Chapter 11: Shelved and Unreleased Movies

The movies which were shelved for one or the other reason in Rajesh Khanna’s long career included Majnoon in 1979. It was to be made on a grand scale as Khayyam had already recoded few tracks for which Rajesh Khanna had presented the composer his first car. The film was produced by his father in law Chunnibhai Kapadia. Rakhee was the leading lady.

A film titled Kis Kaam Ke Yeh Rishte, starring Rajesh Khanna, Swapna, Shafi Inamdar and Nandita Thakur. The film’s director was B. R. Ishara who had canned some scenes.

In 1974, Narendra Bedi was making a movie with Rajesh Khanna as secret agent 007, an Indian bond film. The films mahurat took place on 12^th December 1974. The mahurat clap was given by Raj Kapoor. 007 posters were displayed at music shops at Lamington Road, where Rajesh Khanna has a pistol in his hand and his leading lady was Parveen Babi. The other cast of the film were Padmini Kolhapure, Aruna Irani, Padmini Kapila, Keti Mirza, Komila Virk, Asrani, and Prem Chopra. The film had music by R.D.Burman. 007 were presented by famous Panama Blade and the film was financed by Shankar B. C. After the first 3 days shoot, a major outdoor schedule was planned at Bangkok, but due to sudden demise of Shankar B. C, the film was left incomplete.

The film titled Aaghat starring Rajesh Khanna, Rekha, Rakhi, Pran, Raza Murad, late Mazhar Khan, Iftekhar and Tom Alter. The film was unreleased. The film had music by R. D Burman. It was produced by character actor Jankidas and was directed by Ali Raza.

A big poster of film called Waapsi was placed in Naaz cinema compound in 1986, wherein Rajesh Khanna in a white dress sitting on the driving seat and his co-stars were Rakhi and Rekha. The film was directed by Surendra Mohan, but wasn’t released.

A film with Rajesh Khanna and Zeenat Aman Lalchi was announced in 1975 which was to be directed by Nazar Khan, but couldn’t proceed further as the film had no financers.

Shanti Films Naaka, a crime thriller in which Rajesh Khanna plays a special appearance of a strict police Inspector was left incomplete. It was written by Dr. Rahi Masoom Raza, music by Laxmikant Pyarelal and directed by Ramesh.

Producer-director Pramod Chakravarty had announced a film Chamatkar with Rajesh Khanna, Parveen Babi and Shoma Anand in the lead. The remaining cast included Asrani, Ajit, Prem Chopra and Pran. Somehow the film foozled to proceed.

Filmmaker Dulal Guha had announced a movie called Bemisal in 1976 which starred Rajesh Khanna and Jeetendra. On account of financial issues, film foozled to go on the floor. After few years with the same title Bemisal was released with different star cast and credits. The film starred Amitabh, Rakhi and Vinod Mehra.

A movie Sandhyakal was supposed to be made in 1977 by Chetan Anand who had made Aakhri Khat with Rajesh Hanna. Sandhyakaal had Rakhi Gulzar a leading lady, but somehow, film failed to go on the floors.

A film Bharosa was going to be directed by Meraj somewhere in early 80. The film had Rajesh Khanna, Zaheera, Sujit Kumar and Pradeep Kumar in the cast and it had music by R. D. Burman. Some portions of the film were canned.

B. R. Chopra had announced a film Kahani with Rajesh Khanna in 1979, but due to no financers it was shelved.

Trishakti Production’s Pyaas, a love story to be directed by Shammi Kapoor was just announced but failed to go in the floor.

Ketan Desai wanted to make a film Allah Rakha with Rajesh Khanna and Hema Malini. It was announced in 1981. No financers came forward for the film to finance as the film was to be made on a grand scale. Later in 1986, Ketan made the same movie with Jackie Shroff. Even this film was offered to Amitabh Bachchan as per buzz in the trade, but Bachchan turned down the offer.

Ramanand Sagar’s Angaara starring Rajesh Khanna and Shabana Azmi was announced in 1983. It was also a big budget movie for which financial issues occurred.

B. R. Chopra had announced a film with Rajesh Khanna and Shabana Azmi Purush in 1986, but there was no headway.

Rajesh Khanna and Sahila Chaddha film Bonney was announced by Vimal Chaddha in 1986. This film too was shelved due to financial problem.

