Born as Jatin Khanna, Rajesh Khanna was the first superstar of Indian cinema. Khanna gave 17 consecutive superhit films from 1969 to 1970. He is also remembered for his famous dialogues in the Hindi film industry. His dialogues were very powerful and are still etched in our memories.
Whether it was inspiring people to live life to the fullest in Anand or highlighting the basic needs of man in Roti, Khanna truly immortalised dialogues with his brilliant dialogue delivery. Some of the dialogues were written by veteran actor-writer Kader Khan. Thanks to Khan, the superstar left his mark on the industry with his powerful dialogues.
Here is a list of some of the dialogues of Rajesh Khanna that became very popular.
13 dialogues of Rajesh Khanna that remained famous for years
1. “Pushpa…I can’t see these tears…I hate tears.” -Amar Prem
This is the most famous dialogue of the film Amar Prem. Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore were in the lead roles in this film.
In one scene, Khanna, playing Anand Babu, tells Tagore’s character Pushpa, ” Zara si baat chhod kar zindagi ko dukh kar di ,” and then asks her to stop crying because he doesn’t like tears.
2. “Babumoshai… life should be big, not long… if you stop living for fear of death, then what is death. Babumoshai, as long as I am alive I have not died, when I die, I will not even die.” Then what is there to fear?”- Anand
This famous dialogue of Rajesh Khanna is taken from his film Anand. In the film, Khanna played the character of Anand Sehgal, who was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer called intestinal lymphosarcoma.
In one scene, Anand Sehgal talks to two doctors, Bhaskar Banerjee and Prakash Kulkarni, played by Amitabh Bachchan and Ramesh Deo, and tells us his way of living life. He inspires the audience to not live in fear of death and encourages us to enjoy every moment of life to the fullest.
3. “Please 50 rupees…I have stopped doing free labour.” – Avatar
This touching dialogue is from Rajesh Khanna’s film Avatar. Khanna played the character of Avatar Kishan in the film. In one scene, Avatar asks for his hard-earned money after getting his son Chander’s car repaired in the garage.
4. “It is very easy to be happy … but it is very difficult to be simple.” – Chef
Rajesh Khanna spoke this dialogue in his musical comedy film Bawarchi. Khanna played the role of Professor Prabhakar disguised as Raghu, the versatile cook in the Sharma family.
Among all his inspiring thoughts, this dialogue is a classic example of his outstanding wisdom.
5. “Those who fear the raindrops cannot brave the storm.” – Namak Haraam
This dialogue is from their film Namak Haram, starring Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan. Khanna played the role of Somnath aka Somu in the film and Big B was cast as Vicky.
6. “Give a person your heart, body, mind, but don’t give him his stomach. When he is hungry, don’t let him starve. If he is hungry, arrange for two meals a day and send them. Otherwise, you have no right to pay the person.” – Roti
Rajesh Khanna delivered these powerful dialogues in his film Roti. In the climax scene, Khanna as the dying Mangal Singh prays to God not to deprive anyone of roti.
7. “A small wound can become a very deep scar. And a small meeting can become a lifelong companionship.”- Aaradhana
This dialogue picturised on Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore is from their film Aradhana. In a scene, Khanna as Indian Air Force officer Arun Verma says this dialogue to his girlfriend Vandana. Arun later dies in a plane crash.
8. “I have eaten your salt, so I am definitely a traitor in your eyes, but I am not a traitor in the eyes of the one who made this salt, Vicky.” – Namak Haram
This dialogue is from Namak Haram. In a scene, Rajesh Khanna as Somu meets his friend-turned-rival Amitabh Bachchan’s character Vicky. This is when Vicky calls Somu “Namak Haram”.
9. “If God gives me a place in hell for not forgiving them, I will not regret it. But I will not give them a place in heaven again.” – Heaven
Rajesh Khanna spoke these lines in David Dhawan’s film Swarg. Khanna as Mr. Kumar or Sahebji speaks these lines before his death. While speaking this dialogue, his character is referring to his brothers and their wives.
10. “Oh Babumoshai, we all are puppets on the stage whose strings are in the hands of the one above us, no one knows when, who, how, where will rise.” – Anand
This dialogue was featured in their film Anand starring Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan. This dialogue is inspired by the lines from William Shakespeare’s ‘As You Like It’.
In one scene, Anand and Bhaskar record these lines on tape and laugh at it.
11. “It is not necessary to make someone your own to feel close, whoever gets closeness, he is your own.” – Kati Patang
Rajesh Khanna spoke this dialogue in the film Kati Patang. Khanna as Kamal spoke this dialogue to Asha Parekh’s character Madhu, who is disguised as the fake widow Poonam in the film.
12. “The more noble a man is, the more devilish he can become, that’s why I come here, to see how big a devil I can become.” – Amar Prem
Rajesh Khanna as Anand Babu spoke this dialogue to Sharmila Tagore’s Pushpa. Anand often visits her in the brothel in search of love. This dialogue is taken from Amar Prem.
13. “The two-legged animal is the most dangerous animal in this world.” – Haathi Mere Saathi
This dialogue is from Rajesh Khanna’s film Haathi Mere Saathi. Khanna in the character of Raju is a zoo owner and has four elephants who saved his life in childhood. He is closest to the elephant Ramu.
Khanna’s character Raju says the line that humans are more dangerous than animals.
Rajesh Khanna’s hit films of that era include Aradhana, Bandhan, Do Raaste, Doli, Ittefaq, Safar, Kati Patang, The Train, Sachchaa Jhootha, Aan Milo Sajna etc.
Also read: 9 best films of Rajesh Khanna that will fill your silent heart with joy
