Late actor Rajesh Khanna had left behind a farewell message, which he specially recorded for his family, friends and fans recounting his cinematic journey from entering a talent hunt contest to becoming Bollywood's first superstar. 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 all his fans and talked about his acting career, the talent contest which led to his entry into Bollywood.

"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," Khanna said in a recorded message.

(Dear friends, I don't have a habit of dwelling on the past and living in nostalgia... we have to always look forward to the future...there is no point thinking about things that have passed by....But when we meet familiar faces in unfamiliar circumstances...old memories come rushing back.) The 69-year-old iconic actor also spoke about how he began his career as a theatre artist when there was 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. Recollecting his initial days, Khanna had said he came into the movies through the United Producers Filmfare Talent contest where he was seated on a long table in presence of celebrated filmmakers like Bimal Roy, Shakti Samanta and many others.

"They asked me — we had sent you a dialogue, did you memorise it? I was sitting in front of the table where they were seated and felt I was undergoing a courtmartial. I thought they would take a gun and fire at me." Khanna also spoke about the dialogue which made his life.

"Mujhko yaaron maaf karna...Haan main kalakaar hun, haan main kalaakar hun, kya karoge meri kahaani sunkar..." (Yes I am an artist, yes I am artist, why would you want to hear my story...), the message said. Then ending his message, Khanna thanked everyone saying,

"Doston aap ka ek hissedar mein bhi hu.. aur jaise maine pehli bhi kaha ki.. aap apna kimti waqt nikalkar, aap ka yeh pyaar tha ki aap majood hue aur itni bhaari sankhya mein...main yehi kahunga ki bahut-bahut shukriya, thank you aur mera bahut-bahut salaam" (Friends, I am a part of you, and as I said earlier, I am grateful that you all have taken time out for me.... This is your love that you made yourself presence in numbers that I'm greatful for, thank you, thank you my salaam to you all.)