Rajesh Khanna remains an iconic figure in cinematic history as the country's first true superstar, inspiring countless actors who grew up watching him or eventually shared screen space with him. Among them is veteran actor Tej Sapru, who worked alongside the legendary star and recently opened up about a surprising on-set altercation. According to Sapru, there was an instance during an outdoor schedule when the veteran actor unexpectedly hurled abuse at him, leading to a temporary rift between the two.
Reflecting on his entry into the film industry, Tej Sapru noted that his official acting career began in the year 1979 with the movie Suraksha. Interestingly, in his debut venture, he did not play a villainous role, contrary to the negative characters he became widely associated with later. Instead, he essayed a positive character named Jackie Jackson, marking a solid stepping stone for his journey in the entertainment business.
Discussing the unmatched aura of Rajesh Khanna during his peak years, Sapru highlighted that the superstar was constantly in the limelight for his quintessential romantic image and unprecedented stardom. However, he pointed out that the legendary actor had multiple facets to his personality. While his demeanor was often wonderful and warm, the intoxication of immense success and stardom would occasionally reflect in his attitude. Speaking on a podcast, Sapru expressed that this very arrogance contributed heavily to the decline of his career, even though Khanna was simultaneously known to be a large-hearted person.
Recalling a specific memory, Sapru shared an incident from a film shoot in Kashmir. He was standing on location when he suddenly heard someone shouting abuses from behind. Upon turning around, he was shocked to discover that it was Rajesh Khanna directing the abuses at him. Up until that point, Sapru made it a daily habit to greet the senior actor with a polite hello.
Hurt by the unexpected outburst, Sapru completely stopped talking to the superstar. Rajesh Khanna quickly noticed the sudden chill in their interaction and decided to mend fences. The very next day, he invited Sapru to his hotel room, urging him to put the unpleasant episode behind them and move on.
Accepting the invitation, Sapru visited Khanna's hotel, where the two shared a meal and had drinks together. The senior actor acknowledged that his behavior on set was uncalled for and made it clear that he realized his mistake. Sapru described Khanna as a unique individual whose complex personality was never easy to decipher completely.
Analyzing the trajectory of Rajesh Khanna's career, Sapru observed that the inability to handle extreme stardom and the accompanying ego caused a major setback. Unlike contemporaries such as Dharmendra and Jitendra, who managed their sustained popularity and star status with greater stability, Khanna struggled to navigate his massive fame, which ultimately proved detrimental to his career path.
