Rajeev Khandelwal left Anita Hassanandani alone on dance floor at first meeting
Synopsis
Rajeev Khandelwal's small-town nerves once got the better of him at his very first Mumbai industry party — he danced with Anita Hassanandani for all of 20 seconds before fleeing the floor. Decades later, on the sets of 'Tum Ho Naa', he finally got to make up for it. The story is a rare, candid window into the anxiety behind the 'National Crush' image.
Key Takeaways
Rajeev Khandelwal admitted he left Anita Hassanandani stranded on a dance floor after just 20 seconds at his first Mumbai industry party.
The story was shared on an upcoming episode of 'Tum Ho Naa' , where Anita appeared as a special guest.
Khandelwal attributed his panic to his small-town background and lack of confidence at the time.
The incident became gossip the very next day, with colleagues asking him why he had abandoned Anita.
Anita recalled Khandelwal being the 'National Crush' of his era, with fans flocking to Balaji sets for a glimpse of him.
Khandelwal modestly credited his popularity to his on-screen characters rather than himself.
Actor Rajeev Khandelwal has revisited one of the most cringe-worthy moments of his early career — the time he abandoned actress Anita Hassanandani on a dance floor just 20 seconds into their very first interaction at an industry party in Mumbai. The confession surfaced during an upcoming episode of the show 'Tum Ho Naa', where Anita appeared as a special guest.
The Incident That Became Industry Gossip
Khandelwal recalled that the awkward episode unfolded at his first-ever Bollywood party after he arrived in Mumbai from a small town. The show's producer had introduced him to Anita, who walked over with a warm smile — and that was enough to send the then-newcomer into a panic.
'Main chhote shehar ka tha... life ke andar itna khula nahi tha. Maine Anita ko dekha aur yeh muskuraati hui aise aayi... mere toh wahan pe haath-pair thande pad gaye, maine 20 seconds dance kiya... aur phir maine bola "I'll just come" aur main chhod ke chala gaya!' he said, which translates to: 'I was from a small town and wasn't very open or outgoing. I saw Anita walking towards me with a smile, and I became so nervous that my hands and feet literally went cold. I danced with her for about 20 seconds and then said, 'I'll just come,' before walking away.'
The morning after, the story had already made the rounds. 'Agle din sab mujhse poochne lage ki 'Yaar, tumne Anita ko chhod diya dance floor pe?' Mujhe maloom nahi tha ki kitna bada bahaal ho jayega,' he added — meaning everyone was asking him why he had left Anita stranded, and he had no idea it would blow up the way it did.
A Decades-Late Apology on Set
Khandelwal jokingly noted that filming 'Tum Ho Naa' together finally gave him the chance to complete the unfinished dance — more than two decades after the original blunder. Anita, for her part, admitted she had no memory of the incident but joined in the laughter once it resurfaced on camera. The exchange underscored the easy camaraderie the two have built over their long friendship in the industry.
Anita Recalls Rajeev's 'National Crush' Era
The conversation turned nostalgic when Anita recalled Khandelwal's staggering popularity at the peak of his television career. She described how girls would flock to the Balaji sets just for a glimpse of him.
'Very often main Balaji ke set pe aati thi aur wahan Balaji ki kai ladkiyan aati thi, kyunki aap tab 'National Crush' the, aur har ladki ko bas Rajeev ki ek jhalak chahiye thi,' she said — recounting how he was the undisputed heartthrob of the era and every girl simply wanted a glimpse of him.
Khandelwal responded with characteristic modesty, deflecting the praise: 'Mere upar koi crush nahi karta tha, sab mere character ke upar crush karte thein' — crediting his popularity entirely to the characters he played rather than to himself.
What the Episode Reflects
The candid exchange on 'Tum Ho Naa' offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at how two of Indian television's best-known faces navigated the early pressures of the industry. Khandelwal's self-deprecating honesty and Anita's warmth have made the clip a talking point ahead of the episode's air date. The episode is expected to draw strong viewership given both stars' loyal fan bases.
Point of View
But it also illustrates something rarely discussed in the Indian entertainment industry — the culture shock that small-town actors navigate when they first enter Mumbai's social circuit. Khandelwal's candour is disarming precisely because the industry seldom rewards vulnerability. That his 'National Crush' image was built on characters rather than personal charisma, as he himself suggests, raises an interesting question about how celebrity is constructed on Indian television — and how little the person behind the persona is ever really seen.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Rajeev Khandelwal reveal about his first meeting with Anita Hassanandani?
Rajeev Khandelwal revealed that he left Anita Hassanandani alone on a dance floor after just 20 seconds during their very first meeting at an industry party in Mumbai. He said nerves from his small-town background caused him to panic and walk away, telling her 'I'll just come' before disappearing.
Where did Rajeev Khandelwal share this story?
He shared the story on an upcoming episode of 'Tum Ho Naa', where Anita Hassanandani appeared as a special guest. The two looked back at their long friendship and early days in the industry during the episode.
How did Anita Hassanandani react to the story?
Anita admitted she had completely forgotten about the incident but joined in the laughter once Rajeev recounted it on the show. She took it in good humour and the exchange highlighted the warmth of their long-standing friendship.
Why was Rajeev Khandelwal called the 'National Crush' of his era?
Anita Hassanandani recalled that during the peak of Khandelwal's television career, girls would flock to the Balaji sets just for a glimpse of him, making him the undisputed heartthrob of the time. Khandelwal himself, however, credited the adulation to the characters he played rather than to his own persona.
Did Rajeev Khandelwal ever make up for leaving Anita on the dance floor?
Yes, jokingly. Khandelwal noted that filming 'Tum Ho Naa' together finally gave him the chance to complete the unfinished dance, more than two decades after the original incident.
