An incredible combination of Greek God looks and powerhouse performances...that's how Vinod Khanna will always be remembered. The actor who succumbed to cancer early this year would have turned 71 today.
Vinod Khanna meant different things to different people - an indulgent father, a loving husband, a warm friend and an affable colleague. Born in Punjabi October 6, 1946, the movie legend had a larger-than-life career on screen thanks to his impossibly good looks and a panoply of virtuoso performances in innumerable films. After making his striking debut in 1968, Khanna branched into second lead roles or negative roles making quite an impact each time. His game-changing angry young man role in the movie Mere Apne, and negative role as the main villain in the super-hit movie Mera Gaon Mera Desh impressed both the masses and critics. His groundbreaking performance in Achanak based on KM Nanavati v. State of Maharashtra, as the military officer turned fugitive was much appreciated.
Till Khanna arrived on the scene no actor had moved from being villain to a hero. Yet he was instantly accepted by audiences in his first solo lead in Hum Tum Aur Woh (1971) opposite Bharati Vishnuvardhan. Parchaiyaan which came in the same year, saw him being cast in a series of romantic leads. Between 1973 and 1982, he did films like Farebi, Hatyara, Qaid, Zalim, Inkaar, Gaddaar, Aap Ki Khatir, Raajmahal, Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki, Khoon Ki Pukar, Shaque, Adha Din Aadhi Raat, Aarop, Taaqat, Jail Yatra, Daulat and Qurbani all of which did very well at the box office.
Though he has acted in nearly 50 multistarrer starrers, whether it was Amitabh Bachcan, Sunil Dutt, Rishi Kapoor, Dharmendra or Jeetendra he always held his own. In fact his fees were higher than Jeetendra Bachchan. Many in the film industry say that Amitabh Bachchan's unhindered rise to superstardom was helped largely by the five year-gap Khanna took from the industry to pursue spiritualism under Godman Osho aka Rajneesh
When he came back, though he did more action films, than romantic many of his romantic roles like Jurm, and Chandni are recalled to date. While his Zooni (opp Dimple Kapadia) by Muzaffar Ali is still lying unreleased in the cans
This Filmfare lifetime achievment awardee also tried his hand at TV alongside Smriti Irani who had produced a serial called Mere Apne. Born in Peshawar in undivided India.The actor who was last seen in Rohit Shetty's Dilwale with Shah Rukh Khan two years ago.
On the occassion of his birth anniversary let's rewind back to most memorable songs of Bollywood's handsome star, Vinod Khanna.
Mere Apne (1970)
Haath Ki Safai (1974)
Qurbani (1979)
Lahoo Ke Do Rang (1978)
Dayaavan (1988)
Muqaddar Ka Sikendar
Chandni (1989)
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 "Remembering Vinod Khanna")
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