India, July 18 -- The 1971 cult classic, Anand, directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, is a poignant tale that beautifully integrates the themes of joy, friendship, mortality and human connection. One of its most heartwarming subtexts is illustrated through the character of Anand Sehgal, played by Rajesh Khanna, who often initiates impromptu interactions with strangers by addressing them as Murari Lal. This seemingly eccentric behaviour is, in fact, a profound expression of his philosophy towards life and companionship. Anand was a career-defining movie of Khanna, Hindi cinema's first superstar who passed away on this day in 2012 at the age of 69.

As the film unfolds, we observe Anand greeting random passersby with a cheerful, "Hello Murari L...