Sahildeep Singh Raina
Vinod Khanna (6 October 1946 – 27 April 2017) was an Indian actor and producer of Bollywood films
Khanna was born in a Punjabi family to Kamla and Kishanchand Khanna, a textiles, dyes and chemicals businessman, on 6 October 1946, in Peshawar, British India (now in Pakistan). He has three sisters and one brother. Shortly after his birth, India was partitioned and the family left Peshawar and reached Mumbai.
He attended St. Mary’s School, Mumbai until class II and then transferred to Delhi. In 1957, the family moved to Delhi where he attended Delhi Public School, Mathura Road. Although the family moved back to Mumbai in 1960, he was sent to Barnes School in Deolali, near Nashik. During his time at the boarding school Khanna watched the epic Solva Saal and Mughal-e-Azam and fell in love with motion pictures.[16] He graduated with a commerce degree from Sydenham College, Mumbai
*He was one of the few actors who started his acting career with negative roles. He later graduated to a mainstream hero. He debuted in Sunil Dutt’s 1968 film Man Ka Meet directed by Adurthi Subba Rao, as a villain.
*Success, finally: Even after doing films like Purab Aur Paschim (1970), Sachaa Jhutha (1970) and Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971), Vinod still awaited his big break. However, it was Parvarish (1977) which brought the actor into the limelight. It was in this film that Vinod got his first taste of stardom having shared screen space with Amitabh Bachchan. His character had shades of gray which won him many accolades.
He got his first break as the solo lead hero in the film Hum Tum Aur Woh (1971), which was followed by the 1971 multi-hero film Mere Apne directed by Gulzar. Vinod Khanna was also appreciated for his portrayal of an army officer on the death row in critically acclaimed film Achanak, which was scripted and directed by Gulzar,
*Everyone’s hero: Vinod, who started his movie career by doing supporting and negative roles, also shared screen space with many big superstars of his time. He appeared with Sunil Dutt in Daku Aur Jawan, Dharmendra in Mera Gaon Mera Desh and he also had supporting roles in Sachaa Jhutha, Prem Kahani, Aan Milo Sajna where the lead hero was played by Rajesh Khanna. He has also acted with actors like Shashi Kapoor in Shankar Shambhu, Chor Sipahee and Ek Aur Ek Gyarah. In Hera Pheri, Khoon Pasina, Amar Akbar Anthony and Muqaddar Ka Sikandar he shared screen space with Amitabh Bachchan and in Haath Ki Safai and Aakhri Daku he paired-up with Randhir Kapoor.
*Khanna became a follower of the spiritual teacher Osho (Rajneesh) and left the film industry in 1982 for five years.
Personal life
In 1971, Vinod Khanna married Geetanjali. He has two sons with her, Rahul and Akshaye Khanna, both actors. In 1990, Vinod Khanna married Kavita. They together have a son, Sakshi and a daughter, Shraddha
Politics
In 1997, Khanna joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)[43] and was elected from Gurdaspur constituency in Punjab in the next year’s Lok Sabha poll. In 1999, he was re-elected to the Lok Sabha from the same constituency. Later, he became union minister for culture and tourism in July 2002. Six months later, he was moved to the ministry of external affairs (MEA) as Minister of State. In 2004 he won re-election from Gurdaspur. However, Khanna lost out in the 2009 general elections. In 2014 general election he was again elected for 16th Loksabha from same constituency
Illness and death
Khanna was hospitalized to Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Center in Girgaon, Mumbai on 2 April 2017 for a few weeks after suffering from severe dehydration; there were rumours circulating in the media that he had cancer or a cardiac arrest[51]. He died at 11:20 am (IST) on 27 April, and it was revealed that he had been battling with advanced bladder cancer.
He was an actor who could mix commercial and art cinema with ease.
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