Bollywood's first superstar Rajesh Khanna cremated

Mumbai, Jul 19 (PTI) With moist eyes and prayers on their lips, family and fans on Thursday bid a tearful goodbye to Rajesh Khanna at a crematorium here with hundreds of admirers lining the streets to catch the last glimpse of India's first superstar.         The 69-year-old Bollywood actor was laid to rest amidst large number of cinegoers and friends from the film fraternity, who united in grief at the demise of the man who created mass hysteria during his heydays. The last rites were performed by Khanna's grandson Aarav, with father Akshay by his side. As admirers paid glowing tributes to Khanna, who was fondly called 'Kaka', there was chaos outside the Pawan Hans crematorium with hundreds of people converging there. Many Bollywood personalities including Amitabh Bachchan, his son Abhishek, Manoj Kumar, Rani Mukherjee and Karan Johar turned up at the crematorium to pay their last respects. The Hindi film icon passed away at his residence 'Aashirwad' on Wednesday . Although the cause of his death was not officially announced by the family, those close to the actor hinted at liver infection. Earlier, the funeral procession of Khanna began from his bungalow, 'Aashirwad' on Carter Road at around 10 am with fans queuing up outside his home. The body was taken to the crematorium in Juhu in an open truck, bedecked with white flowers.         The body of Khanna, resting in a glass coffin, was accompanied by son-in-law and actor Akshay Kumar, estranged wife Dimple Kapadia and his younger daughter Rinkie Khanna. The vehicle had huge black and white photographs of the actor on both its sides.