Biography

Vinod Khanna Biography: Birthday, Early Life, Career, Awards, Death Anniversary, Facts

Khanna reportedly secured the role of Qurbani in 1980 after Amitabh Bachchan declined it.

Vinod Khanna Biography: Vinod Khanna (6 October 1946 – 27 April 2017) was an Indian actor, film producer, and politician best known for his work in Hindi films; he was also a prominent spiritual seeker. He was the recipient of two Filmfare awards in Bollywood. Along with Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna, Khanna was one of the highest-paid actors of his period.

Vinod Khanna Biography

Early years

Khanna was born on October 6, 1946, to Hindkowan Hindu parents Kamla and Krishanchand Khanna in Peshawar, British India (now Pakistan). There were three sisters and one sibling in his family. India was partitioned shortly after his birth, and his family migrated from Peshawar to Bombay (present-day Mumbai) as a result.

He attended St. Mary’s School, Bombay through the second grade before transferring to Delhi. 1957 marked the relocation of the family to Delhi, where he attended Delhi Public School, Mathura Road. Even though the family returned to Bombay in 1960, he was sent to Barnes School in Deolali, close to Nashik. During his time at residential school, Khanna fell in love with film after viewing the epics Solva Saal and Mughal-e-Azam. He received a degree in commerce from Sydenham College, Bombay.

Khanna cherished cricket and once remarked, “There was a time when I played fair cricket with (Test player) Budhi Kunderan.. but I compromised for movies when I realised I couldn’t be a Vishwanath! According to a 1979 interview he gave to The Illustrated Weekly of India, cricket, not films, is his “first love.”

Career

Vinod Khanna was born in 1968 and made his acting début in the film Man Ka Meet by Sunil Dutt in 1968. In 1970, he appeared in films such as Purab Aur Paschim, Sachaa Jhutha, Aan Milo Sajna, and Mastana, and in 1971, he appeared in Mera Gaon Mere Desh, Mere Apne, and Elaan. During his main film career (1971–1982), he assumed the role of the popular hero. His first solo main role was in the 1971 film Hum Tum Aur Woh opposite Bharathi Vishnuvardhan, which was followed by Mere Apne. In 1973, his portrayal of an army officer confronting the death penalty in Gulzar’s Achanak garnered acclaim.

In 1974, he portrayed a college professor in the successful film Imtihan. Ie starred in the highest-grossing Indian film of the year, Qurbani (1980) by Feroz Khan. He also starred in 47 films with multiple heroes, including Shankar. Sham Vinod Khanna was an Indian film actor who appeared in films alongside Jeetendra, Dharmendra, Shatrughan Sinha, and Gulzar, including Mere Apne, Panch Dushman, Bombay 405 Miles, Dost Aur Dushman, Pyaar Ka Rishta, Daulat Ke Dushman, and Do Yaar. In 1982, he left the film industry to join his spiritual master Osho Rajneesh at the new Ashram in Oregon, United States. After returning to Bollywood in 1987, he starred alongside Dimple Kapadia in the film Insaaf. In 1989, he co-starred in the romantic blockbuster Chandni, but he was primarily cast in action films.

In the 1990s, he appeared in a number of Bollywood films, including Muqaddar Ka Badshah, CID, Jurm, Lekin, Humshakal, Aakhri Adaalat, Maha-Sangram, Khoon Ka Karz, and Police Aur Mujrim.

Honours and citations

1975: Haath Ki Safa wins the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor.

  • Hera Pheri was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1977.
  • Shaque was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor in 1977.
  • 1979 – Nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Muqaddar Ka Sikander.
  • Nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor in 1981 for Qurbani.
  • Chandni was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1990.
  • 1999 – Filmfare Award for Lifetime Achievement
  • Role Model of the Year, 2005 Stardust Awards
  • 2007 – Zed Cine Lifetime Achievement Award
  • 2017: posthumous Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

Personal Life

In college, Khanna met his first wife, Gitanjali Taleyarkhan. Khanna wed Gitanjali in 1971 and had two sons with her, both of whom became Bollywood actors: Rahul and Akshaye. In 1975, he became an Osho disciple, and in the early 1980s, he relocated to Rajneeshpuram.In 1985, Khanna and Gitanjali agreed to a divorce.

Khanna married Kavita Daftary, daughter of industrialist Sharayu Daftary, upon his 1990 return to India. They had both a son and a daughter.

Death

Khanna was hospitalised for several weeks at the Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre in Girgaon, Mumbai, on 2 April 2017 due to acute dehydration. On April 27 at 11:20 a.m. (IST), he passed away, and it was disclosed that he had advanced bladder cancer.

Arijit Singh Biography: Age, Birthday, Early Life, Wife, Career, Assets, Net Worth

Facts

Here are some additional little-known details about his life:

  • Khanna, who is known for his distinct style and persona, made quite an impression as a scowling thief in numerous films before he became well-known for his police roles.
  • The ‘villain-turned-hero’, who made his début as a villain in Sunil Dutt’s 1968 film Man Ka Meet, played supporting or minor roles in films such as Purab Aur Paschim, Sachaa Jhutha, Aan Milo Sajna, and Mastana in 1970, as well as Mera Gaon Mera Desh and Elaan in 1971.
  • For the 1971 film Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Dharmendra revealed that Khanna literally bled for realism.
  • Khanna finally had the chance to expand his repertoire when Gulzar cast him in the leading characters of Mere Apne (1972) and Achanak (1973), recognising his ability to combine brute force and emotional vulnerability.
  • In the songless 1973 film Achanak, in which he was required to kill his adulterous wife, he received rave accolades for his performance.
  • He also attempted daring and unconventional roles. In Aruna Vikas’ Shaque (1976), he shattered the taboo on lovemaking, and his mature and nuanced performance as a murder suspect was praised.
  • Between 1971 and 1982, the actor appeared in 47 films with multiple protagonists, including Ek Aur Ek Gyarah, Hera Pheri, Khoon Pasina, Amar Akbar Anthony, Zameer, Parvarish, and Muqaddar Ka Sikandar.
  • Khanna reportedly secured the role of Qurbani in 1980 after Amitabh Bachchan declined it. The film eventually became the year’s highest-grossing film.
  • Khanna was the first Bollywood superstar to resign at the height of his career. His quest for spiritual fulfilment led him to Osho.
Eric Joseph Gomes

Seasoned professional blog writer with a passion for delivering high-quality content that informs, educates, and engages readers.

Recent Posts

Social Security Trust Funds to Run Short by 2034, One Year Earlier Than Expected

Social Security funds may run out by 2034, a year earlier than expected. If Congress…

1 hour ago

$400 Stimulus: Americans to Receive Checks Without Any Paperwork

Millions of Americans will soon receive a $400 stimulus check automatically. No application or paperwork…

1 day ago

Who is Zohran Mamdani? The Democratic Socialist Running for NYC Mayor

Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist, is running for New York City mayor with plans…

1 day ago

$1,702 Stimulus Payment Date Confirmed: When Will You Get Your Deposit?

Alaska residents waiting for their $1,702 stimulus payment won’t have to wait long. The next…

2 days ago

Claiming Social Security: Should You Start at 62, 67, or 70?

Choosing when to start Social Security at 62, 67, or 70 can change how much…

2 days ago

High-Yield Savings Accounts in 2025: Still a Good Idea in 2025? Experts Explain

High-yield savings accounts are still giving better interest than regular ones in 2025. Experts say…

3 days ago