When Rajesh Khanna slapped co-star Sanjeev Kumar

Rajesh Khanna, the name still echoes with the kind of stardom no actor has been able to recreate. Known as India’s first true superstar, Khanna’s fan following was something never seen before and rarely imagined since.

But behind the charm and blockbuster hits, there were moments of tension and misunderstanding, including one that ended in a real on-screen slap.The reign of the first superstarIn the early 1970s, Rajesh was ruling the silver screen. From emotional dramas to romantic tales, his presence lit up cinemas across the country. His superstardom during this golden phase of his career was unmatched, and for a while, he was the face of Hindi cinema.

But while he was living the life of a superstar, his personal life was going through ups and downs, especially when it came to love.A relationship that turned sourAs reported by News18, before things took a dramatic turn with Sanjeev Kumar, there was Anju Mahendru, Rajesh Khanna’s long-time girlfriend. The two were reportedly in a live-in relationship from 1966 to 1972. However, things didn’t go smoothly for long. Khanna wanted to marry her, but Anju kept turning down his proposals.

Eventually, the couple broke up.A bond of rakhi is misunderstoodSoon after the breakup, rumours began to fly in the media. Gossip columns suggested that Anju was romantically involved with none other than actor Sanjeev Kumar. For Rajesh Khanna, this news came as a shock, and it didn’t sit well with him.Gave a real slap on setReportedly, Anju’s mother saw Sanjeev Kumar as her own brother and would tie a Rakhi on his wrist every year.

So, when rumours started spreading about Anju being in a relationship with Sanjeev Kumar, it upset her deeply. Some years later, Rajesh Khanna and Sanjeev Kumar worked together in a film. There was a scene where Khanna had to slap Sanjeev. Still holding a grudge, Khanna didn’t pretend – he gave Sanjeev a real slap during the shoot.Anju Mahendru and Rajesh Khanna began speaking again in 1988 and remained friends until Khanna’s death. Later on, Rajesh Khanna married actress Dimple Kapadia in March 1973. She was just 15 years old at the time. Her debut film 'Bobby' came out in September that same year. The couple had two daughters – Twinkle and Rinke. Although they separated in 1982, they never officially divorced.