When Sharmila Tagore revealed Rajesh Khanna's relationships suffered due to lavish gifts: 'Badle mai vo kuch zyada hi umeed rakhte the'

During the 1970s and 1980s, Rajesh Khanna ruled supreme in Bollywood. His blockbuster hits such as 'Anand', 'Kati Patang', 'Haathi Mere Saathi', and 'Rakhwala' solidified his status as the very first superstar of Indian cinema.Iconic On-Screen Pairing with Sharmila TagoreKhanna and Sharmila Tagore’s on-screen partnership in movies like 'Aradhana', 'Safar', and 'Amar Prem' was immensely popular, with their chemistry still remembered as legendary. However, as Khanna’s popularity soared, his increasingly busy schedule sometimes strained his working relationships. This led Sharmila to cut back on the number of films she did alongside him.Lavish gift and Its ComplexitiesAs reported by Hindustan Times, Sharmila shared in the Audible audiobook Rajesh Khanna: Ek Tanha Sitara that Rajesh Khanna had a reputation for showering his co-stars with luxury gifts.She noted that although his kindness was valued, it usually involved certain expectations, which at times created friction in his relationships. She said, “Rajesh Khanna antarvirodho aur jatiltaon se bhare vyakti the, maine unhe apne mitron aur seh-karmiyon ke sath behat udhaar hote dekha hai…un par keemti uphar barsaate hue bhi dekha hai. Kabhi kabhi to wo unke liye ek ghar bhi kharid dete the, lekin badle mai vo kuch zyada hi umeed rakhte the jisse sambandhon mai tanav aa jata tha".Challenges on Set Due to Scheduling IssuesIn the same audiobook, Tagore revealed that cutting down on her collaborations with Khanna brought her a sense of relief. She explained that maintaining a strict schedule was almost impossible because Khanna seldom showed up before noon despite a 9 a.m. call time. This habit regularly caused delays in filming and forced the crew to extend their work hours. As Khanna was juggling multiple projects at once, these challenges became a regular occurrence, often placing Sharmila in tough spots during shoots.Legacy and Current WorkRajesh Khanna passed away in 2012, but his legacy is still loved by fans. Meanwhile, Sharmila Tagore’s Bengali film 'Puratan' is showing in some theaters.