Rajesh Khanna was the original superstar of Hindi cinema, a phenomenon whose popularity reached extraordinary heights. Admirers wrote him letters in blood, symbolically married his picture and gathered for hours outside his bungalow hoping to catch a glimpse of him. However, according to Anita Advani, the man behind the legendary image had deep emotional scars before he became a star. She believes that his childhood experiences, broken relationships, and repeated betrayals by those he trusted gradually left him unable to trust those around him.Anita reflects on how Khanna’s experience changed his outlook on life.“He was skeptical of everyone,” she said on the podcast “Meri Saheli.” If you ask me psychologically, I think he’s lost his trust in people. First, he was adopted. Then he was betrayed in a relationship. She was close to Rajesh Khanna during the last ten years of his life, and she allegedly believed that Khanna became increasingly withdrawn and difficult in his later years, suggesting that few people truly knew the legendary actor. In 1942, the legendary actor was adopted by his childless relatives Chunnilal and Leelawati Khanna, who raised him as their relatives also betrayed him. Even those he had helped and succeeded in eventually turned against him. He became suspicious of everyone. “Anita has long claimed that she was closely associated with Rajesh Khanna during the last ten years of his life and claimed that many people took advantage of the actor’s generosity and kindness.“A lot of people exploited him. During political campaigns, he would go wherever he asked, but the people in the middle would pocket the money. Kakaji himself never took any money. “She also discussed the widespread belief that Khanna became increasingly withdrawn and difficult in his later years, suggesting that few truly understood the circumstances that shaped his character.“People asked why his personality changed so much, why he became so difficult. His life itself began a complicated process. He was adopted and when he found out about it, it was a huge shock to him.”Born as Jatin Khanna in 1942, the legendary actor was adopted by his childless relatives Chunnilal and Leelawati Khanna, who raised him as a son. Anita believes discovering the truth about his adoption had a profound emotional impact on him.“He wasn’t close to his biological sisters or family. One time his sister came to see him and he asked, ‘Who is she?’ There wasn’t a lot of emotional connection.”Rajesh Khanna’s journey to superstardom remains one of the most compelling stories in Hindi cinema. Following the success of 1969’s Aradhana, he went on to deliver an unprecedented 15 hit films in a row, cementing his status as the country’s first true superstar. At the height of his fame, producers lined up outside his home with signing fees, while his loyal fans expressed an almost unparalleled level of admiration.