The 10 producers Rajesh Khanna was working with made such an agreement that Rajesh Khanna could not work with anyone other than him. When Manoj Kumar wanted his film Upkar to take him …
No actor has been able to compete the stardom of Rajesh Khanna, the first superstar of the Hindi film world. When his star was on high and every film of his was getting super hit, there was a long line of producers and directors in front of his bungalow. To cast him in his film, the director did not leave him in the hospital. But it happened once with Rajesh Khanna that the producers had signed an agreement with him, which made him very angry and abused him a lot. This story was narrated by actor Manoj Kumar.
Manoj Kumar told ABP that he wanted to give Rajesh Khanna the role of younger brother in his film Upkar and Rajesh Khanna also wanted to work with him. Rajesh Khanna was just new to the film industry in those days. The 10 producers he was working with made such an agreement that Rajesh Khanna could not work with anyone other than him.
When he got a role in Upkar, the producers showed him an agreement and refused to do a film with Manoj Kumar. Manoj Kumar had told, ‘Upkar film set was set in Rajkamal Studio. He came one day in the morning and sat near me. I asked what was the matter, he started crying, trembling. I asked Kaka what happened, in anger, he abused those 10 producers a lot.
Manoj Kumar further said, ‘I asked why are you giving me the streets? These are all well-known men. So he started saying that these people have said that I cannot work outside, this is my agreement. I have seen many of your films and I have to work with you. So I said God will give me another chance. They started saying that your set is attached, I am worried about you. ‘
If Rajesh Khanna could not work in the film, Prem Chopra was cast in his place. Rajesh Khanna could not work in the 1967 film Upkar, but his career started going up in the years that followed. His 1969 film Aradhana was a huge success and 15 of his subsequent films were superhit. It was the first time in the Hindi film industry that an actor’s films were becoming a frequent hit.
His magic on the audience was such that his name was enough for the film to be a hit. The girls were just as crazy behind their style. The director, producer was desperate to get him in his film.
But he had some habits which caused the producers trouble. Rajesh Khanna often came late on the set and went back in a short time. This also caused a lot of loss to the manufacturers. It is said that this was also a reason behind the fall of Rajesh Khanna.
