Mumbai, April 1 – The Bombay High Court has dismissed the plea of actress Anita Advani seeking legal recognition for her marriage to the late superstar Rajesh Khanna.
The court upheld the earlier verdict of the Dindoshi sessions court. The case has been surrounded by controversy since Rajesh Khanna's death in 2012, amidst a long-running legal battle between his family and Anita Advani.
A bench of Justice Sharmila Deshmukh, after hearing the arguments of both sides, clearly stated that the appeal is dismissed. However, the detailed order in this matter is yet to be issued. The court also heard arguments on behalf of Akshay Kumar, Twinkle Khanna, and Dimple Kapadia.
Anita Advani stated that she had been in a relationship with Rajesh Khanna for a long time, which was akin to marriage. She also alleged that she was evicted from her famous bungalow after the actor's death.
Rajesh Khanna was one of the biggest stars in the Indian film industry. He won the All India Talent Contest in 1965. Between 1969 and 1971, he delivered 15 consecutive solo hit films, a record in Hindi cinema. He won three Filmfare Awards for Best Actor and received multiple nominations throughout his career. He served as a Member of Parliament from 1992 to 1996, representing the Indian National Congress.
He married actress Dimple Kapadia in 1973; they had two daughters, including actress Twinkle Khanna. Over his career, Khanna acted in more than 160 films, including over 100 lead roles. He was awarded the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005 and India's Padma Bhushan posthumously in 2013.
Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar is his son-in-law, and is married to author Twinkle Khanna.