Rajesh Khanna was great film actor, good politician: Rajiv Shukla

New Delhi, July 18 (ANI): Congress MP Rajiv Shukla on Wednesday expressed deep sorrow over Bollywood actor Rajesh Khanna's sudden demise, saying the nation has today lost a great film actor and a good politician.

Shukla said Rajesh Khanna was a very lovable politician.

"It's a setback for all of us to hear the news of Rajesh Khanna's sudden demise. He was not only a great actor, but in fact he started the concept of super stardom. He was the first superstar of Bollywood. And not only in Bollywood, he was equally popular in political arena also," said Shukla.

"When he became the Member of Parliament, I remember Rajiv Gandhi had brought him. I met him first with Rajiv Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi made him to contest the Lok Sabha election. And in Parliament also, he was very popular among the Members of Parliament and his parliamentary career was also superb," he added.

The first superstar of Bollywood, Rajesh Khanna, passed away after a prolonged illness earlier today. He was 69.

The actor, who enjoyed unprecedented adulation from his fans across the country, was rushed to Lilavati Hospital twice in the past one month due to exhaustion and weakness.

Khanna's health started deteriorating since April this year when he stopped taking food and complained of exhaustion and weakness.

Khanna, who married actress Dimple Kapadia in 1973, has two daughters Twinkle and Rinki. Twinkle, an interior decorator and a former film actress, is married to actor Akshay Kumar, who has returned from his shoots abroad.

Khanna was born in Amritsar on December 29, 1942. Khanna lived in Thakurdwar near Girgaon in Mumbai.

Rajesh Khanna was one of eight finalists in the 1965 All India Talent Contest organised by United Producers and Filmfare from more than ten thousand contestants. Subsequently, Khanna won the contest.

He made his film debut in the 1966 film Aakhri Khat directed by Chetan Anand, followed by Raaz directed by Ravindra Dave both of which were a part of his predetermined prize for winning the All-India United Producers' Talent Competition.

He rose to prominence with his performances in films like Raaz, Baharon Ke Sapne, Ittefaq and Aradhana.

Khanna appeared in 163 feature films of which 128 as the lead protagonist including 106 as the solo lead hero films and 22 two-hero projects and did 17 short films. He won three Filmfare Best Actor Awards and was nominated for the same fourteen times. He received the maximum BFJA Awards for Best Actor (Hindi) - four times and nominated 25 times.

Khanna, the 'First Superstar' of Hindi cinema, was awarded the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005. (ANI)