Rajesh Khanna's 'The Treat'

 Today marks the 80^th birth anniversary of Rajesh Khanna, India’s ‘original superstar’ and like every year, the most enthusiastic celebrations to mark the occasion, will be held not in Amritsar the city of his birth or in Mumbai, where he forged his iconic career but at ‘The Treat’ a little food van tucked away in Chanakya Puri, the heart of New Delhi’s diplomatic district. A massive tent is pitched outside, a gigantic cake emblazoned with the screen icon’s photos is cut and free food served to everybody who joins the celebrations throughout the day. The van is a labour of love and an ode to the superstar by his ‘biggest fan’. However, not many know just how deeply involvement was Rajesh Khanna himself, in both the conception and  execution of the project from the décor to the menu. 

The story of this unique culinary tribute to a cinematic icon began with a young fan’s obsession with the ruling deity of India’s cinematic universe in the 1960’s. The young fan Vipin Oberoi’s dream of meeting his matinee idol in the flesh finally came true when his brother-in-law signed Rajesh Khanna for a film in 1981. The met on the film set and a friendship developed that continued through Rajesh Khanna’s film and subsequent political career. In fact, the super fan’s commitment to helping the actor with his film career kept him away from home for so long that it put a tremendous strain on his marriage, with his wife issuing an ultimatum asking him to choose between her and the actor, leading Oberoi to attempt suicide. Rajesh Khanna came to the rescue at this point consoling his distraught fan and suggesting that he start the food van as a tribute to him that will live on after him. These and other nuggets about the history of the food van are generously shared by Vipin Oberoi and his older brother who oversee the day-to-day operations of the van during the night and day respectively. 

A visit to the van is walk down memory lane revisiting one of the golden eras of Bollywood when Rajesh Khanna ruled the silver screen but is also presents an intimate look at the actor’s life as it intersected with that of the Oberoi family, The van is completely covered with photos, a treasure trove of shots from Khanna’s movies and the time he spent with the Oberoi family from election campaigns and family weddings to private dinners and trips to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. They also include pictures from Rajesh Khanna’s regular visits to the van often accompanied by other icons including the Late Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan; when we would arrive around 8 in the evening and stay on into the wee hours of the morning. The photos are rotated regularly and are illuminated at night creating a picturesque winter wonderland during Delhi’s foggy winter nights. Right outside the van is a life-size statue of the superstar whose clothes are accessories are changed very fortnight with the outfits never being repeated! The only music allowed are songs from the actor’s movies and the staff wear uniforms emblazoned with a headshot from one of his epochal film roles. My Oberoi’s elder brother (pictured) meanwhile sports a shirt completely covered with several photos of the late superstar whose smiling face looks up at you even from the menu! In the words of the Oberoi brothers, “If you undertake a task, give it your 100% otherwise don’t start it at all”. 

And since this is ultimately a culinary tribute to an iconic figure, how can one not talk about the food, wonderful food! The dishes are drawn from good old ‘Mughlai’ and ‘Sino-Ludhianvi’ cuisine, and several were personally chosen by the late superstar to be included in the menu. Tuck into a variety of tikkas and curries including the mutton kofta and mutton keema curry which were reputedly Rajesh Khanna’s favourite dishes. And if its your ‘Chinjabi’ tastebuds that need tickling, there is no dearth of manchurians, fried rice and chilli everything (from chicken to caulifloweri!) to cater to your palate.
 

So hop over to ‘The Treat’ tonight and join the celebrations. Along with a soul-satisfying meal you will be treated to a wonderful walk down memory lane to an earlier, more gracious era, an era which still lives on in the warm hospitality at ‘The Treat’.