Bollywood's first superstar, Rajesh Khanna, borrowed a phrase from the film fraternity that served him so well for 25 years to say his final goodbye yesterday. His last words are reported to have been - "time up ho gaya, pack up." (Rajesh Khanna: 10 facts only a fan would know)

Mr Khanna's final words were revealed online by no less a person than Amitabh Bachchan, the late actor's co-star co-star in the films Anand and Namak Haraam. Mr Bachchan was late to Twitter, having rushed to Aashirwad, the Khanna bungalow on Carter Road in Bandra, to be with the bereaved family and pay his last respects. When he did join the chorus of Bollywood voices on the micro-blogging site, he had this to say:

Mr Bachchan may have been reminded of another time he heard Mr Khanna's "last words," in their first and most famous film together, 1971's Anand. Rajesh Khanna was the eponymous Anand, dying of cancer but eternally cheerful, who inspires Mr Bachchan's somber young doctor to see the lighter shades of life. At the end of the movie, Anand dies but leaves a poignant message for his doctor friend: "Babumoshai, zindagi aur maut upar wale ke haath hain jahapanah, use naa aap badal sakte hain na main" (Life and death are dealt by the Almighty, neither you nor I can change that). (Bollywood's first superstar Rajesh Khanna dies at 69)

40 years later, Rajesh Khanna was battling cancer for real. He was in and out of hospital these last two months, but never lost the indomitable spirit he assumed on screen in Anand. On June 21, after being reported severely unwell and not having eaten for days, a visibly weak Mr Khanna emerged onto the balcony of his home to wave and flash the victory sign to the throng of worried fans gathered below. (Pics: Top 10 heroines of Rajesh Khanna) Yesterday, on the morning of July 18, Rajesh Khanna died at his home, surrounded by his family, just a day after being discharged from Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital. It was time for him to pack up.