Rajesh Khanna’s Last Birthday in Pictures when he was alive: “It was very emotionally spent with Akshay Kumar, Twinkle, Rinkie and Dimple,” his close friend describes – Exclusive! – Times of India

Rajesh Khanna (who passed away on July 18, 2012) lived life king- size, says his close friend Bhupesh Raseen who missed him today very much. Raseen is very emotional as he tells ETimes, “Today is Kakaji‘s (as Rajesh Khanna was fondly called) birthday. I miss those lunches and dinners, I miss those long drives we went out for. Above all, I miss those chatting sessions with him, he used to open his heart and share with me almost everything.” Rajesh Khanna would have been 79, had he been alive today.

Raseen especially recalls Rajesh Khanna’s last birthday- December 29, 2011, when he was alive. “By that time, Rajesh Khanna knew he was suffering from cancer. We all- Dimple, Akshay, Twinkle, Rinkie and myself- decided to spend some time in Goa.”

Here are some pictures of Rajesh Khanna’s 2011 birthday in Goa:

Raseen says that Rajesh Khanna was very quiet in Goa. “He probably knew that this was his last birthday that he would see. But he did mention to me, ‘it was great fun especially the fact that Twinkle too was around me’. Twinkle and Kakaji brought in December 29 together as December 29 is Twinkle’s birthday too.”

Post December 29, Rajesh Khanna and Raseen left for Delhi; Raseen had some work in the capital.

“Memories of his last birthday keep rolling back in my mind. Trust me, it has been a very tough day for me today. Kakaji and I were not just friends but brothers,” Raseen signs off.