K. Hussain had announced a film 6^th December-A Love Story in 2003. The lead casts in the film were Rajesh Khanna, Jackie Shroff, Arshad Warsi and Neha Dhupia. A fine planning was being made to make the film, but again financial issues came in the picture.

A film Blackmailer was also planned with Rajesh Khanna and Rati Agnihotri, directed by Aviraj in 2005.

Prakash Mehra wanted to do Jadugar with Rajesh Khanna in 80’s, but the film was shelved. Later on, Mehra did the same film with Amitabh Bachchan.

A film titled Doosra Janam was announced in 1976 for which only Rajesh Khanna was signed, being directed by R. K. Nayyar and the film was to be produced by Jayant F, but nothing happened further. Music duos Laxmikant Pyarelal were going to compose the music.

Rohitasha Movies Aap Ke Kaabil was announced with Rajesh Khanna, written by Kaushal Bharti, music by Ravi and jointly produced by Suresh Grover and Mamta Jhaveri.

The other film in 1979 was Narendra Bedi’s Bebus with which he was turning producer. Zaheera was opposite Rajesh Khanna and Asha Sachdev was also added in the cast. Since Raaz days Narendra Bedi knew Rajesh Khanna as he was assistant director in the film and later on he directed Kaka in films Bandhan and Maha Chor. The music director was R. D. Burman who had recorded few songs of the film. Moreover, the cassettes of Bebus were also released, but after some shoot, due to date’s problem of Kaka as he was very busy during those days. Finally, Bedi had to discontinue it.

Dushman Dost was completed in 1981, starring Rajesh Khanna, Shatrughan Sunha, Rekha, Reena Roy and Padmini Kolhapuri in the main cast, but wasn’t released.

Rajesh Khanna had signed Emkay Films Pvt Ltd. Apradhi which was being produced and directed by Mohan Kumar, lyrics were penned by Anand Bakshi and music by Laxmikant Pyarelal and Shabana Azmi was the the leading lady of the film. Unfortunately the film couldn’t commence.

In early 80, King of Bollywood horror movies, Ramsay Brothers were in the process to make Om with Rajesh Khanna, Mandakini, Prem Chopra, Gulshan Grover, Amjad Khan and Kulbhushan Kharbanda. The film was a remake of a Hollywood hit Omen. It had music by Bappi Lahiri and it was produced by Kumar Ramsay and directed by Shyam Ramsay &Tulsi Ramsay. The movie was shelved after announcement.

In 1986, producer-director Prakash Mehra had announced Kaayar which had Rajesh Khanna, Hema Malini, Raj Babbar, Sumeet Sehgal and Pran. The music had Kalyanji Anandi, but no headway.

The movie Police Ke Peeche Police was announced with Rajesh Khanna, Archana Puran Singh, Shafi Inamdar, Pran and Kulbhushan Kharbanda in 1989. The film was to be directed by B. R. Ishara and produced by Rajesh Khanna and it had music by R D Burman. The subject of the film was similar with some other movie, so Rajesh Khanna backed out as a producer.

Rajesh Khanna’s home production Jai Shiv Shankar was completed, but unfortunately failed to hit the screen. The cast comprised Rajesh Khanna with Dimple Khanna for the first time, Jeetendra, Sangita Bijlani, Chunky Pandey and Poonam Dhillon. The film was directed by S. A. Chandrshekhar.

Godson’s was one such movie of Rajesh Khanna announced in 1985. The film was being produced by B. S. Grover and directed by B. R. Ishara.

In 1994-5, FilmKraft Production’s Kaagaz was also one of the shelved movies of Rajesh Khanna, starring Jeetendra, Govinda, Zeba Bakhtiar, Neelam Kothari, Aasif Sheikh, Sonu Walia and Anupam Kher. The film was written, produced and directed by Rakesh Roshan and it had musical score by Rajesh Roshan.

The remaining unreleased and shelved movies of Rajesh Khanna are Vijay-Winning All The Way, 6 December-A Love Story and Jaanleve-Black Blood.

In the year 1997, ‘Gramco Films’ Daman also foozled to go on the floor. The cast included Rajesh Khanna, Naseeruddin Shah, Manisha Koirala and Murad Ali. The film had music by Khayyam and it was directed by Muzaffar Ali.