On the 14th anniversary of the death Rajesh Khannamemories of the legendary star continue to resonate with fans. The actor died on July 18, 2012, at the age of 69. Over the years, his alleged girlfriend Anita Advani has shared emotional accounts of his last days, claiming that the superstar had come to terms with the idea of death long before it came.Years ago, in an interview on Avanti Films’ YouTube channel, Anita described the dramatic decline in Rajesh Khanna’s health during the last year of his life. “He melted down within a year. I couldn’t see him like that. He would cry all day,” she recalled. When asked if she believed the actor had willed his own death in any way, Anita replied: “He invited it, he manifested it.”She also revealed that she often disagreed with him whenever he spoke pessimistically, hoping to keep his spirits alive despite his deteriorating state.
Rajesh Khanna’s dream for Aashirvaad
Anita also spoke about Rajesh Khanna’s iconic bungalow, Aashirvaad, saying that the property held immense emotional value for the actor. According to her, she envisioned the residence becoming a museum dedicated to her legacy. “It was his wish that the house be turned into a museum,” he said. It further revealed that Rajesh Khanna had turned down a lucrative offer for the property despite facing health issues.“He had an offer of 150 million rupees when it was not well maintained, but he refused to sell it. He said, ‘I want to turn this into a museum’. He wanted this museum to last 100 years.” Speaking about the eventual demolition of Aashirvaad after his death, Anita expressed her heartbreak, saying, “When the house was demolished, I died along with it.”In an earlier conversation with Rediff in 2013, Anita reflected on how Rajesh Khanna’s family became more involved in her life during her final months. She claimed that almost a year before his death, his wife separated Dimple Kapadia and daughters Twinkle Khanna and Rinke Khanna began to visit him regularly.“They would spend a couple of hours there. If I was out, they would call me and ask when I would be back so they could leave. When they came, I would take care of them. I would tell them where their things were kept. Dimple didn’t even know who all came to the house to see him. I would tell her, and we were like friends. She was happy that her family had made a decision, for him it was difficult for him to make a decision. I also consulted with them. I was very afraid that his health would deteriorate. Anju Mahendroo also sat with him from time to time. We bonded really well,” he had said.
Rajesh Khanna’s health continued to decline
Anita also revealed how serious Rajesh Khanna’s condition had become in his last few days. According to her, the doctors had already warned his relatives that the veteran actor could die at any moment. “The doctors had told us that he could go at any time. He had become very weak, had begun to hallucinate and did not understand things,” he recalled.Remembered for unforgettable performances in classics like ‘Anand’, ‘Aradhana’, ‘Amar Prem’ and ‘Kati Patang’, Rajesh Khanna remains one of Hindi cinema’s most celebrated superstars, with his legacy continuing to inspire generations of film lovers.