'Metaphor for Khanna's lifelong need for solitude...': Author on bags
When Bollywood legend Rajesh Khanna passed away in 2012, his iconic bungalow, Aashirwaad, revealed a surprise: 64 unopened suitcases packed with gifts from his travels.
These forgotten bags weren't just about luxury—they quietly hinted at the loneliness and complexity beneath all the fame.
Khanna's life and career
Once the biggest name in Indian cinema during the late '60s and '70s, Khanna turned his home into a symbol of stardom.
Despite massive success and public adoration, his later years saw career struggles and growing isolation.
He's remembered not just as a superstar but also as a family man—survived by wife Dimple Kapadia and daughters Twinkle and Rinke.
Untouched suitcases metaphor for Khanna's need for solitude: Author
Those untouched suitcases say more than you'd think.
As author Gautam Chintamani put it, they're "a metaphor for Khanna's lifelong need for solitude despite public acclaim."
It's a reminder that even icons can feel alone—and that there's often more to their stories than what we see on screen.