Rajesh Khanna’s 'partner' Anita Advani shares untold story, 'We got married privately'

Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia, though never legally divorced, lived apart for years. During this period of separation, Anita Advani entered Khanna’s life and remained by his side until his last moments. Well, recently, Anita revealed her secret marriage to Rajesh Khanna. She also recalled some hurtful moments when Dimple and his family excluded her from his final rites and 'chautha'.

Anita’s Claim of Her Secret Marriage With Kaka

During the recent interview with Meri Saheli, Anita revealed that she and Kaka had married in private. 

She shared, “We got married privately, but in the film industry, no one speaks openly about such things. Everyone says ‘we’re friends’ or ‘we’re in a relationship.’ But it was already in the media that I was with him, so we never felt the need to publicly announce it."

Describing their marriage, she recalled, “We had a small temple in our home. I had a mangalsutra made of gold and black beads. He made me wear it, then applied sindoor, and said, ‘From today, you are my responsibility.’ That’s how our wedding happened one night, just like that.”

'I Came Into His Life Before Dimple'

Anita further revealed that her relationship with Khanna began even before he met Dimple Kapadia. “Yes, I came into his life before Dimple. But we didn’t marry then because I was very young. Eventually, I went back to Jaipur,” she recalled.

Exclusion from His Final Rites

Anita also talked about being barred from Khanna’s last rites and said, “They had bouncers stationed to stop me. Friends warned me I wouldn’t be allowed inside. Some even told me to take a camera to record it, but how could I do such a thing on such a solemn day? So I didn’t go. Instead, I held my own 'chautha' for him at a temple.”

She added, “It was beneath my dignity to force my way in. And beneath theirs to treat me like that. A friend told me they even blocked seats to ensure I wouldn’t have a place to sit. They asked a family lawyer to ‘handle me’ if I showed up. Why? I would never create a scene at Kakaji’s 'chautha. But what happened there was all for show- there was no real feeling for him.”

Funeral Controversy

At the time, reports surfaced that Anita tried to enter the vehicle carrying Kaka's body. However, she was stopped by Khanna's family, present at his funeral.

'Surrogate Wife' and Legal Battle

Anita maintained that she lived with Khanna for eight years, referring to herself as his “surrogate wife.” She claimed to have cared for his home, including the iconic Aashirwad bungalow, observed rituals like Karva Chauth for him, and supported him in his ill health.

After his death in 2012, Anita filed a legal case seeking maintenance and recognition of her relationship with the superstar. However, since Khanna remained legally married to Dimple Kapadia despite their separation, he could not have formally married Anita.