News Summary
- Veteran actor Raju Shrestha recalled Rajesh Khanna refusing to go downstairs to meet Akshay Kumar.
- Khanna reportedly said he was the father-in-law and Akshay should come to him instead.
- Raju Shrestha also described a confrontation between Jaya Bachchan and Khanna over a remark about Amitabh.
- Raju Shrestha worked with Rajesh Khanna in the 1972 film Bawarchi.
Rajesh Khanna once refused to walk downstairs to greet Akshay Kumar at his own bungalow. Veteran actor Raju Shrestha, known in the industry as Master Raju, shared this account in a recent interview, offering a rare look at how Khanna carried himself even in private.
According to Raju Shrestha, Akshay Kumar had arrived at Khanna’s home to meet him. Someone informed Khanna, who was sitting upstairs in a room. Khanna’s response was direct: “Main uska sasur hoon, woh aayega mere paas, main kyun jaoon.” Translated plainly, he said he was the father-in-law and Akshay should come to him, not the other way around. Akshay Kumar is married to Twinkle Khanna, Rajesh Khanna’s daughter.
Rajesh Khanna and the Tension With a Changing Bollywood
Raju Shrestha worked alongside Rajesh Khanna in Bawarchi, the 1972 film directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee. That shared history gave him a close view of Khanna’s personality and the pressures he faced as the industry shifted around him.
Raju recalled another charged moment involving Jaya Bachchan, then known as Jaya Bhaduri. Khanna had reportedly made a remark about Amitabh Bachchan, who was still building his name at the time. Jaya Bachchan confronted Khanna directly over the comment and stood up for Amitabh. Raju described the exchange as a reflection of the tension building as Amitabh’s star began to rise.
“He didn’t want to be replaced by Big B,” Raju said. Amitabh Bachchan’s films like Zanjeer shifted Bollywood’s appetite from romantic leads toward harder, action-driven characters. Khanna, widely regarded as Hindi cinema’s first superstar, found that transition difficult, according to Raju.
What These Stories Say About Rajesh Khanna’s Legacy
Rajesh Khanna’s contribution to Indian cinema is not in question. He delivered a run of hit films through the late 1960s and early 1970s that no actor had matched before him. What these anecdotes add is texture: a man who guarded his sense of position fiercely, whether on a film set or in his own home.
Raju Shrestha’s recollections do not diminish that legacy. They show a superstar who understood exactly where he stood and expected the world around him to acknowledge it too. For Khanna, respect was not something he asked for quietly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Rajesh Khanna refuse to meet Akshay Kumar downstairs?
According to Raju Shrestha, Rajesh Khanna said he was the father-in-law and it was Akshay’s place to come to him, not the other way around. Akshay Kumar is married to Twinkle Khanna, Rajesh Khanna’s daughter.
Who is Raju Shrestha and how did he know Rajesh Khanna?
Raju Shrestha, known as Master Raju, is a veteran actor who worked with Rajesh Khanna in the 1972 film Bawarchi. He recently shared these personal anecdotes about Khanna in a public interview.
What was the confrontation between Jaya Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna about?
Rajesh Khanna reportedly made a remark about Amitabh Bachchan, who was still an emerging star at the time. Jaya Bachchan confronted Khanna over the comment and defended Amitabh directly.
Is Rajesh Khanna related to Akshay Kumar?
Yes. Akshay Kumar is married to Twinkle Khanna, who is Rajesh Khanna’s daughter. That made Rajesh Khanna Akshay Kumar’s father-in-law.
