When Farida Jalal Recalled Tense Relationship With Rajesh Khanna During Aradhana: 'I Was Very Angry'

Veteran actor Farida Jalal once opened up about her challenging experience working with superstar Rajesh Khanna during the filming of Aradhana. Known for collaborating with some of the most talented actors and filmmakers of her time, Farida recalled that her interactions with Rajesh Khanna were far from pleasant. She described him as a “proud man” whose popularity skyrocketed after the success of the film. His immense stardom, especially with female fans, left her perplexed and frustrated.

During her appearance on The Ashoke Pandit Show, Farida acknowledged Rajesh Khanna’s unprecedented fame, admitting that no one has since matched the level of adulation he received. “You have to give that to him,” she said, while adding that the two never really got along during the making of Aradhana. Recalling an instance on set, Farida said, “We didn’t get along at all on the sets… Once, I asked for another rehearsal, and he snapped, ‘How many rehearsals do you need?’ I was very put off.”

She expressed gratitude for her co-star, Sharmila Tagore, who often stood up for her when tensions ran high. “Sharmila was always on my side. She would say, ‘What nonsense, how can he talk to her like that?’ She was a darling,” Farida said. Even the director, Shakti Samanta, supported Farida’s request for rehearsals, which added to her frustration with Rajesh Khanna’s behavior. “He was very proud… He was that kind of person,” she remarked.

Farida went on to share how their relationship only improved after Aradhana became a huge success. However, her discomfort with Rajesh Khanna’s overwhelming fame and the attention he received from female fans remained. Recalling her experiences during the film’s promotional tours, Farida expressed disbelief at how young women would flock to him, requesting autographs on various body parts. “I’ve seen it with my own eyes,” she said, adding that she was shocked and often angered by the lack of self-respect these fans displayed. “I used to be very angry… Even Sharmila would hold her head in embarrassment.”

Despite his meteoric rise to stardom, Rajesh Khanna’s personal struggles became evident in later years, with several contemporaries commenting on his difficult personality. His career took a rapid downturn in the 1980s, and he openly admitted in interviews that he struggled to cope with his fading stardom, turning to alcohol to deal with the decline.

While Farida Jalal’s reflections offer a candid glimpse into the off-screen dynamics between her and the iconic star, they also highlight the pressures of fame and how it can alter relationships within the film industry.