The late Rajesh Khanna’s ‘lady love’ Anita Advani, whoreportedly had a long-standing live-in relationship with the megastar at hisBandra bungalow Aashirwad, is extremely upset, hearing the buzz about the latemegastar’s bungalow being renamed Vardaan.
“If the rumours are true, it would hurt Kakaji’s (RajeshKhanna’s) soul,” quipped Anita Advani, adding that “Aashirwad is synonymouswith Rajesh Khanna”.
She particularly found the name-change talks upsetting, asshe said, the name Aashirwad was given to the bungalow by Rajesh Khanna’sfather.
“Kakaji used to fondly remember and tell me how the bungalowwas named Aashirwad. When they were looking for a new name for the bungalow,his father had thought for a long time and then suggested the name Aashirwad.Kakaji has mentioned that his father said, ‘You’ll be a star and people willwrite letters and fan mail to you. Whenever they write your name on theletters, they will write the words – Rajesh Khanna Aashirwad. So in a way, theywould always be giving you their Aashirwad (blessings).’ That was the lovelythought behind the name,” reminisced Anita Advani.
Remembering her years with the megastar, Advani remarked,“Kakaji used to say that this (Aashirwad) was the ‘most favourite’ name givenby his father. The bungalow was also his most prized possession, which hewished to convert into a museum and his last wish should be fulfilled. In fact,together, over the years, we both designed its interiors with a long-term planto convert it into a museum.”
Advani further added that she was “perturbed by the suddenname-change talks. What sense does it make? If it’s true, it’s a weird move anddoesn’t sound nice.”
Reacting to claims about her asking for a stake in Aashirwad,Advani’s spokesperson Dale Bhagwagar stated, “It’s false that Ms Advani hasclaimed a stake in the bungalow. But she has maintained that Mr Rajesh Khannawished to turn it into a museum for his loving fans.”
