Old Memories Die Hard – Rajesh Khanna

Rajesh Khanna at my younger brother Anil Negi’s wedding in R K Puram on 21st May 1991 encircled by fans.

I was in a beard. It was 21st May 1991 evening.

It was my younger brother Anil Negi’s marriage. The Baraat went from Nanakpura to Ramakrishna Puram, Sector 2. I fondly remember that the polling had ended a day before after Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi had voted at the Ministry of Health building opposite the Meena Bagh polling station and thereafter proceeded for Sreeperumbudur to address a massive public meeting where hundreds of thousands of his followers and Congressmen were waiting for him anxiously.

It was here the same day that this great leader met his most tragic end. Kakaji those days was staying at Som Vihar apartment in Rama Krishna Puram near Sangam Cinema opposite DPS RK Puram. The flat belonged to Vandana Luthra of famous Curls n Curves, a renowned beautician. It was quite a lavish house on the first floor.

I being with Kakaji those days as his media advisor assisting him in his election, had requested him a number of times in advance to attend my brother’s marriage so that he didn’t give an appointment to anyone else. He had okayed my request but being busy and preoccupied with engagements, I couldn’t fully trust a prominent celebrity like him. I was apprehensive that maybe, he may skip due to any new and unavoidable engagement. Therefore, I, despite being busy in the Baraat, instead of relying on his commitment, preferred to go to his flat personally to accompany him to the marriage. By the time, I reached his flat at Som Vihar at 8.30 or 9.00, he was ready and was waiting for me.

I was too happy to find Kaka waiting for me. After some time we proceeded for R. K. Puram Sector 2 marriage venue in his ambassador and were there in just 10 minutes. Kaka was quite happy. In the marriage function, nobody was aware of his proposed visit as I hadn’t disclosed it to anybody except to my brother and a few relatives. But we were still not very much sure of his arrival as politicians usually don’t keep their words aka commitments. However, Kaka honored my wish and came on time.

The dinner had started by the time we reached there and the Baraaties were busy having dinner. However, all of a sudden, when I and kaka along with his security stepped into the marriage pandal, there was total chaos. People left their food plates and rushed towards him in curiosity touching, interacting and looking at him curiously. He was rather mobbed. A lot of food was wasted as people left their food plates in between to meet the superstar whom they had seen on the silver screen for ages. He even could not even be seated. Meanwhile clearing the anxious and curious crowd Kaka went to the bride and bridegroom (my younger brother and bhabhi) and blessed them with good luck.

The rush of his fans and the guests in the marriage increased and it became difficult for Kaka to even talk to me or my parents comfortably. Meanwhile, after 20 minutes in the melee Kaka received a message through his man that Rajiv Gandhi had been assassinated in Sriperumbudur. Kaka was completely dumb, shocked and stunned and rushed out of the marriage pandal towards his car with his security in the toe. He immediately sat in the car uttering in a huff, “Mere Bhagwan Chale Gaye” literary crying. There was total silence outside the venue. He rushed to 10 Janpath to meet Sonia Gandhi and the next day to Teen Murthi where Rajivji’s body was kept for ANTIM DARSHAN. Kaka stayed there for the whole day and the entire night till Rajiv Gandhi’s final cremation. It was a big loss to him and he had lost his political Godfather.

It was at the prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s behest that Kaka had joined active politics and had agreed to contest against the BJP stalwart Lal Krishna Advani first and then later against actor Shatrughan Sinha, whom he had defeated to become the New Delhi MP. Kaka adored and respected Rajiv Gandhi as his political Godfather and the later was immensely fond of Kaka as the first and original superstar of the celluloid world.