The greatest of love stories are those that have a sad ending. Anju Mahendru also had a great love story but it never culminated into a happy one. Anju Mahendru, a budding actress and model, shared a passionate and tumultuous relationship with Rajesh Khanna, which somehow stuck with her identity.
Early Life
Anju Mahendru, born on January 11, 1946, in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. She was raised in Mumbai, Maharashtra, where she began her career in the entertainment industry at a young age. Anju’s mother, Shanti Mahendru, was the sister of the legendary music director Madan Mohan. The relation provided her with a strong connection to the world of cinema.
Anju started her career as a model at the age of 13 and soon became the top model of her time.
Anju’s Acting Career
Anju was spotted by poet and lyricist Kaifi Azmi, who recommended her to Basu Bhattacharya. Basu cast her in “Uski Kahani” in 1966, his debut film as a director.
She later went on to act in films such as “Jewel Thief (1967),” “Bandhan (1969),” “Intaqam (1969),” “Dastak (1970),” “Darwaza (1978),” and “Ganga Ki Saugand (1978).” Later in the 90s, she became a major force on TV with serials like “Anoogoonj,” “Swabhiman,” “Astitwa,” and “Kahin to Hoga.” She also acted in films like “Sathiya,” “Page 3,” and “Dirty Picture.”
She has also appeared in many other popular TV shows like “Kasautii Zindagii Kay” (2001), “Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai,” “Yeh Hai Mohabbatein” (2013), “Rishton Ka Chakravyuh” (2017), Mariam Khan—Reporting Live (2018), Appnapan—Badalte Rishton Ka Bandhan (2022) and many more. More recently she was seen in web series like Parchhayee (2019) and Heeramandi (2024).
Anju Mahendru and Kaka
In the 1960s, she met Rajesh Khanna, a struggler with a spark in his eyes; they fell head over heels for each other. The couple’s relationship quickly became the talk of the town, with fans and media closely following their every move.
During their time together, Anju and Rajesh were often seen as the perfect couple. They supported each other through thick and thin, with Anju being a devoted girlfriend and Rajesh lavishing his attention on her. However, their relationship was not without its challenges. Rajesh Khanna’s orthodox views often clashed with Anju’s modern outlook, leading to frequent disagreements.
The Devil In The Pradise
Khanna was never an admirer of his women working in films or modelling. She discouraged Mahendru from actively pursuing the acting career, which led to her leaving many film offers. In 1969, with “Aradhana,” Khanna became the overnight star; people went crazy for him, and girls were sending letters written with blood; it was a frenzy like never before. Rajesh Khanna also got super busy as he went on to deliver 15 solo hits in the next 2-3 years.
Suddenly Anju found herself alone at their home. At the same time Khanna was working 3 shifts, partying, and enjoying all the female attention. He hardly had time for anything else including for Anju. All this, along with their ego clashes, created a rift between them. Anju said in an interview, “I know it’s a contradiction, but then Rajesh Khanna is like that. Confusion was a part of our relationship. If I wore a skirt, he’d snap, Why don’t you wear a saree? If I wore a saree, he’d wrinkle his nose and say, Why are you trying to project a Bhartiya nari look?’”
Breakup and Aftermath
The couple’s relationship faced a significant blow when rumours of Anju’s alleged affair with West Indies cricketer Gary Sobers began to circulate. Rajesh Khanna’s mother had been eager for him to marry. His proposals to Anju were met with hesitation as she was afraid of Khanna’s reputation. She also wanted to focus on her career, which was never acceptable for Khanna.
This was a turning point in both their lives. Rajesh Khanna married a 17-year-old Dimple Kapadia with the condition that she would not do the movies after their marriage. Dimple’s debut film, Bobby, was released after their marriage. Anju, on the other hand, continued to pursue her acting career but faced emotional turmoil due to the end of her relationship with Rajesh.
Later Years Reconcilition
Following their breakup, Anju and Rajesh did not speak to each other for 17 years. Although after her breakup with Khanna, she dated Imtiaz Khan, the brother of Amjad Khan, until 1979, she never married. Anju and Rajesh eventually reconciled and became friends again in 1988. Anju remained a close friend and emotional support to Rajesh until his death in 2012. She used to take care of his medical needs and even accompanied him to the hospital.
In interviews, Anju has often reflected on her relationship with Rajesh Khanna. She admitted that immaturity, ego clashes, and career ambitions played a role in their breakup. After Khanna’s death, Anju told Mahesh Bhatt, “My only consolation is that I was holding his hand when he took his last breath.”
Anju Mahendru on IMDB
