Asha Parekh recalls Rajesh Khanna, Vinod Khanna sneaking off sets to meet girlfriends
Synopsis
Asha Parekh's appearance on Indian Idol has produced one of the most charming Bollywood throwback stories in recent memory — two of Hindi cinema's biggest 1970s stars, Rajesh Khanna and Vinod Khanna, taking turns sneaking off a night shoot to placate impatient girlfriends on a landline, while their co-star sat waiting for the shot to roll.
Key Takeaways
Asha Parekh shared the anecdote on an upcoming episode of 'Indian Idol' .
The incident occurred during the shooting of 'Aan Milo Sajna' , where the cast worked a double shift — 7 am to 2 pm for 'Kati Patang' and 2 pm to 10 pm for 'Aan Milo Sajna' .
Rajesh Khanna and Vinod Khanna would alternately slip off set after 8 pm to take landline calls from their girlfriends. 'Aan Milo Sajna' was released on 24 December 1970 , directed by Mukul Dutt and produced by Jagdish Kumar .
The film featured Nirupa Roy , Rajendra Nath , and Aruna Irani in supporting roles.
Veteran actress Asha Parekh has shared a laugh-out-loud behind-the-scenes memory from the sets of 'Aan Milo Sajna' (1970), revealing how co-stars Rajesh Khanna and Vinod Khanna would repeatedly slip away during night shoots to take calls from their respective girlfriends. The anecdote surfaced during an upcoming episode of the singing reality show 'Indian Idol', where Parekh appeared as a guest.
The Double-Shift Shoot That Tested Everyone's Patience
Parekh recalled that the cast was locked into a gruelling double-schedule during that period — shooting for 'Kati Patang' from 7 am to 2 pm, and then for 'Aan Milo Sajna' from 2 pm to 10 pm. With no mobile phones in the era, the actors relied on landlines, and the situation grew increasingly comic as the evening wore on.
'We were shooting from 7 in the morning till 2 PM for Kati Patang, and from 2 PM till 10 PM for Aan Milo Sajna,' Parekh said. 'What used to happen was that after 8 PM — and Vinod Khanna ji was also there — in those days there were no mobile phones, only landlines. So one person would step outside to check what was happening; first Rajesh Khanna would go out, then he would return, and then Vinod Khanna would go out.'
Girlfriends on the Line, Shots on Hold
Parekh, who was left waiting on set while both heroes took turns disappearing, described the scene with characteristic warmth. 'Meanwhile, I would be sitting there thinking, Brother, let this shot get over!' she said. 'But what could those poor guys do? Their girlfriends would call and really give them an earful. After 8 PM, at least they were expected to meet them, right? Pack-up would happen at 10 PM, so when would they even get home? It was a very funny sight — I would just wait for both of them to come back, the shot to get done, and for me to finally leave for the day.'
About 'Aan Milo Sajna'
Released on 24 December 1970, 'Aan Milo Sajna' was directed by Mukul Dutt and produced by Jagdish Kumar. The film starred Rajesh Khanna, Asha Parekh, and Vinod Khanna in the lead roles, with Nirupa Roy, Rajendra Nath, and Aruna Irani in supporting parts. It remains one of the notable multi-starrers of early 1970s Hindi cinema.
A Rare Glimpse Into Golden-Era Bollywood
Parekh's anecdote offers a rare, unguarded look at the working conditions — and personal pressures — of Bollywood's golden generation. The image of two of Hindi cinema's biggest stars of the era nervously taking turns at a landline while a film's leading lady waited patiently for the shot to resume is both humanising and historically vivid. At a time when Rajesh Khanna was at the peak of his superstar run, such candid recollections are a reminder that the mythology of stardom always coexisted with very ordinary anxieties.
The episode of 'Indian Idol' featuring Parekh's reminiscences is set to air shortly.
Point of View
Yet here he is, nervously queuing for a landline like everyone else. What mainstream coverage of this story misses is the working-conditions subtext — a 15-hour double-shift schedule that would raise eyebrows under any modern labour standard. The real story isn't the girlfriends; it's that Bollywood's golden era was built on punishing shoots that stars endured without complaint, and that Parekh — the one who actually waited — tells it as comedy rather than grievance.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Asha Parekh reveal about Rajesh Khanna and Vinod Khanna on Indian Idol?
Asha Parekh revealed that during the night shoot for 'Aan Milo Sajna', both Rajesh Khanna and Vinod Khanna would take turns sneaking off the set to answer landline calls from their girlfriends after 8 pm. She described it as a 'very funny sight' as she waited on set for them to return so the shot could be completed.
Which films were being shot simultaneously during this incident?
The cast was on a double schedule — shooting 'Kati Patang' from 7 am to 2 pm and 'Aan Milo Sajna' from 2 pm to 10 pm on the same days. The incident with the landline calls occurred during the evening 'Aan Milo Sajna' shift.
When was 'Aan Milo Sajna' released and who directed it?
'Aan Milo Sajna' was released on 24 December 1970. It was directed by Mukul Dutt and produced by Jagdish Kumar, starring Rajesh Khanna, Asha Parekh, and Vinod Khanna in the lead roles.
Why did Rajesh Khanna and Vinod Khanna have to use a landline on set?
Mobile phones did not exist in 1970, so the actors relied on landlines to communicate with people outside the set. Their girlfriends would call on the landline, prompting the actors to step outside the shooting area to speak privately.
Where did Asha Parekh share this anecdote?
Asha Parekh shared the story during an upcoming episode of the singing reality show 'Indian Idol', where she appeared as a guest and recalled memories from her shooting days in the early 1970s.
