asherxai: 2012

'X'

'X' is a village in Raigad district of Maharashtra. It is located right across Mumbai, about 12 miles north of Alibaug on the north coast.

'X' is a landing place of some importance. The coastal town is hidden in a grove of cocoa-palms at the head of a short broad bay with a shallow sandy beach.

The western coast of India is notorious for smuggling of narcotics and arms.

Western India saw huge illicit exports of opium in the 19th century and 'X' was one such transit point.

The British had a clear understanding of the importance of the place. 'X', it is believed, was a transit point of opium trade within the British Empire. Records show that between 1874 and 1882, X's legal exports alone made the English richer by £46,788 - a whopping Rs 28,10,08,728 (approx) in today's currency.

'X' has always been infamous as a port for nefarious activities. However , the illegal trade here is still unaccounted for.

Hindi cinema's love affair with 'X' continues unabated as many films [like 'Saagar' (1985), 'Insaaf' (1987) etc.] have been shot here.

However, 'X' has been popularised by an iconic Hindi film 'Y'.

In one of the scenes from 'Y', one of the main characters from the film, 'Z', tells the reason why he wants 'X' : "This place is so close to Mumbai, yet it is beyond the reach of law's long arm. It's ideally suited for my shady business."

This is an advantage 'X' probably enjoys even now.

In the film 'Y', this Opel car with the hand-written number plate, belongs to 'Z'.

In the film 'Y', the place 'X' catapults the character 'Z' to power and prosperity. In 25 years, he sets up illegal businesses in Shimoga, Daman, Porbander, Jaisalmer, Dhanbad and Kohima, and bases himself in Mauritius.

Identify 'X', 'Y' and 'Z'.

This is the first part of a two part series on Rajesh Khanna.

The first part focuses on Rajesh Khanna's personal life. The second part will focus on 'The Film Career of Rajesh Khanna'.

01.

"When I was born, 'Dharam' - meaning faith - was prefixed to 'Dev',
to form my full name. My name was never 'Devdutt' as some websites will have it, refusing to rectify the error in spite of my repeated clarifications in the print and electronic media."

Dev Anand in his autobiography 'Romancing With Life'.

As in the case of Dev Anand saab, nowhere on the web do we find a mention of the real name of Rajesh Khanna. Almost everywhere, his birth name is stated as 'Jatin'.

However, Rajesh 'Jatin' Khanna was born with a different name.

What was the birth name of Rajesh Khanna ?

( Nobody ever referred him by that name as he was always called 'Kaka' at home. )

02.

Rajesh Khanna shares his birthday on 29th December with which member of his family ?

03.

The place where Rajesh Khanna was born - 'Khanna Haveli' at Burewala in Pakistan.

The ancestral house of Rajesh Khanna at 'Gali Tiwarian' in Amritsar.

The building in Thakurdwar, Girgaon, Mumbai, where Rajesh Khanna spent his childhood.

Rajesh Khanna's first house in Mumbai still bears the name plate of his adoptive father, Shri Chunnilal Khanna.

Rajesh Khanna's bungalow Aashirwad, situated at Carter Road, Mumbai. The bungalow has now been renamed as 'Vardan Aashirwad'.

Rajesh Khanna had purchased the 'Aashirwad' bungalow from the famous yesteryear actor Rajendra Kumar Tuli.

The bungalow was earlier called 'Dimple', as it was the name of Rajendra Kumar's daughter.

The Question is,

Which famous actor of the bygone era owned the bungalow, before he sold it to Rajendra Kumar ?

04.

Rajesh Khanna was discovered by Filmfare magazine in a talent hunt contest.

United Producers and Filmfare held an All India Talent Contest in 1965. Rajesh Khanna famously won the contest, beating over 10,000 contestants.

The Question is,

Who was the female winner of the contest and which actor and actress were the runners up ?

( In the future, all three of them went on to star along with Rajesh Khanna in different films. )

05.

Rajesh Khanna receives the Filmfare Best Actor trophy from popular actress Sharmila Tagore, at the 18th Annual Filmfare Awards Function held at the Shanmukhananda Hall in Bombay on April 18, 1970.

Rajesh Khanna receives the Filmfare Best Actor trophy from another popular actress, Hema Malini, at the 22nd Annual Filmfare Awards Function held in Bombay on March 30, 1975.

The Question is,

Rajesh Khanna has won the Filmfare Best Actor Award thrice.

He won the Filmfare Best Actor Award for the first time when Sharmila Tagore presented him the trophy for his performance in the film 'Sachha Jhutha' (1970).

Hema Malini presented him the trophy when he won his third Filmfare Best Actor Award for the film 'Avishkaar' (1974).

Which legendary Indian (non-film personality) presented him the trophy when he won his second Filmfare Best Actor Award for his performance in 'Anand' (1971) ?

06.

Which famous magazine was launched in October 1971 with Rajesh Khanna on its cover ?

The cover story read - "Is Rajesh Khanna married ?"

07.

Rajesh khanna famously set quite a few fashion trends, be it his unique hairstyle, his bellbottom trousers, his safari suits, his style of wearing belt on shirts, or his famous short kurta.

It can be easily said that Kaka's gift to India is indeed the Kurta.

Although every star had worn it before, it was Rajesh Khanna who popularized it.

The round necked, collared, 'A-line Kurtas' that Rajesh Khanna wore so stylishly were called 'Guru Kurtas', as in those days such round neck 'Kurtas' were worn mostly by people with a spiritual bent (Guru's).

As per legend, another reason is that Rajesh Khanna held women in such a seductive sway, men would often call him 'Guru', as in an expert.

The Question is,

Much before 'fabindia' or any other brand came into existence, 'X' used to design kurtas and costumes for Rajesh Khanna, till 1979.

'X' was the proprietor of 'Srimaan Costumes' at Churchgate and he designed the Guru Kurta and safari's worn by Rajesh Khanna, which became a rage with the masses.

People from as far as Kolkata used to come and buy clothes from him. He once sold about 2,000 Guru Kurtas after Rajesh Khanna wore it in one of his films.

'X' was married to a Hindi film actress who also happened to be an Actor-Director of Gujarati Theatre.

Both their children are also associated with the field of cinema, television and theatre.

Identify 'X', the man who designed Rajesh Khanna's famous round-necked Guru Kurta's that have survived the passage of time.

08.

Basu Bhattacharya's 'Daaku' was based on Amrita Pritam's novel by the same name.

Reportedly, Amrita Pritam did not charge any royalty as she had a lot of respect for Basuda as a Director.

The film was issued a tax exemption yet it never got a theatrical release.

What specific connection do the films 'Road to Sikkim' (1969), 'Uski Roti' (1970), and 'Daaku' (1975), have with Rajesh Khanna ?

09.

Rajesh Khanna's sister-in-law Simple Kapadia made her debut opposite him in 'Anurodh' (1977).

However, she is more notably known as a costume designer.

Besides Simple Kapadia, Rajesh Khanna had another sister in law who did just one film as an actress.

She appeared alongside Rakesh Roshan and Marc Zuber in Keshu Ramsay's 'Haveli' (1985).

Just like her actress-turned-designer sister Simple Kapadia, she too turned to designing costumes.

Name her.

10.