‘Aradhana’, first Bollywood film to celebrate 100th day of release

mumbai: In the illustrious career of Rajesh Khanna, the first superstar in the history of Bollywood, one film stands out as a historical milestone: Shakti Samanta’s ‘Aradhana’. Released on September 27, 1969, this iconic film not only achieved unparalleled box office success, but also made history by becoming the first Hindi film to run for more than 100 days. .

Aradhana’s influence spread beyond the traditional Hindi-speaking world, especially in four states of northeastern and southern India, where four screenings were held every day. Amazingly, the film achieved Platinum Jubilee status in the US and ran for an impressive three years in South Indian theaters. It set records with 42 million tickets sold and box office revenue of 7 billion rupees.

The film had an all-star cast including Rajesh Khanna, Sharmila Tagore, Farida Jalal, and Madan Puri. His performance in the dual roles of Air Force pilot Arun and his son Suraj Prasad Saxena played a pivotal role in propelling him to superstardom.

Also read: Rajesh Khanna’s dream project ‘Aradhana’ to be remade by Asim Samanta

The brilliance of Aradhana’s music, especially the timeless song ‘Mere Sapno Ki Rani’, resonated deeply with the audience. Shot against the backdrop of the picturesque mountains of Darjeeling, the song became an instant hit. Rajesh Khanna’s iconic head tilt and hand movements synchronized to the rhythm of the song became synonymous with charm and left an indelible mark on the audience. Soulful vocals by Kishore Kumar and music composition by his SD Burman further enhanced the overall success and cultural impact of the film.

After Aradhana’s win, Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore worked together in hit films like Amar Prem and Aavishkar. However, their partnership faced difficulties when Sharmila Tagore decided to cancel her co-starring with Rajesh Khanna due to chronic tardiness on the sets. The revelation, shared in the audiobook ‘Rajesh Khanna: Ek Thanha Sithara’, highlighted her dissatisfaction with Khanna’s lateness and led her to choose another actor for her upcoming projects.

Also read: Sharmila Tagore recalls memorable moments with Rajesh Khanna

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Credit: News 18