Bollywood's first superstar Rajesh Khanna dies at 69

Actor Rajesh Khanna has died at home in Mumbai. He was 69. Mr Khanna was suffering from cancer. Mr Khanna will be cremated Thursday morning. His bungalow, Aashirwad, on Carter Road in Bandra has been cordoned off by the police. Mr Khanna had been hospitalized on June 23, when he was taken to Lilavati Hospital to be treated for exhaustion, and spent some days having tests. He was discharged on Tuesday (July 17, 2012).

Rajesh Khanna was born in Amritsar on December 29, 1942, as Jatin Khanna, the adopted son of his parents.

Rajesh Khanna and Jeetendra studied together at the St. Sebastian Goan High School in Girgaum and went to Kishinchand Chellaram College. They remained lifelong friends.

Rajesh Khanna was reportedly in a relationship with actress and costume designer Anju Mahendru for seven years.

After breaking up with Anju Mahendru, Rajesh Khanna married the then budding star Dimple Kapadia, who at 16 was 15 years younger to him, in 1973. The couple separated in 1984.

They never officially divorced. Dimple was to nurse her estranged husband all through his long illness.

The couple have two daughters Twinkle and Rinke Khanna. Both tried their luck in the film industry.

Rajesh Khanna made his film debut in a 1966 film Aakhri Khat, followed by Raaz opposite Babita, but neither was a major success.

He was noticed for his performance in his next film Baharon Ke Sapne which was followed by box office successes like Aurat (1967) and Khamoshi.

Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore came together for Aradhana in 1969, and the sensuality between them was an instant hit.

He formed a brilliant team with director Shakti Samanta, music director RD Burman and 'his voice', singer Kishore Kumar. They delivered blockbuster films such as Kati Patang(1970) and Amar Prem(1971).

With Hrishikesh Mukherjee, one of India's best-loved directors, Rajesh Khanna delivered fine performances in Bawarchi (1972) and Namak Haram(1973).

Kishore Kumar sung several songs for Rajesh Khanna in the 1970s. One of them Mere Sapnon Ki Rani sung by Kishore da for the film Aradhana starring Sharmila Tagore became the most popular song of its generation.

Rajesh Khanna had 15 consecutive hits between 1969 to 1972, which is still a Bollywood record.

In 1973 Rajesh Khanna's films started to flop. Daag (1973),Aap ki Kasam (1974), Prem Nagar (1974) and Roti (1974) still kept him afloat.

Media reports at the time suggested that Rajesh Khanna's unpredictable behaviour on the sets of his films was the prime cause of his downfall.

Even films with old regulars such as Ajnabee (1974), Mehbooba (1976), and Anurodh(1977) with Shakti Samanta and Naukri(1978) with Hrishida, didn't do well.

Rajesh Khanna bounced back with Amardeep and then again started giving many critically acclaimed and commercially successful films starting from 1979 till 1991.

In early 90s, he turned to politics and served a five-year tenure as an MP of New Delhi Constituency (1991 to 1996).

Rajesh Khanna hit the headlines once again for a kissing and love-making scene in Rakesh Sawant's (Rakhi Sawant's brother) film Wafaa.

He also appeared in a TV serial Raghukul Reet Sada Chali Aayi that began in November 2008 and ended in September 2009.

Rajesh Khanna has been awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Legend Golden Actor Award and the IIFA 2009 Life Time Achievement Award.

In 2001 and 2002, Rajesh played major roles in two television serials: Aapne Parai and Ittefaq. He performed in a video album based on Tagore's songs (Rabindra Sangeet) without payment.