Legendary actor Rajesh Khanna, known for his romantic roles, also had a brief but impactful political career where he didn’t shy away from candidly criticizing his contemporaries, including fellow actor Vinod Khanna and cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu.
From Screen Icon to Political Voice
While Rajesh Khanna ruled the silver screen as a romantic hero in the 60s and 70s, he also ventured into the political arena. He actively campaigned for the Indian National Congress starting from 1984 and continued his political engagement until his passing in 2012.
During a 2012 interview with PTI, just months before his demise, Khanna shared his strong opinions on the political landscape in Punjab. He specifically took aim at Vinod Khanna and Navjot Singh Sidhu, both prominent figures in the state’s politics.
Vinod Khanna: The Unfulfilled Promises
Rajesh Khanna was particularly critical of Vinod Khanna’s tenure as the Member of Parliament for Gurdaspur. He accused Vinod Khanna of making numerous promises to voters, including establishing a film academy, but failing to deliver.
“Vinod Khanna had made bundle of promises with the voters in Gurdaspur including that he would set up a film academy but never honoured his words. The voters threw him out,” Rajesh Khanna stated. Vinod Khanna, representing the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), had won from Gurdaspur in 1997, 1999, and 2004, but did lose the election in 2009.
Despite the loss, Vinod Khanna was re-elected in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. He also held significant ministerial positions, serving as Union Minister for Culture and Tourism and Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs, before his death in 2017.
Rajesh Khanna’s Political Integrity
Rajesh Khanna emphasized his own commitment to honesty in politics. He expressed a strong belief in not misleading the public with false promises, stating, “I would never like to ditch my own people with hollow promises like other politicians.”
He underlined that politicians should not make commitments they cannot fulfill. Rajesh Khanna himself served as an MP from the New Delhi constituency for the INC from 1992 to 1996, after which he stepped away from active politics. He even declined an offer from the INC to contest the 2009 Lok Sabha elections from his hometown of Amritsar.
Navjot Singh Sidhu: A “Good Comedian,” Not a Politician
The veteran actor also turned his attention to Navjot Singh Sidhu, who had won the Lok Sabha elections from Amritsar on a BJP ticket in 2004 and 2009. Rajesh Khanna candidly referred to Sidhu as a “good comedian.”
However, he was quick to add that Sidhu could never be a good politician, asserting that “politics is not comedy.” This remark likely stemmed from Sidhu’s dual career as a successful cricketer and a popular judge on comedy shows like “The Great Indian Laughter Challenge,” which began in 2005.
Sidhu’s political journey continued with various shifts, including forming a new front in 2016 and later joining the INC to become a minister in Punjab in 2017. He eventually lost the Punjab Assembly Elections in 2022.
Key Takeaways
- Rajesh Khanna was a politician who voiced strong opinions against unfulfilled promises.
- He criticized Vinod Khanna for failing to deliver on his pledges to Gurdaspur voters.
- Khanna openly dismissed Navjot Singh Sidhu’s political aptitude, contrasting it with his comedic talent.
- His remarks highlight the often-blurry lines between entertainment and politics in India.
Rajesh Khanna’s political commentary offers a fascinating glimpse into the sharp observations of a cinematic legend on the state of Indian politics during his time.
