Aradhana (transl. "Worship") is a 1969 Indian Hindi romantic drama film directed by Shakti Samanta, starring Sharmila Tagore and Rajesh Khanna. It won the Filmfare Award for Best Film at the 17th Filmfare Awards. Tagore won her only Filmfare Best Actress Award.

Originally released in Hindi and dubbed in Bengali, Aradhana's huge success led to two remakes: the Tamil film Sivagamiyin Selvan (1974) and the Telugu film Kannavari Kalalu (1974).

This film is counted among the 17 consecutive hit films of Rajesh Khanna between 1969 and 1971, by adding the two hero films Marayada and Andaz to the 15 consecutive solo hits he gave from 1969 to 1971. Aradhana was a blockbuster in India and the Soviet Union.

Plot : Indian Air Force officer Arun Varma sings "Mere Sapno Ki Rani" in an open jeep winding along Darjeeling, West Bengal's hills with his co-pilot Madan, while Vandana, the daughter of Dr Gopal Tripathi casts skittish glances full of summer romance from a train window. Smitten, they wed in a temple without rituals, with only God as a witness. But the heavens open and they are soaked. Left to take refuge in a shelter with a flickering fire, their passion is subsumed beyond reach. Vandana returns home.

Within days, Arun dies in a plane. Vandana discovers that she is pregnant. Arun's family are unable to accept her as a daughter in law. Her father also dies, leaving her destitute. Vandana's son is born and named Suraj, the sun. She puts him up for adoption hoping to legally adopt him the next day but she is forced to let a childless couple adopt him. Determined to be a part of his life, she accepts the role of being his nanny. One day, her employer's brother-in-law, finding her alone in the house, attacks her but Suraj rescues her by stabbing him to death. When the police arrive, Vandana takes the blame for the murder and is arrested. Suraj runs away.

Years later when Vandana is released from jail, the jailor takes her to his home and introduces her to his daughter Renu. Vandana soon meets Renu's love, Suraj. He is the image of his father and a pilot too. He has the sensation of having seen Vandana before but his memories are fleeting. Anxious that the true story of his parents may cause him pain, Vandana tries to hide away.

Suraj is injured in an air crash like his father but survives. While he is recuperating in the hospital, Vandana meets Madan, Arun's copilot. He knows the truth of Arun and Vandana's romance and is anxious to tell Suraj all but Vandana fears the consequences. One day idly looking through papers in the room whilst waiting for Vandana, Suraj finds Arun's photo. A sudden realisation that Arun and Vandana are his true parents becomes clear. He recognises his mother's sacrifices and celebrates her strength and courage. The film sparkles with captivating songs and unmatched sunshine.

Cast :
Sharmila Tagore as Vandana Verma / Vandana Tripathi (Arun's Widow)
Rajesh Khanna as Flight Lieutenant Arun Verma / Suraj Kumar Verma (Double Role)
Sujit Kumar as Air Commodore Madan Verma
Ashok Kumar as Air Commodore Ganguli (Retd)
Pahari Sanyal as Gopal Tripathi
Anita Guha as Mrs. Prasad Saxena
Abhi Bhattacharya as Ram Prasad Saxena
Manmohan - Shyam
Madan Puri as the Jailor
Asit Sen as Tikaram
Farida Jalal as Renu Verma (Suraj's Wife)
Subhash Ghai as Flight Lieutenant Prakash (Suraj's colleague and friend)
Krishna Kant as Mr. Verma (Arun's Father)

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