An old yet astonishing story involving Bollywood’s first superstar, Rajesh Khanna, and today’s megastar Salman Khan has once again become a topic of discussion in showbiz circles.
This revelation is mentioned in the well-known book Dark Star: The Loneliness of Being Rajesh Khanna and has recently resurfaced in public debate.
Gautam Chintamani writes in his book that there came a time in the life of India’s first superstar, Rajesh Khanna, when he was under severe financial pressure.
According to Indian media, when Rajesh Khanna—the iconic superstar of the late 1960s and 1970s—fell on hard times and faced severe financial difficulties, Salman Khan offered to purchase the bungalow and work in his film without charging any fee.
However, Rajesh Khanna doubted Salman’s intentions, labeled the offer as a betrayal, and said that it was an attempt to push him onto the streets.
The offer went beyond a simple property deal. Salman Khan reportedly also offered to work without charging any fee in one of Rajesh Khanna’s films to help ease his financial difficulties.
However, the story took a dramatic turn. Rajesh Khanna—fondly known as “Kaka”—viewed the offer not as sympathy but as a conspiracy.
He believed that Salman Khan wanted to buy the bungalow to weaken him financially and socially. He even remarked that they were trying to push him onto the streets.
Due to this mistrust, Kaka firmly refused to sell Aashirwad.
It is worth recalling that Aashirwad was once a symbol of Rajesh Khanna’s grandeur and dominance.
According to the book, Rajesh Khanna would hold court in the bungalow like a king.
The superstar would sit on a high-backed chair while producers were made to wait outside.
His silk lungi and kurta were his trademark, and access to the inner areas of the house was restricted to only a chosen few.
However, due to Rajesh Khanna’s lack of punctuality, substance abuse, late-night parties, and strained relations with producers, fortune did not favor him for long.
There was once a saying in Bollywood: “God above, and Kaka on earth”—meaning whoever had Kaka’s approval would get work.
After 1973, producers found an alternative in Amitabh Bachchan.
With the rise of the “Angry Young Man,” Kaka’s stardom began to fade.
As a result, the financially troubled Rajesh Khanna, known for his royal lifestyle and habits, gradually slipped into isolation, spending his later years alone in the same bungalow, Aashirwad.
Rajesh Khanna, who rejected Salman Khan’s humble offer believing it to be a plot, never sold Aashirwad during his lifetime.
After his death, the historic bungalow was demolished and replaced by a high-rise building.
Even today, this story is counted among those Bollywood tales where ego, misunderstandings, and changing times alter everything.
He purchased the bungalow Aashirwad from actor Rajendra Kumar in the early 1970s for Rs 350,000.