​Unseen gems: Rare photos of Rajesh Khanna​

Rajesh Khanna, the first superstar of Indian cinema, continues to captivate fans decades after his passing with his timeless charm and emotive performances. Recently unearthed photographs offer a rare glimpse into both his personal and professional life — from candid family moments to iconic film sets. These unseen gems highlight the enduring appeal of the legend who ruled Bollywood in the 1970s.

Twinkle Khanna honoured her father by sharing a newspaper-clipped photograph of Rajesh Khanna cradling a newborn Twinkle, weighing seven pounds, shortly after her birth. The image was taken at Jaslok Hospital during Dimple Kapadia’s hospital stay. Sharing the picture, Twinkle captioned it, “Treasures people find and send my way and yes even then it seems my weight was of paramount importance :) #OnceUponATime.”

Fondly known as “the first superstar” and “the original superstar” of Indian cinema, the late Rajesh Khanna holds the record for 15 consecutive solo hit films in Hindi cinema. On one of her father’s birthdays, Twinkle Khanna shared a black-and-white photograph of him on Instagram and wrote, “As a toddler, I was convinced that all the truckloads of flowers that would arrive for his birthday were actually for me… #nowandforever.”

Rajesh Khanna and his daughter Twinkle shared the same birthday on December 29. In a deeply emotional tribute, she once wrote, “On the day, I see you — in my reflection off the back of a gleaming spoon, in a gesture my sister makes, in the arch of my son’s eyebrows — I still see you. #happybirthdaytous.”

On Rajesh Khanna’s fifth death anniversary, Twinkle shared a black-and-white photograph capturing her planting a kiss on her father’s cheek. The legendary actor passed away on July 18, 2012, at his Mumbai residence, Aashirwad, following a prolonged battle with cancer. He was married to actress Dimple Kapadia, and the couple had two daughters, Twinkle and Rinkie. Twinkle continues to share rare and heartfelt tributes to her father on social media.