‘Arrogance Led To Rajesh Khanna’s Downfall’: Veteran Actor Tej Sapru Recalls Shocking Incident

Veteran actor Tej Sapru recalls an incident when Rajesh Khanna abused him and later tried to mend things, while claiming arrogance contributed to the superstar’s downfall.

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Veteran actor Tej Sapru claims Rajesh Khanna’s arrogance led to his downfall, recalling an incident where Khanna abused him. Despite the abuse, Khanna later tried to mend things, and Sapru also noted his generosity.

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Veteran actor Tej Sapru recalls an incident when Rajesh Khanna abused him

Rajesh Khanna is one of the most iconic and celebrated actors in the Hindi film industry, but his journey to fame and popularity didn’t come without its own controversies. In a recent interview, veteran actor Tej Sapru has recalled an incident when Rajesh Khanna abused him.

Speaking on The Rediff Podcast, Tej Sapru said, “Rajesh Khanna had arrogance. It happens when you’re at the peak of your career. More than you, it’s often the people around you whose heads get turned. That happens. But at the same time, I have never seen a more generous man than him.”

Recalling an incident when Khanna abused him, Sapru shared, “There was an incident when we were working together. I suddenly heard someone abusing me from behind. I turned around and saw that it was Kaka ji (Rajesh Khanna).”

“His first film was with my father D.K. Sapru. I have immense respect for him. Not just for him, for anyone senior to me or anyone who has worked with my father. Whether they are a bigger actor or a smaller one, I never sit on a chair until they are seated. Even after giving him so much respect, I don’t know what happened that he abused me from behind. I was very upset,” he added and shared how Khanna later realised his mistake and tried to mend things.

The actor continued, “He came up to me and said, ‘Hey, tall boy… forget it.’ I replied, ‘Sir, you abused me without any reason. You were the one who had told me we were just having fun.’ He said, ‘It happened. Forget it. Come.’ Then he asked me to come to his hotel with him.” Sapru further shared that he spent the entire night chilling with Khanna that day.

While speaking about the legendary star’s downfall, the actor shared, “I think his downfall came earlier because of that arrogance, especially when compared to Dharam ji (Dharmendra) and Jeetu ji (Jeetendra). That’s how I felt.”

More About Rajesh Khanna

There was a time when Rajesh Khanna was more than a star; he was a phenomenon. His fans would line up outside theatres, write letters by the thousands, and even name children after him. For a brief period in the early 1970s, he had a magical run where almost every film he touched became a hit, turning him into the undisputed “first superstar” of Indian cinema. But stardom, as luminous as it is, doesn’t last forever, and for Khanna, the fall from that pedestal was as dramatic as his rise.

Rajesh Khanna passed away at the age of 69 in 2012. He spent a few years at the peak of his fame, basking in adoration, and then spent the rest of his life chasing that glory in different forms.

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Original source: https://www.news18.com/movies/bollywood/