When due to Rajesh Khanna’s preoccupation AA AB LAUT CHALEN was shot in Nanda’s building Cannaught Place!

Some friends say that I am obsessed with the first and original super star Rajesh Khanna who gave twelve to fifteen super duper hit movies from 1969 to 1972 and thereafter too. Yes it is but I try to recollect some memories when I was in his close proximity during his Delhi political days while he was contesting as the Congress candidate from New Delhi first against BJP stalwart Lal Krishna Advani and then against his contemporary then popular Bollywood star Shatrughan Sinha. As all know, memories usually fade away and sometimes it becomes difficult to recollect them. This happens so because there are lot of complexities in one’s life and sometimes one is not prepared to keep memories intact unknowingly, not knowing that one day they will be of immense significance especially when such memoirs relate to once a charming personality of silver screen n first superstar Rajesh Khanna aka Kaka. I was privileged to be in his company from day one in 1991 after he came to his party campaign office at Ferozshah lane after filing his nomination papers till he was MP from New Delhi and thereafter too after he left his official 81 Lodhi Estate Bungalow losing to Mr. Jagmohan, union minister in 1996. During elections of New Delhi and thereafter too while Kaka was MP our relations were very cordial and the latter used to come to my R. K. Puram residence to pick me up while going to parliament for few days till he got his official bungalow at 81 Lodhi estate. I fondly remember the first day of Kaka’s entry in Parliament House after his victory against Shatrughan Sinha when I too accompanied him. As soon as Kaka reached the main gate of the entrance in Parliament building there were lot of photographers and journalists rushing taking his pictures and R. K. Dhawan escorted him inside. Kaka has bowed down and touched the ground at the main gate in reverence. He was indeed in a jubilant mode. Thereafter on session days I used to accompany him occasionally. After session when he came back to his official bungalow people n voters of his constituency used to wait for him curiously not only with their works and grievances but also to meet him or have his glimpse, majority of them being his die hard fans which included several MPs also, one being an MP from Odissa, kalahandi, Subhash Patnaik. An MP with jovial nature Patnaik used to say among people gathered at Kaka’s residence how he was the superstar’s die hard fan and bunk classes to watch his films and Kala would laugh. During evening sessions at 81 Lodhi estate even senior police officers too used to accept his hospitality and enjoy dinner with Kaka, they too being his fans while in school and colleges, apart from his friends and sometimes actors who used to come from Mumbai occasionally. Let me reveal that when Kaka joined active politics and after becoming MP he had almost given up acting in films and would never discuss them despite being such a great superstar for several decades. He was fully embroiled in politics and the Congress party taking his services in assembly and Parliament elections as a crowd puller and loving superstar, even after his losing from New Delhi against Jagmohan, of BJP who was housing minister at the centre. However, Kaka was signed quite before by Rishi Kapoor for his movie AA AB LAUT CHALEN. Since Rajesh Khanna was first busy in Delhi elections and then as MP till 1996 hectically engaged in active politics he couldn’t spare time for shooting in USA as an NRI father in “AA AB LAUT CHALEN”. He had played the role of rich father of AKSHAY KHANNA living in America. Since Kaka could not spare time to go abroad the Rajesh Khanna part was shot in “Nanda’s ( Escorts) multi storyed magnificent glass building adjacent Jantar Mantar, opposite Hotel Park in Cannaught place. Rishi and Randhir Kapoor’s sister is married to the renowned industrialist Nanda.The entire team was in Delhi which included some foreign actors, producers of this movie Rishi Kapoor and Randhir Kapoor and the camera crew n directors etc. I along with Kaka ji went there on third or fourth floor. Kaka was in his usual while Khadi Kurta Pyjama. He got the branded brand new shoes, suit and was taken in the make up room for change. The shot was taken and I was surprised that it was “ok” on first take. The senior journalist and then metro editor of Hindustan Times Pankaj Vohra was specifically invited by Kaka ji as a kind gesture. I curiously asked Kaka ji what is it all about? He said since I can’t go to States for shooting the entire film unit led by Rishi and Randhir Kapoor came to Delhi to shoot me, giving everyone the impression that he is in his office in America. This scene with a blonde female receptionist in his office with Kaka busy in his roles as an NRI industrialist father was shot in Nanda’s building in Cannaught place giving it a look of an office / residence of KAKA in USA. The movie was” AA AB LAUT CHALEN” with Kaka acting as an NRI industrialist father of Akshay Khanna. The movie was released in 1999 giving a good business. Kaka was looking dam smart in the dark brown suit he had worn for this shot after several years having been wearing white Kurta Pyjama for years while in active politics. The movie started Rajesh Khanna, Akhay Khanna, Aishwarya Rai, Navin Nischal, etc. My heartfelt tributes to legendary first superstar of India.