India’s first Film to run over 100 days in theatre, sold 42 million tickets, earned Rs…, not Sholay, DDLJ, Hum Aapke Hain Koun, Jai Santoshi Maa, Mughal-E-Azam, Baahubali, name is….

Rajesh Khanna left an indelible mark on Bollywood with his remarkable career. A turning point in his cinematic journey came with Shakti Samanta’s Aradhana, a film that not only achieved massive box office success but also made history as the first Hindi film to run over 100 days in theatres.

Interestingly, Aradhana was screened four times daily in the Northeastern region and the four South Indian states where Hindi isn’t the primary language. It ran over three years in South Indian theatres, earning an impressive status of platinum jubilee worldwide. The film sell an astounding 42 million tickets and grossed Rs 7 crore at the box office.

Released on September 27, 1969, Aradhana boasts a stellar star cast including Sharmila Tagore, Farida Jalal and Madan Puri. Rajesh Khanna’s double role in the film played a massive role in rising him to stardom. The soulful music of the film resonated deeply with the audience. One of its most popular tracks, Mere Sapno Ki Rani, is till date cherished by the audiences. Music composition by SD Burman and melodious vocals by Kishore Kumar elevated the film’s success and overall impact.

After Aradhana became a massive hit at the box office, Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore collaborated in other hit films like Amar Prem and Aavishkar. However, their pairing hit a major roadblock due to Sharmila Tagore’s decision to not work with Rajesh Khanna anymore because of his constant tardiness on sets. Mentioned in the audiobook ‘Rajesh Khanna: Ek Tanha Sitara,’ the veteran actress revealed his habit of arriving at noon for a 9 a.m shift, which often left her frustrated and led her choose working with other actors in the future projects.

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