Can you imagine how it feels to beat ten thousand contestants and win the 1965 All India Talent Contest organised by United Producers and Filmfare? And this with a panel of judges including Bimal Roy, Guru Dutt and Yash Chopra.
Rajesh Khanna knew that feeling. He recalled the incident in an interview later. "I was given a dialogue to narrate for my final selection process. But I was confused. Hence when I entered the selection room and found many top notch filmmakers seated to judge my performance I was bit nervous."
"However I gathered strength and told the judges that the dialogue provided by the contest is good but I have not been informed about the characterisation of the person who is going to say this dialogue. Hearing my query, one of the judges asked me whether I was a stage actor. I replied positively. They were impressed and they asked me to perform any role of my choice."
"Luckily I remembered a sentimental dialogue from one of my plays... I performed and the judges gave me thunderous applause and rest is history!’
But what happened after that was unexpected. The talent hunt contract stipulated that 12 different producers would sign the winner for 12 films. So Khanna had 12 opportunities to burst into stardom.
However, his first three films, Aakhri Khat, Raaz and Baharon Ke Sapne all tanked, even though they were made by successful directors like Chetan Anand, Narendra Bedi and Nasir Hussain, respectively. Although Aakhri Khat did have the privilege of being India’s entry at the 40th Academy Awards in 1967. It failed to receive a nomination.
Only when Aradhana arrived in 1969 did Rajesh Khanna have his first big hit. After which he went on to become the first superstar of Hindi cinema.