Rajesh Khanna recreates Anand for his fans

Late actor Rajesh Khanna had left behind a specially-recorded farewell message for his family, friends and fans.

The message was played on his chautha last Saturday, after the Hindi film phenomenon passed away on July 18.

In the message, the veteran thanked his fans and talked about his acting career -- from the time he entered a talent hunt contest to the time he became Bollywood's first superstar.

'Mere pyaare dosto, bhaiyo aur beheno. Nostalgia mein rehene ki aadat nahi hai mujhe. Hamesha bhavishya ke baare mein hi sochna padtaa hain. Jo din guzar gaya hai, beet gaya hai, uska kya sochna... Lekin jab jaane pehchane chehre anjaan se ek mehfil mein milte hai, toh yaadein wapas tazaa ho jati hai (Dear friends, I don't have a habit of dwelling in the past. We have to always look forward to the future. There is no point thinking about the days and events that have passed.... But when we meet familiar faces in unfamiliar circumstances, old memories come rushing back),' Khanna said in a recorded message.

The 69-year-old iconic actor also spoke about how he began his career as a theatre artist and how he had no godfather whom he could turn to.

'My journey began with theatre. I owe my success to the stage. This theatre is where it all began when I joined the film industry. I had no godfather, no relatives or family that I could turn too. I came into the movies through the United Producers Filmfare Talent contest,' the message said.