New Delhi:
A little known movie called Wafaa: A Deadly Love Story released in 2008, and starred Rajesh Khanna, then 65, as the hero. The movie, directed by Rakhi Sawant's brother Rakesh, was meant to be a comeback of sorts for Mr Khanna. It had been 30 years since Mr Khanna had ruled the box office as Bollywood's king of romance and it's highest paid actor.
Wafaa sank without a trace when it released on December 19, 2008 and earned only negative reviews. There was to be no reviving Rajesh Khanna's career. The actor died four years later, on July 18, 2012. (Read: Rajesh Khanna's funeral pyre lit by Akshay Kumar, grandson Aarav)
But unremarkable as the movie was at the time, it has now sparked interest, not only because it will have the dubious distinction of being Mr Khanna's last film as romantic lead, but also because of the actress who played his leading lady.
That actress was Laila Khan, who disappeared with her family in February 2011. On July 10, 2012, Laila's body was found with six others, her mother and siblings, buried near a farmhouse she owned in Igatpuri near Mumbai. Her stepfather, Parvez Tak, confessed to the killing. (Read: Even in death, Rajesh Khanna inspired fan frenzy )
Laila was also suspected of connections with terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba. Her Mitsubishi Outlander was allegedly used to transport explosives for the bomb blast at the Delhi High Court in September 2011.
Wafaa was Laila's debut, and possibly her only, film. She played Rajesh Khanna's unfaithful wife in the movie.
Wafaa sank without a trace when it released on December 19, 2008 and earned only negative reviews. There was to be no reviving Rajesh Khanna's career. The actor died four years later, on July 18, 2012. (Read: Rajesh Khanna's funeral pyre lit by Akshay Kumar, grandson Aarav)
But unremarkable as the movie was at the time, it has now sparked interest, not only because it will have the dubious distinction of being Mr Khanna's last film as romantic lead, but also because of the actress who played his leading lady.
That actress was Laila Khan, who disappeared with her family in February 2011. On July 10, 2012, Laila's body was found with six others, her mother and siblings, buried near a farmhouse she owned in Igatpuri near Mumbai. Her stepfather, Parvez Tak, confessed to the killing. (Read: Even in death, Rajesh Khanna inspired fan frenzy )
Laila was also suspected of connections with terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba. Her Mitsubishi Outlander was allegedly used to transport explosives for the bomb blast at the Delhi High Court in September 2011.
Wafaa was Laila's debut, and possibly her only, film. She played Rajesh Khanna's unfaithful wife in the movie.
