Rajesh Khanna shared an excessively special bond with R D Burman. Except for working together in numerous films, the star considered the composer to be certainly one of his closest buddies.
US-based Dr Mukesh Hariawala who had done a heart bypass surgery on RD at Princess Grace Hospital in London in 1989 reminisces concerning the special bond between the superstar and composer….
“I firmly believe Rajesh Khanna and R D Burman were destined to be soulmates. I WILL imagine the trio - R D Burman, Rajesh Khanna and Kishore Kumar - making superhits in heaven.
Rajesh Khanna visited RD after the operation in conjunction with director Shakti Samanta. On entering the room, Rajesh told RD, ‘I was in search of you within the recording studio, but they told me you're in a London hospital. Toh pehli flight lee aur seedha yaha chala aiya... I'M disappointed. Bataya bhi nahi.’
To which Burman replied, ‘These days I'VE no work in Mumbai, so decided to return to London and get my heart problem fixed,’ and then they laughed and embraced one another. RD boasted to Rajesh Khanna that during surgery I had observed that RD’s heart was larger than most people, Rajesh responded by saying, ‘Is mein koi shak nahin.
Bade dilwala hain aur hamesha rahega.’ Later Rajesh sought permission to take RD to the local pub near the hospital for a lager: I flatly refused permission.
Rajesh was disappointed but later apologised for breaking hospital rules. He also asked me if science and technology had get a hold of procedures that may fix an emotionally broken heart. I candidly replied, ‘If we did, people will stop watching your romantic movies!’”
Courtesy: Mid-Day.com
