The fight for Rajesh Khanna’s legacy began even before his death. On Tuesday, a day before the superstar passed away, his family was handed a shocker — a woman in her 50s sent a legal notice to the actor claiming that she was his live-in partner and sought compensation, a house to stay and a monthly maintenance. Anita Advani, in her notice to Khanna, claimed that she had been restrained from entering the actor’s Carter Road bungalow Aashirwad since June this year. Noted advocate Mridula Kadam, who is representing Anita, confirmed that a legal notice had been sent to Khanna on July 16, which was received at Aashirwad the following day. While Akshay Kumar and the Khanna family were unavailable for comment, Ashwin Thakkar, who was the late actor’s business manager, refuted Anita’s claims. “The claims that she was living with Khanna are false. There were many people who used to meet him at his house. She was one of them, but certainly not what she claims today.” Sources from the industry said that they had seen Anita at Rajesh Khanna’s residence and that she used to accompany the actor to people’s offices. She would visit Khanna when he was in the hospital, sources said, but was prevented from boarding the truck that was carrying his mortal remains on the day of the funeral. Anita told TOI: “I am not interested in Aashirwad. I just want it to be converted into a museum as that was Rajesh Khanna’s dream. I want to ask them (his family) where were they when he needed them. I looked after him all these years. I lived in that house, took care of him and all his needs. The reason I am asking for compensation is because they stripped me of everything. My man is gone and I am left with nothing.”
