Rajesh Khanna Did Anand for FREE but Earned 10 Times More Than His Fee Would Have Been | Here’s How

Rajesh Khanna, the original superstar of Indian cinema, was the first to experience the phenomenon of superstardom, with his unmatched popularity and massive fan base. From 1970 to 1987, he reigned as the highest-paid actor, delivering 15 consecutive hits before his career took an unexpected dip. But here’s a twist that not many are aware of — despite his dominance at the box office, Rajesh Khanna didn’t take a single rupee for his legendary 1971 film Anand.

In a big reveal to ETimes, historian Dilip Thakur opened up on the details on Rajesh Khanna’s move. Instead of a paycheck, Rajesh Khanna secured the distribution rights for Anand under his company, Shaktiraj Films. And it turned out to be a genius decision — he ended up making ten times what his usual fee would have been, all thanks to the film’s incredible success. “Khanna didn’t charge any remuneration for Anand. Instead, he obtained the distribution rights under his firm Shaktiraj Films,” he said.

Before Rajesh Khanna landed the role, director Hrishikesh Mukherjee had his eyes on Kishore Kumar and Dharmendra for Anand. In fact, the filmmaker even shared the story with Dharmendra during a flight from Chennai to Mumbai. But, in a twist of fate, Mukherjee decided to go with Rajesh Khanna instead.

Dilip Thakur revealed that, despite Rajesh Khanna’s busy schedule with back-to-back films, director Hrishikesh Mukherjee insisted on getting bulk dates from him. Khanna agreed, which led to Anand being filmed in just 28 days. “Hrishi Da insisted that Khanna give him his dates in bulk,” adding, “Anand’s shoot was completed in 28 days,” he recalled.

Anand (1971), directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, is a cult classic in Indian cinema, known for its poignant storytelling and powerful performances by Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan and Sumita Sanyal. The film tells the story of Anand, a terminally ill yet cheerful man who deeply affects those around him, especially his friend Dr. Bhaskar. It was widely acclaimed for its emotional depth, memorable dialogues such as “Zindagi badi honi chahiye, lambi nahi” (Life should be big, not long), and its timeless music by Salil Chowdhury. The film’s heartwarming narrative and impactful performances have made it a cherished part of Bollywood’s legacy.