Fan’s ode to Rajesh Khanna: Delhi eatery serves up memories of late superstar

New Delhi, April 23 (PTI) In a quiet, leafy corner of central Delhi, Rajesh Khanna lives on a recurring echo at a small eatery that has preserved his memory in photographs, in songs that blare out through the day, the flat screen that play his films on a loop and even in the waiters’ uniforms.

The Treat is Vipin Oberoi’s ode to the superstar, arguably the first and biggest in Hindi cinema whose stylised acting and mannerisms in films such as “Anand”, “Kati Patang” and “Amar Prem” made him a rage.

There is no escaping Khanna at the small restaurant in Chanakyapuri area that also boasts giant cutouts of the star. And one wax statue too.

“Some people have the ambition to become a doctor or a lawyer, I had ambition to become a friend of Rajesh Khanna,” Oberoi told PTI.

Oberoi, 69, was 12 when he watched “Aradhana”, which starred Khanna and Sharmila Tagore. And remembers every detail of that cinematic experience.

“It was in the 1970s when the movie was released. I went with my grandmother to watch that movie. I was so impressed by his acting that I told everyone that one day I will become a friend of Rajesh Khanna.”

About 10 years later, Oberoi met up with his hero when Khanna was shooting for his movie “Ashanti” in Mumbai.

“I reached there and at the time, Shabana Azmi, Zeenat Aman and Parveen Babi were also present but I only wanted to meet Rajesh Khanna. I met him three-four times and after that he came to Delhi.”

In the years that followed, the loyal fan missed no opportunity to get close to the star.

In the early 1990s, Khanna came to Delhi to contest the Lok Sabha elections on a Congress ticket.

“At the time, I was into TV manufacturing. I used my political links to get in touch with him. One day, his car caught fire and I was there. I asked him to get into my car and after that day, we really became close friends. During the entire election period, I was with him. I used to stay with him and would not return home for 25-30 days.”

Khanna, who was contesting on a Congress ticket, lost the election in 1991 and was elected to the Lok Sabha in a by-election later on.

The friendship flourished.

When Khanna became an MP from the New Delhi seat, he suggested that Oberoi join politics as well.

“He said he wants me to fight for MLA elections from Rajouri Garden. But I declined as I was not interested in politics… He then asked me to set up a restaurant.”

And thus was born The Treat, which screams Rajesh Khanna from every corner.

It initially started as a van in 1993 in Janpath and was inaugurated by Khanna. He subsequently shifted the outlet to Chanakyapuri in the city’s diplomatic enclave.

Pictures of Oberoi with Khanna are pasted along every wall. There are also stills from his many movies. And all the waiters wear uniforms made of customised rolls of cloth printed with Khanna’s photographs.

In Oberoi’s view, Khanna, who died in July 2012, was the “king of kings”.

“You can have 50 Prince Charles but all of them would fail in front of Rajesh Khanna….He never needed any kind of publicity or advertisements. But he used to visit my restaurant so that I can get new customers.”

The restaurant has a steady stream of customers who visit in the evening, mostly to enjoy the various delicacies it has to offer to them. Many of his younger customers would probably never have seen a Rajesh Khanna film. But Oberoi perhaps wants to change all that.

There are many others too.

Among his regular customers is Gulshan, in his 40s and an avowed Rajesh Khanna fan.

“Some of my relatives who live in Patel Nagar frequently visit this restaurant. I’m a huge fan of Rajesh Khanna, his movies and songs. So when they told me about this joint, I visited it with my family. In fact, we often spend our weekends visiting this place,” he said.

Another customer, Rajnish Gupta, came all the way from Kurukshetra, Haryana, to have a meal at The Treat.

“It was my good fortune to have a meal at this restaurant, it was very tasty… This restaurant was recommended by a friend of mine who is a chartered accountant. It is set up nicely on the theme of Rajesh Khanna. I loved the atmosphere and the vibe of this place,” Gupta, who is in his 50s, said.

According to Oberoi, 40 of the 50 items on the menu were recommended by Khanna.

“He used to like food with less oil, like keema kofta and kebab tandoori, and I have made sure they find a place in our menu.”

Like a true friend and fan, Oberoi holds special functions on Khanna’s birth anniversary and death anniversary.

“From 1 to 4 pm, we provide free lunch to everyone. There were close to 1,200 people at our last function. I have held 22 functions till date. I have planned another on his death anniversary in July… It makes me very happy as I like to believe that Rajesh Khanna ji is giving me his blessings.”

The Treat opens in the afternoon and closes early in the morning.

As people of all ages tuck in, Khanna, babu moshai of “Anand” for his fans and “kaka” to those who knew him, looks on.