Anita Advani, who recently revealed that she was secretly married to superstar Rajesh Khanna and lived with him for 12 years, has opened up about the actor’s illness and final days. Speaking on Reels Meets Real, she said she stood by him when, according to her, he was “abandoned” by his own family.‘Within 2–4 weeks he had become so weak’Advani described the superstar’s drastic physical decline. “Some of his pictures went viral then—you could see the change. Within just 2–4 weeks, he had become so weak. It was shocking and very painful to watch,” she recalled.She said Khanna never cared much for fitness or health. “He never exercised, never fussed about his appearance. Watching him deteriorate so fast was heartbreaking,” she added.A small change that made him smileAdvani recalled moments of lightness. “I remember giving him my goggles once. At first, he resisted, but then he wore a bronze pair and looked in the mirror. He smiled and admitted they suited him. Later, I had prescription lenses made for him, and gradually, he even started enjoying them. That small change showed me that when someone loves you and motivates you, even stubbornness softens.”
The romantic hero in real lifeAdvani said India’s first superstar remained deeply romantic and childlike with her. “He used to sing and dance for me. The most romantic hero on screen was equally romantic in real life—sometimes even more. With me, he was completely comfortable—laughing, teasing, and spoiling me like a child.”But she also admitted to his dual nature. “When he was in a good mood, he would make me feel like a queen. And when he wasn’t, he could make life very difficult. That cycle used to trap us. But then he would make me laugh again. Those were his ways.”
