Bombay High Court Rejects Anita Advani's Plea for Marriage Recognition with Rajesh Khanna
Court Decision on Marriage Status
File image of Rajesh Khanna (Photo: @SJVatsal/X)
Mumbai, April 1: The Bombay High Court has turned down actress Anita Advani's request for legal recognition of her marriage to the late film icon Rajesh Khanna.
The court upheld the previous ruling made by the Dindoshi sessions court. This case has been surrounded by controversy since Khanna's death in 2012, leading to a prolonged legal dispute between his family and Advani.
A bench led by Justice Sharmila Deshmukh stated unequivocally that the appeal is dismissed, although a detailed order regarding the case is still pending. The court also considered arguments from Akshay Kumar, Twinkle Khanna, and Dimple Kapadia.
Advani claimed that her relationship with Khanna was akin to marriage and alleged that she was forced out of her residence following the actor's passing.
Rajesh Khanna was a legendary figure in Indian cinema, having won the All India Talent Contest in 1965. He achieved a remarkable feat by delivering 15 consecutive solo hit films between 1969 and 1971, a record in Hindi film history. Throughout his career, he received three Filmfare Awards for Best Actor and numerous nominations. He also served as a Member of Parliament from 1992 to 1996, representing the Indian National Congress.
In 1973, he married actress Dimple Kapadia, with whom he had two daughters, including actress Twinkle Khanna. Over his illustrious career, Khanna appeared in over 160 films, with more than 100 leading roles. He was honored with the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005 and posthumously received India's Padma Bhushan in 2013.
Akshay Kumar, a prominent Bollywood star, is his son-in-law, married to author Twinkle Khanna.