Mumbai (Maharashtra), June 30: Veteran Bollywood actor and politician Poonam Dhillon recently opened up about her working experience with the late superstar Rajesh Khanna, fondly remembered as Kaka. Contrary to industry rumours of his difficult temperament, Dhillon revealed that she only experienced support and kindness from the iconic actor.
Dhillon made her debut in 1978 with ‘Trishul’, featuring legendary names like Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, and Sanjeev Kumar. Following the success of ‘Noorie’ in 1979, she was cast opposite Rajesh Khanna in the psychological thriller ‘Red Rose’.
“By the time I had done my second or third film, people were warning me that he’s very temperamental, he can be difficult. But honestly, I didn’t face even one day of any such behaviour from him,” she said in an interview with ANI.
In Red Rose, Dhillon played a young saleswoman while Khanna took on the dark role of a serial killer with schizophrenic traits. Recalling the challenges of portraying her part as a newcomer, she credited Khanna for helping her navigate complex scenes.
“He would help me—guide me with breathing techniques, camera angles, and expressions. He was extremely supportive,” Dhillon shared.
The duo went on to share the screen in several more films, including ‘Dard,’ ‘Nishaan,’ ‘Zamana,’ and ‘Awam.’ Though not close friends due to the age gap, Dhillon described Khanna as someone who was always “protective and like a guide.”
“He saw me grow up in the industry and always treated me like a kid,” she said fondly.
Beyond films, Poonam Dhillon also made a mark in television. She appeared on Bigg Boss Season 3 in 2009 and played a lead role in the TV series ‘Ekk Nayi Pehchaan’ in 2013.