After queue of flop films Aakhri Khat (1966), Raaz, Aurat, Baharon Ke Sapne and finally it was Aradhana in 1969 which opened the doors of his destiny. The 12 noon shows of the film had less attendance, but house full board in the evening shows indicated overwhelming response. With the super success of Aaradhana, Rajesh Khanna was declared the first superstar of Indian cinema and a National Heartthrob.

The period of 70’s competition was very tough as there were numerous top heroes in the race, whether tragedy king Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Rajendra Kumar, Shammi Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor, Manoj Kumar, Feroz Khan, Sanjay Khan, Sanjeev Kumar Sunil Dutt, Dharmendra, Jeetendra and Raj Kumar. But Rajesh Khanna came like a storm and dominated all of them.

To achieve a superstardom status, merely talent and dedication aren’t sufficient, but a powerful destiny should be in individuals favor and Rajesh Khanna was a destiny boy, born with a golden spoon. He came like a storm and sidelined all the leading and saleable heroes of that era and grabbed the throne of superstardom. The people were fed up of the same old faces and charming Rajesh Khanna’s appearance brought freshness on silver screen.

It was next to impossible to overshadow actors like Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand and Rajendra Kumar, but Rajesh Khanna succeeded. In the year 1971, Rajesh Khanna walked away with the best Film fare Award for Sachaa Jhutha when other nominations for the best actor award were Ganga Jamuna-Dilip Kumar and Khilona-Sanjeev Kumar.

Afore Rajesh Khanna there were many successful actors like Ashok Kumar, Biswajeet, Manoj Kumar, Joy Mukherjee, Dilip Kumar, Raj Kumar, Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand who were ruling at the Box office, but surprisingly nobody was able to break or surpass Rajesh Khanna’s record of 17 hits, super-hits and blockbusters out of which 2 were multi-starrers Maryada and Andaz right from 1969 to 1971. The other in the list comprised Aradhana, Do Raaste, Bandhan, Doli, Khamoshi, Amar Prem, Sachaa Jhutha, Dushman, Aan Milo Sajna, The Train, Anand, Ittefaq, Haathi Mere Saathi, Kati Patang and Safar. After Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan too achieved superstardom; hitherto, none could succeed to deliver 17 incessant hit films.

Audiences use to whistle when Rajesh Khanna made an entry on screen in films like Kati Patang, Aan Milo Sajna, Sachaa Jhutha, Dushman, Roti and others. People enjoyed his hit songs when they were screened on silver screen, specially Dil Ko Dekho-Sachaa Jhutha, Gulabi Aankhen-The Train, Duniya Mein Logn Ko-Apna Desh, Itna To Yaad Hai Mujhe-Mehboob Ki Mehendi, Yeh Reshmi Zulfein-Do Raaste, O Mere Dil Ke Chain-Mere Jeevan Saathi, Wada Tera Wada-Dushman, Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai-Kati Patang, Yaha Waha Saare-Aan Milo Sajna, Jai Jai Shiv Shankar-Aap Ki Kasam and Naach Meri Bulbul-Roti.

In his long career graph, Rajesh Khanna has 163 films and 17 short movies in 42 years of his prolix career from 1966 to 2012. Among the lot, 106 movies were solo heroes, 22 being multi-star-cast and 29 films in a special and guest appearance, including two regional’s ‘Sawa Lakh Se Ek Ladaun’ and ‘Bangaru Babu’ and 22 unreleased and shelved ones. His 48 movies celebrated Platinum jubilees, 26 Golden jubilees and 22 Silver jubilees, but surprisingly nobody offered Rajesh Khanna 70 mm movies like Dilip Kumar- Kranti, Karma and Shakti, Amitabh Bachchan- Sholay, Shaan, Shakti and Mahan, Dharmendra- Sholay, Shalimar, Razia Sultan, The Burning Train, Badle Ki Aag and Alibaba Aur Challis Chor and Jeetendra-The Burning Train and Badle Ki Aag.

From 1972 to 1989, Rajesh Khanna was the highest paid actor, though from 1980 onwards Amitabh was charging an equivalent price somewhere near Kaka. In 1970’s, Rajesh Khanna remuneration was 11 lakhs, the highest. From 1976, Rajesh Khanna had bundle of flops like Jaanwar, Bandalbaaz, Aashiq Hoon Baharon Ka, Hum Dono, Asha Jyoti, Red Rose, Phir Wahi Raat, Bhola Bhala, Chalta Purza, Babu, Oonche Log, Chakravuha, never the less his price was fixed and was paid the same remuneration which Amitabh demanded. Though in between he delivered few hit’s and semi-hits like Chhaila Babu, Amar Deep, Ashanti, Dhanwan, Dharam Kanta, Agar Tum Na Hote, Aakhir Kyon, Aadhikar and the Box office bonanza’s Souten and Avtaar.

Among other top star- actors such as Dilip Kumar, Dharmendra, Manoj Kumar, Jeetendra, Sanjay Khan, Shashi Kapoor, Dev Anand, Sanjeev Kumar remuneration was around Rs. 3 to 7 lakhs. Amongst the caboodle Dilip Kumar was paid the highest up to 7 lakhs, Dharmendra - 4.5 lakhs, Sanjeev Kumar- 2.5 lakhs, Vinod Hanna - 1.5 lakh and Amitabh a new comer at that time received 1 lakh for Sholay. However, Rajesh Khanna’s fee was 11 lakhs and producers were eager to sign the superstar at an exorbitant price as they were confident to earn from his films. Rajesh Khanna was a guarantee for success in early 70’s. Khanna was getting just 2 lakh as a signing amount.