When Kaka visited Satpal Maharaj’s programme at Ram Lila ground in 1992, along with Dimple n both the daughters

There are lot of memories of the first and original superstar Rajesh Khanna of the days of his election when he contested from New Delhi parliamentary constituency as a Congress candidate and lost first election with merely 1500 votes against the political heavy weight of BJP Lal Krishna Advani and won against Bollywood star Shatrughan Sinha in 1992 when the former retained his Gandhi Nagar seat and left the New Delhi seat after resigning.

BJP stalwart Advani had contested from two parliamentary constituencies simultaneously viz New Delhi and Gandhi Nagar seat, Gujarat thinking that he may probably lose from New Delhi as earlier political stalwart H. N. Bahuguna lost from Allahabad against Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, beyond anyone’s expectation, even in dreams. Such was the craze for filmstars during those days.

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Being the media advisor to the first super star of the celluloid world turned politician and MP Rajesh Khanna, during those days, I have several lasting memories like Kaka visiting several places on my request and me following and accompanying him in several political programmes and meetings in order to cover them and subsequently getting them published in the print media.

During those days print media was the best and most popular via media for publicity and electronic channels were not much in prevalence, except very few, with Doordarshan being the main electronic government controlled medium.

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Being a popular superstar of Bollywood having literally ruled the film industry as a legendary actor, Kaka was widely covered and interviewed by foreign print and electronics media as well during his hectic election campaign, drawing huge crowds with people following him in large numbers in his padyatras, meetings, jeep yatras ( journeys) and during his visit in various colonies, private and government localities with curious people and his fans in large numbers standing and cheering from their balconies and rooftops even sprinkling rose petals on Kaka’s cavalcade.

The New Delhi parliamentary constituency mainly comprised of government colonies dominated by government servants from class 4 employees to senior bureaucrats.

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The media photographers, cameramen and journalists used to follow him in his every programmes clicking pictures n covering stories including accompanying him in his car turn wise to interview him, though after great efforts.

When his estranged wife and actress Dimple Kapadia n two daughters Twinkle and Rinki had arrived in New Delhi from Mumbai to extensively campaign for Kaka I had on the superstar’s urge organised a press conference at 81 Lodhi Estate.

It was attended by good number of photographers and journalists with Kaka, Dimple n Twinkle attending to mediamen’s trivial questions.

Kaka’s wife Dimple Khanna didn’t participate in her husband’s first election against Lal Krishna Advani but was managed by RK Dhawan, Kaka’s political mentor then, as his rival Shatrughan Sinha’s wife former beauty queen Poonam Sinha was quite active in campaigning for her husband.

I fondly remember taking Kaka to several Uttarakhand cultural programmes of folk songs and music with Kaka very interestingly enjoying them and acknowledging cheers and applause from thousands of people.

I can’t forget the day when dedicated and highly committed Kaka started his padyatra from Madras Hotel along with hundreds of Congress activists barefooted and under scorching sun walking for more than two hours accepting the cheers, applause and blessings of massive crowds standing on both sides of the road in Cannaught place. Such was his charm and craze for the star when he was contesting from New Delhi.

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He attended cultural programmes of Uttarakhand in Prem Nagar, Kidwai Nagar, in Mafatlal Mills stadium and also visited several Ramlilas with me like some in Aliganj, Kudwai Nagar, Sarojini Nagar and Panchquin Road including in a death anniversary of Peshwar Hero Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali paying tributes at Garhwal Bhawan in which the then Congress MP Satpal Maharaj too participated.

At times Kaka when in good mood also used to dance briefly on his popular songs like Jai Jai Shiv Shankar etc in some programmes to satisfy the demand of his admirers as in a musical programme in Awaine Ghalib auditorium.

There is one more, very interesting incident of 2011, probably. I went to “The Treat van”, in Chanakyapuri owned by Kaka’s die hard fan then close to the superstar Vipin Oberoi. I was surprised to see Kaka there standing with one of his friends and enjoying delicacies n drinks on the standing table. It was around 10 PM. Seeing me, Kaka hugged me and introduced to his friend saying he did a lot for me, and is like my younger brother. I was overwhelmed.

After interacting with Kaka I phoned my friend Alok Negi living nearby to reach Chankyapuri if he is interested to meet the superstar Kaka.

Within 15 minutes Alok bhai and Vimal Uniyal, an actor was there. Vimal was in inebriated state and was thrilled, rather shocked to see Kaka whom he till date considers as his most favourite star n inspiration.

Vimal thought I am fooling him, how can Kaka be here in front of him, he murmured? He thought he is Kaka’s duplicate.

However, Vimal started doing Kaka’s mimickry like playing dialogues of Aradhna ” BABU MOSHAY, PUSHPA KAHAN HAI RE, ” Kaka was smiling on his mimicry but I was little tense thinking, Kaka may become angry and retaliate physically or become irritated as Vimal continued with his dialogues.

Fortunately smiling Kaka, said Barkhurdaar Mujhe hi Rajesh Khanna kehte hain. Aur main asli Kaka hi hoon. He blessed Vimal and took his mimicry in high esteem laughing and enjoying the moment.

I was with Kaka for two hours finally saying adieu to him. It was just a year after this meeting that Kaka unfortunately left for his eternal home in 2012.

Going two decades back again, I can’t forget the day in 1992 after becoming the MP from New Delhi – when Kaka on my request arranged a lunch for the first mount Everest woman climber Bachendripal and Santosh Yadav with her few mountaineering friends at his 81 Lodhi Road resident attended by me, metro editor of Times of India Pankaj Vohra and Day After chief editor Sunil Dang n others. Kaka who got his entire 81 Lodhi Road house renovated on his own expenses to give it a luxurious look from inside gave the house a new facelift later on occupied by Pramod Mahajan, where once H. N. Bahuguna lived. What a coincidence was it for me as I used to visit this house during both the stalwarts tenure being in close proximity with both of them, one superstar of politics and another of Bollywood. I vividly remember, that Kaka had high regards for Satpal Maharaj and had heard lot about him as a religious leader of high standing.

Then Maharaj was in Congress and had contested from Pauri Garhwal parliamentary constituency as Congress candidate to lose by merely three thousand votes against Chandra Mohan Singh Negi. In the month of November a huge annual convention of Manav Dharam Sammelan was convened by Maharaj and his wife where lakhs of Satpal Maharaj’s disciple from India and abroad participate. Maharaj had invited Kaka as the chief guest in this programme held at Ram Lila Maidan every year. I requested Rajesh Khanna aka Kaka to accept Maharaj’s invitation. Kaka too was eager and being the election time accepted his invitation, especially because the venue came under his constituency’s jurisdiction. I accompanied Kaka, his wife Dimple Kapadia and both the daughters Twinkle and Rinki who were in Delhi to campaign for their father n Dimple for her husband. Satpal Maharaj and his wife were on the stage in front of their lakhs of followers.

Maharaj n his, wife were overwhelmed to see Kaka and his entire family on the stage accepting tumultuous welcome n cheers of lakhs of devotees of Satpal Maharaj n Manav Dharam Sammelan. Kaka, spoke impressively and the entire star family waved from the stage with Satpal Maharaj and his wife smiling overwhelmingly waving to the enchanting crowd, who had seen Kaka all their lives on silver screen but today in front of them. The picture above is of Ram Lila ground with me confabulating with Kaka and Dimple, Twinkle and Rinki sitting alongside. My heartfelt tributes to the most precious superstar of the millenium Rajesh Khannaji.