Megastar Amitabh Bachchan paid tribute to Bollywood's "first superstar" Rajesh Khanna by dedicating entries in his blog.
Rajesh Khanna passed away on Wednesday afternoon, and was cremated at Pawan Hans crematorium in Vile Parle, Mumbai, on Thursday morning.
Amitabh Bachchan had worked with Rajesh Khanna in two major hit films "Anand" and "Namak Haram", both directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee. After hearing about the sad demise of Khanna, Bachchan along with his son Abhishek visited Kaka's home Aashirwad on Wednesday to pay respects to the legendary actor.
When Bachchan visited his home a close functionary of Khanna told Bachchan that his last words were: "time ho gaya hai! pack up!"
"As I sat at his home this afternoon, to pay my respects, soon after learning of his passing away, a close functionary of his, came up to me and told me in a choked voice what his last words were - time ho gaya hai ! Pack Up!" Amitabh wrote in his blog.
The actor also took to his Twitter to pay tribute to the late superstar. After arriving from Khanna's residence, Bachchan posted a series of tweet in the memory of Khanna:
"T 809 - What can one say when a colleague, a most important member of the fraternity, younger than you passes away..Rajesh Khanna no more !"
"T 809 - I stand mute in front of his still body, with nothing crossing my mind ... just disbelief, and a reverence to his departed soul !!"
"T 809 - The word 'superstar' was invented for him, and for me it shall ever remain his, and no others .. !!"
"T 809 - His generation and the generations that follow, shall never be able to describe, or understand his phenomena .. !!"
"T 809 - Just the mere mention of his name 'Rajesh Khanna' sent myriad images of fanfare, awe, and reverential mention !!"
"T 809 - At his home earlier today, someone close came up and told me, his last words were 'time up ho gaya - pack up !!"
Bachchan, who was shaken by the Khanna's death, wrote a very emotional and heart-touching tribute on his blog, in which he has shared his experience of meeting the actor for the first time. While shooting for his film "Saat Hindustani" Bachchan got the chance of meeting Rajesh Khanna at one of his shootings.
"It was a very formal hand shake and that was it - a routine for him, an honor for me !" he wrote on his blog.
He also recalled his experience working with Kaka for the first time in "Anand". He said that the opportunity of working with "THE Rajesh Khanna" was like God's own blessing.
"The moment that anyone came to know that I was working with THE Rajesh Khanna, my importance grew," he wrote.
Bachchan described Kaka as a simple person and said that the attention he garnered during the course of his career was a sight to behold.
"In the 1970 era his fans came from Spain to meet him - a most unheard of occurrence then. In his trade mark Rajesh Khanna kurta pyjama, he almost always looked the boy next door, one that girls would want to take home to Mother. But amidst all this there was a quiet elegance within him. In his boyish plainness there was something that was regal in his demeanor. It was the magnet that attracted others to him - who at times were almost servile to him in nature."
Talking about his film "Anand", the only thing that worried Bachchan was the shooting of last scene, where he required to break down after Kaka's death.
"When the shooting of 'Anand' began at Mohan Studios, Hrishi da's favorite locale, now a concrete housing colony, the one moment that always worried me was, that last scene when I break down after his death and urge him emotionally to speak ! Not being able to find a method in my own very limited acting experience, I sought the help of Mehmood bhai, in who's house I was living with his brother Anwar Ali. And I still remember what he told me: "He said, "just think Amitabh, R- a- j- e- s- h K- h- a- n- n- a is dead !! and you will get everything right ."
Bachchan last met Rajesh Khanna when he presented the LifeTime Achievement Award to the late actor at the IIFA event.
