Rajesh Khanna was a veteran Indian actor, film producer and politician. Born on December 29, 1942, in Amritsar, Punjab, he started his acting career in 1966 with the film "Akhri Khat" and went on to become one of the biggest Indian film stars of the 1970s. He has acted in over 160 films in a span of four decades, and his most famous films include "Anand," "Safar," "Bawarchi," and "Namak Haraam." Khanna was known for his charming personality, a unique way of dialogue delivery, and an exceptional acting style that made him the heartthrob of millions of Indian fans. He was the first actor in Indian cinema history to have 15 consecutive solo hit films between 1969 and 1971, which is still an unbroken record. Apart from acting, Khanna was also a producer and produced six films under his own banner, Rajesh Khanna Productions.

In addition to his successful acting career, Khanna was actively involved in Indian politics and served as a Member of Parliament from New Delhi between 1992 and 1996. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian award, in 1991 for his contribution to Indian cinema. Khanna's sudden demise on July 18, 2012, due to cancer, left millions of his fans and the Indian film industry in shock.