Somy Ali fondly reminisces about Rajesh Khanna’s unmatched charm, humility, and emotional depth while calling attention to the loneliness that often shadows fame.
As fans pay tribute to India’s first superstar Rajesh Khanna on his death anniversary, former Bollywood actress turned humanitarian Somy Ali shares a heartfelt remembrance of the legend—reflecting on his films, his kindness, and the loneliness that often accompanied his fame.
“I don’t think there’s a single Rajesh Khanna film that I’ve missed,” Somy Ali says, calling him her first love.
She adds, “I started watching his films when I was just five. But my fondest memory isn’t from the screen—it’s the day I met him in real life.”
Somy Ali vividly recalls that childhood moment. She says, “I was seven, visiting a set where he was shooting with Tina Munim. I jumped into his lap and told him, ‘I’m going to marry you when I grow up!’ He laughed, kissed my cheek, and gave me chocolates. That’s the kind of warmth he had—he made a child feel like the most special person in the world.”
She recounts another cherished memory-when her car broke down in the rain and he helped. Somy Ali shares, “He got out drenched, told our driver to follow him, and drove us. Which superstar would do that today? That moment showed who he truly was-grounded, caring, and real.”
When discussing the films she could watch endlessly, Somy Ali doesn’t hesitate. She says, “Anand, Bawarchi, Souten. My brother and I would race around the house singing ‘Shayad meri shaadi ka khayal dil mein aaya hai’ without even knowing its meaning. That’s the impact he had—joy that transcended age or understanding.”
She praises his emotional depth onscreen, comparing his expressions to those of Shah Rukh Khan.
“No one could smile or hold that twinkle in their eyes like Kakaji. He could make you cry—even in a moment of silence,” she notes.
Somy Ali considers Anand, Amrit, and Khamoshi to be the most realistic portrayals of life and human emotion. She shares, “They should definitely be remade. Khamoshi broke new ground in Hindi cinema by exploring mental health themes long before it became a mainstream conversation.”
Tags : Rajesh Khanna, Death Anniversary, Stardom, Superstar, Somy Ali, Tribute, Homage
