Rajesh Khanna's 'chamchas' led to his downfall, girlfriend served him drinks till 3 am! Mumtaz makes big revelations

Rajesh Khanna is considered the first superstar of Indian Cinema. 1969's Aradhana catapulted him to stardom and he became a household name. After that, he went on to deliver a string of blockbusters. Undoubtedly, the legacy of Rajesh Khanna, fondly called Kaka, continues to inspire actors and filmmakers alike. However, similar to his soaring popularity, Kaka's downfall can't be forgotten. 

While it is well known that Kaka's stardom gradually faded with the growing popularity of Amitabh Bachchan. The 'Angry Young Man' eventually surpassed the stardom of Kaka in the mid-70s. Well, there is a lesser-known reason that led to his downfall.

Veteran actress Mumtaz, who shared screenspace with Rajesh Khanna in multiple movies, recently during an interview opened up on the reason that diminished his stardom and led to his downfall.

Moviegoers are well aware that Mumtaz and Rajesh Khanna were a hit onscreen pair. Fans loved the chemistry of the duo. Mumtaz-Rajesh ruled the hearts of their fans with their stellar performances. 

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During the interview, Mumtaz said that stars owe their fans and stardom to the audience. Stars are nothing without the love of the audience.

During a chat with Reddif, Mumtaz said, "Without your love, we are nothing. It wasn't entirely Rajesh Khanna's fault."

She continued, "I remember when he was known as the phenomenon. My bungalow was close to his. I have seen big producers and directors behaving like his 'chamchas'."

Talking about Kaka's girlfriend, Mumtaz said, "His girlfriend Anju Mahendru would play host all night. She would serve food and drinks till 3 am. I've seen the same night-long sessions in Shammi Kapoor's home. He used to spend a fortune on entertaining guests."

Further, the veteran actress, expressing her opinion, said that she is completely against producers and filmmakers doing 'chamchagiri'. 

"You are paying the actors, why do you need to do chamchagiri?" she added.

During the interview, she also spoke about Shammi Kapoor's downfall, who she was dating for a brief period. Recalling the Junglee actor, she said that after a point, Shammi Kapoor was a little laid back and didn't want to do a lot of work. Though whenever he did any work, he was quite serious and dedicated.

Talking about ace filmmaker, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Mumtaz said that she appreciates him as he maintains distance from actors and not putting them on a pedestal. SLV does his work, gives respect to the actors and goes home.

Also Read | Rajesh Khanna Vs Amitabh Bachchan: Meenakshi Seshadri recalls traits of costars