Anita Advani speaks out about Rajesh Khanna’s contested will: “It’s not just about money; it’s also about my dignity.”
Former Indian actress Anita Advani, who shared a nearly 12-year relationship with the legendary actor Rajesh Khanna, has opened up about his disputed will, which she says was never shown to her. Advani says she’s seeking a life of dignity and respect from Khanna’s family, not financial gain. She also revealed that her autobiography about their relationship was interfered with, even noting changes to Khanna’s name within the text.
Advani, who rose to fame with films like Rocky and Karz, recently revisited her time with Khanna in a public interview. The two were together for about twelve years before Khanna’s sudden death in 2012.
In a conversation with Vickey Lalwani, Advani recounted life with the actor and spoke about the will, her treatment by Khanna’s family, and other aspects of their relationship.
Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia reportedly married suddenly, and their marriage later deteriorated, ending in separation. Khanna, however, remained closely associated with Advani for many years until his passing in 2012.
Advani says Khanna prepared a will before his death that she never got to see. She explained that she is fighting for her rights to live with dignity, saying, “I want to live the way I lived. That bungalow can’t come back, but I still want to lead a dignified life now.” She emphasized that she has never seen the will.
She added, “I knew the will was intended for many people.” When pressed about what she seeks from her fight, whether security or money, Advani asserted, “It’s not money. It’s also my respect. More than anything else, and the way I want to be, the way I was. I have a right to do that.”
During the interview, Advani briefly touched on Tina Munim and Khanna’s relationship.
She revealed that Khanna had described his relationship with Munim as positive, but declined to go into details about what happened between them or why they eventually parted.
Advani also discussed her book about her life with Khanna, describing how it was sabotaged. She had self-published the work with a major publisher to share her side of the story and had hoped to publish it on Khanna’s birthday as a tribute. Instead, she says the book was labeled fictitious and altered in promotion materials.
She explained that the book’s introduction contained statements about its authenticity, but the actual text was never released; promotional materials contained the narrative. She claims that substantial material was provided to the publishers, yet many elements were changed to derail the release.
Advani described receiving extensive, visually impressive posters, but when she tried to follow up with the publisher, no one answered her calls. She alleged that Khanna’s name was changed to “Rakesh Khanna” in the published materials, a move she found deeply disrespectful to his memory. She also recounted being told that the changes were the fault of an intern and that the issue involved content processed by a chatbot. She questioned why altering such material would be considered acceptable. Although she pursued legal action at the time, time constraints prevented her from continuing.
Thought-provoking takeaways:
- The core tension isn’t merely about inheritance but about recognition and respect in the wake of a famous relationship.
- The case highlights how personal histories can be entangled with family dynamics, media influence, and publishing practices.
- Questions for readers: Do you think public figures should be able to control how their personal stories are told after their death? How should rights to personal narratives be balanced with family interests and journalistic truth?
Would you like a version that emphasizes a specific angle (legal rights, personal dignity, or media ethics) or tailored for a particular audience (general readers, law students, or entertainment industry professionals?
