Rajesh Khanna's Humbling Comeback: From Superstar to Barefoot Devotee for Avtaar

• Rajesh Khanna, once a Hindi cinema icon with 17 consecutive hits, faced a career collapse by the 1980s due to changing trends and personal issues.
• For his 1983 film 'Avtaar,' Khanna shed superstar privileges, walking barefoot to Vaishno Devi and queuing for public toilets, as recalled by co-star Shabana Azmi.
• This humility marked a stark contrast to his earlier 'superstar tantrums' and luxurious lifestyle, which had contributed to his decline.
• 'Avtaar' and 'Souten' offered a brief revival, but his comeback was short-lived as old habits resurfaced.
• Khanna later entered politics, serving as an MP for five years, but failed to regain his former cinematic stature before his death in 2012.

Why It Matters: Rajesh Khanna's 'Avtaar' comeback attempt showed humility amidst decline, but his superstardom remained elusive.