Memories of golden days with KAKA Rajesh Khanna- Sunil Negi

Memories of the golden days with KAKA, Rajesh Khanna- SUNIL NEGI

This is the picture of 1996 (me) in an annual function with Rajesh Khanna at Moti Lal Nehru College , South Campus, Delhi University. I had been the president of this college students’ union in 1979-80 n central councillor as well. Later on contested the Delhi University Student Union’s election under the banner of Indian Student’s Congress n also as Municipal Councillor in 1983 n 1984 as the joint candidate of United Progressive Front, a conglomerate of Democratic Socialist Party, Congress for Democracy, Sanjay Vichar Manch, CPI n CPM. Alongside is senior n noted criminal lawyer n the then socio political activist Ramesh Gupta . Me in beard. I was Kaka’s Media Advisor then. There are number of memories still fresh in my mind when Kaka was rubbing the streets of New Delhi Parliamentary constitiency on foot while contesting. He was then just a commoner like any common man, easily accesible n to be seen conveniently. The one time Super Star of Bollywood could be seen waving at his electorates standing at the balconies of their house or on roof tops. His ever padyatra or Jeep Yatra enticed hundreds of his fans n followers rushing towards him to have his glance or if possible shake hands with their on time glamrous super star. The women, girls n the youths thronged in in large numbers in his every padyatra n public meetings. New Delhi parliamentary constituency therefore in 1991 n thereafter when he contested for the second time against BJP’s star candidate Shatrughan Sinha had become a star constituency with two bollywud stars fighting against each other trading charges n counter charges. However, Rajesh Khanna won from here defeating Shatru but the election will remain freshin everybody’s mind, I believe. The media print n electronic, particularly the foreign electronic media always trailed KAKA who remained in the media on daily basis on the front n third pages of national dailies. The role of the star wives viz Poonam Sinha n Dimple Kapadia Khanna in extensive campaining for their respective star husbands is also worth mentioning. Kaka’s daughter n actress Twinkle Khanna was also the syar attraction during this historic election. It may be recalled that Kaka lost the first election in 1991 to BJP stalwart Lal Krishna Advani by merely 1500 votes but since the latter opted for his victorious Gandhi Nagar seat, Kaka contested for the second time against BJP’s Shatrughan Sinha n won by a handsome margin. Kaka had an outstandingly charming personality, fair n reddish n delicate as a flower but was strong as well as a perfect healthy man. He was too laborious n never gave up during his Padyatras n door to door campaigning under the scorching sun. I remember how he started his Padyatra on the main roads of Cannaught Place under the scorching heat at eleven o clock alongwith his supporters n high profile Congress leaders without any ifs n buts n continued till one o clock n thereafter during the evening hours in other localities of New Delhi. A super star leading a high profile lavish life style in air conditioned rooms was then a common man with boils under his feet. Kaka never discussed films or film related talks while in politics n used to rather avoid them. He was thereafter more a politician than an outstanding actor believing in political matters n problems of his constituency. Very few people know that it was Kaka who compelled the then finance minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh during PV Narsimha Rao’s tenure to enhance the income tax exemption limit to one lakh. Kala was then the MP from high profile New Delhi n his New Delhi constituency comprised of sixty percent of central government employees.
Sunil Negi, President, Uttarakhand Journalists Forum n fr Media Advisor to Kaka