Obituary

[BM]

RIP

Bollywood's first superstar Rajesh Khanna dies at 69

Actor Rajesh Khanna has died at home in Mumbai. He was 69. The cause of death is not known yet but Mr Khanna had been ill for some time. The cremation will be held at 4.30pm today.

Mr Khanna had been hospitalized on June 23, when he was taken to Lilavati Hospital to be treated for exhaustion, and spent some days having tests. He was discharged on July 8.

Worried fans had lined up outside Aashirwad, Mr Khanna's Mumbai bungalow, on June 21 when he was said to have stopped eating. He was later reported to be "more than fine" by son-in-law, actor Akshay Kumar. Mr Khanna himself appeared on his balcony, visibly weak and wearing dark glasses, to wave at his fans and give them the victory sign.

Mr Khanna had also been hospitalized for a few days in April this year.

Mr Khanna's ex-wife, actress Dimple Kapadia, has nursed him through his illness. They have two daughters together - Twinkle, who is expecting her second child with husband Akshay Kumar, and Rinke who is married to businessman Sameer Saran.

Mr Khanna was the top actor in Bollywood during the Seventies and early Eighties, and is considered to be it's first real superstar. He was the star of romantic comedies and dramas such as Anand, Aradhana and Kati Patanag. He won three Filmfare awards in his long career. Mr Khanna also held a Lok Sabha seat as a Congressman from 19992-1996.

http://movies.ndtv.com/movie_story.a...ood&nid=244655