Yesteryear Bollywood actor Vinod Khanna passed away this morning in Mumbai, reportedly succumbing to bladder cancer. He was 70. The actor had been admitted to HN Reliance Foundation and Research Centre in Gurgaon, Mumbai after complaining of severe dehydration.
A few weeks ago, news of Khanna’s illness was doing the rounds after a photo of him looking emaciated in a hospital gown went viral. His sons, Rahul and Akshaye, had chosen not to respond to questions about their father’s illness, and instead insisted that his health was improving.
Born on October 6, 1946 in Peshawar (now in Pakistan), Khanna was a commerce graduate who forayed into cinema with Sunil Dutt’s 1968 film, Man Ka Meet. This paved way for him to play several villainous or supporting roles in films such as Purab Aur Paschim, Sachaa Jhutha, Aan Milo Sajna and Mastana in 1970, and in Mera Gaon Mera Desh and Elaan in 1971.
However, the 1970s saw Khanna play many more hero-centric roles such as Hum Tum Aur Woh (1971), Mere Apne, and Achanak (1973). He also starred in numerous multi-hero films including the popular Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Muqaddar Ka Sikander (1978), Haath Ki Safai and Aakhri Daku, to name a few.
Khanna received the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for Haath Ki Safaai, and in 1999, he received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award, and again in 2007, at the Zee Cine Awards.
Between 1982 and 1986, Khanna turned to spirituality after having been a disciple of Osho Rajneesh for five years. He left the film industry briefly then.
Pic: The Quint
He also dabbled in politics, joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 1997. He represented the Gurdaspur constituency in Punjab, before moving on to become the Union Minister for Culture and Tourism in July 2002.
Over the years, while the actor starred in a few other movies and TV shows, including the Smriti Irani-produced Hindi serial Mere Apne, his appearance on screen became sporadic. He was last seen in Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol starrer Dilwale in 2015, where he played the gangster Randhir Bakshi.
Khanna is currently survived by his second wife Kavita, his two actor sons Rahul and Akshaye (from his marriage to Geetanjali), and his younger children Sakshi and Shraddha.
Pic: Masala.com
