and signifies an iconic pose from Rajesh Khanna's "Anand". It features him holding a bunch of balloons. It will be installed along with statues of icons like Yash Chopra, Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand and Shammi Kapoor.
Praising the statue, Akshay said: "It is a nice statue. It means freedom and happiness...the balloons signify that one should always be free in life."
(L) Akshay Kumar, Twinkle Khanna, Dimple Kapadia and Zeenat Aman. Photo by Bhaskar Paul
Dimple thanked everyone for "gracing" the event in honour of "Kakaji", as Rajesh Khanna was lovingly called.
"I feel honoured to have known him and for being the mother of his two children," Dimple said while addressing a press conference here.
"Kakaji was an enigma. He lived and died on his own terms. His contribition to cinema was unparalleled. He was a superstar. His courage, bravery and fearlessness even in the time of death can't be forgotten. He was Anand and he lived like Anand. Life with him was like a rollercoaster," she added.
Akshay read out a note penned by his son Aarav for the event.
"My son has written something and I want to read it out. He was very close to him (his grandfather)," he said.
The note read: "I remember 10 days before my nana passed away, he was in bed. He had forgotten everyone, but remembered me. I don't know what happened to him and I still don't know. I know that he was great and still stays next to me."
Akshay said the unveiling of the statue was not just an important event for the family, but for everyone who knew the superstar, who breathed his last on July 18, 2012 following prolonged illness. He was 69.
"It is not only a great moment for the family but for everyone. It is a big thing that the statue will be placed with lot of actors like Shammi Kapoor and Raj Kapoor," he said.
Dimple Kapadia. Photo by Bhaskar Paul
Twinkle said it was a "sentimental" moment, and that her father "is there in my heart".
At the event, an audio-visual based on Rajesh Khanna's work in films over five decades of his association was shown too.
Other guests present at the unveiling included Asha Parekh, Mithun Chakraborty, Rakesh Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Jeetendra, Anju Mahendru, Zoya Akhtar, Randhir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Poonam Sinha, Hema Malini and Zeenat Aman.
Veteran actress Hema Malini said: "It is nice that they are honouring actors for their contribution. He was my colleague and we had a good time working together. I worked with him in good films, he was a good friend."
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