Vinod Khanna (6 October 1946 – 27 April 2017) was an Indian film actor, producer and politician associated primarily with Hindi cinema. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he appeared in over 140 films, beginning as a villain in the late 1960s before becoming one of the leading male stars of the 1970s and 1980s. He later served as a Member of Parliament from Gurdaspur in Punjab, representing the Bharatiya Janata Party, and held junior ministerial positions in the Government of India.
Key facts
| Full name | Vinod Khanna |
|---|---|
| Born | 6 October 1946, Peshawar, North-West Frontier Province, British India (present-day Pakistan) |
| Died | 27 April 2017, Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Occupation | Actor, film producer, politician |
| Years active in cinema | 1968–2017 |
| Debut film | Man Ka Meet (1968) |
| Political party | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Constituency | Gurdaspur (Punjab) |
| Spouses | Geetanjali (m. 1971; div. 1985); Kavita (m. 1990) |
| Children | Rahul Khanna, Akshaye Khanna, Sakshi Khanna, Shraddha Khanna |
| Notable awards | Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (1999); Filmfare Best Supporting Actor (1986) |
Early life and background
Vinod Khanna was born in Peshawar in undivided India to a Punjabi Hindu family. Following the Partition of India in 1947, his family migrated and eventually settled in Bombay (now Mumbai). He was educated at St. Mary's School in Mumbai and later at Delhi Public School, Mathura Road, Delhi. He completed his graduation from Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai.
Film career
Debut and early years (1968–1971)
Khanna began his career with a supporting/antagonist role in Sunil Dutt's Man Ka Meet (1968). In his initial years, he was largely cast in negative or character roles in films such as Purab Aur Paschim (1970), Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971) and Mastana (1970), establishing himself as a credible villain.
Rise as a leading actor (1971–1982)
His transition to lead roles came with films like Hum Tum Aur Woh (1971) and Achanak (1973), directed by Gulzar. Through the 1970s, he featured in several commercial successes, often in multi-starrers alongside Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor. Notable films of this period include:
- Hera Pheri (1976)
- Amar Akbar Anthony (1977)
- Parvarish (1977)
- Khoon Pasina (1977)
- Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978)
- The Burning Train (1980)
- Qurbani (1980), produced and directed by Feroz Khan
- Dayavan (1988)
Hiatus and association with Osho
At the peak of his stardom, Khanna left the film industry in 1982 to become a disciple of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (Osho). He spent several years at the Rajneeshpuram commune in Oregon, United States, working as a gardener and attendant. He returned to India and resumed his film career in 1987 with Insaaf, opposite Dimple Kapadia.
Later career
After his return, he featured in films such as Satyamev Jayate (1987), Mahaadev (1989), Chandni (1989) and Jurm (1990). In later years, he played senior character roles in films including Leela (2002), Wanted (2009), Dabangg (2010) and its sequel Dabangg 2 (2012). His final screen appearance was in Dilwale (2015).
Political career
Vinod Khanna joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1997. He contested and won the Lok Sabha seat from Gurdaspur in Punjab in 1998, and was re-elected in 1999, 2004 (he lost this election to Partap Singh Bajwa of the Indian National Congress) and again in 2014. He represented Gurdaspur in the 12th, 13th, 15th and 16th Lok Sabhas.
In the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, he served as Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (2002) and subsequently as Minister of State for External Affairs (2003).
Personal life
Khanna married Geetanjali in 1971; the couple had two sons, Rahul and Akshaye, both of whom became actors. The marriage ended in divorce in 1985. In 1990, he married Kavita, with whom he had a son, Sakshi, and a daughter, Shraddha.
Death
Vinod Khanna died on 27 April 2017 at Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai, following treatment for advanced bladder cancer. He was 70 years old. He was cremated with full state honours.
Awards and recognition
- Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Haath Ki Safai (1975)
- Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (1999)
- Padma Bhushan, awarded posthumously by the Government of India in 2018
Significance
Vinod Khanna is regarded as one of the prominent leading men of Hindi cinema during the 1970s and 1980s, often noted alongside Amitabh Bachchan as a top star of his era. His decision to leave the industry at the height of his career to pursue spiritual life under Osho remains an unusual episode in Indian film history. As a politician, he was credited with development work in the Gurdaspur constituency, particularly in road and rail infrastructure.