Khanna was sitting BJP MP for the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha constituency in Punjab
Veteran actor Vinod Khanna, one of the most handsome yesteryear-heroes of Bollywood, passed away at a Mumbai hospital on Thursday. He was 70.
The actor-turned politician who was suffering from advanced cancer of the bladder, breathed his last at 11.20 a.m. (IST).
Khanna was sitting BJP MP for the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha constituency in Punjab. He was best remembered for his performances in commercial entertainments during the 1970s.
Born in Peshawar in present-day Pakistan, Khanna debuted in Bollywood with Sunil Dutt’s 1968 film Man Ka Meet as a villain opposite Som Dutt. After playing many villainous characters, Khanna moved on to play lead roles.
The actor got his first break as the solo hero in 1971 movie ‘Hum Tum Aur Woh’ and it was followed by multi-hero film ‘Mere Apne,’ which was directed by Gulzar.
Movies such as Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Gaddaar, Jail Yatra, Imtihaan, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Inkaar, Kuchhe Khaage, Amar Akbar Anthony, Rajput, Qurbani, Kudrat and Dayavan were all some of his most remembered films.
At the peak of his career in 1982, Khanna quit films to join his spiritual guru Osho Rajneesh. After 5-years, he returned to Bollywood with a bang giving two back to back hits Insaaf and Styamev Jayate.
Khanna, who acted in more than 146 films, was last seen in Shah Rukh Khan’s 2015 movie Dilwale.
He joined Bharatiya Janta Party in 1997 and had served as Union minister of culture and tourism, and minister of state for external affairs. Except the 2009-14 term, Khanna represented Gurdaspur from 1998, until his death.
Khanna has two sons, Rahul Khanna and Akshaye Khanna, from his first wife, Geetanjali. In 1990, he married Kavita with whom he has son Sakshi and daughter Shraddha.
“Will always remember Vinod Khanna as a popular actor, dedicated leader & a wonderful human. Pained by his demise. My condolences,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.
Actor Rishi Kapoor shared a poster of their super hit 1977 movie Amar Akbar Anthony and expressed grief on the death of his co-star.
“We will miss you Amar. RIP,” Kapoor said.
“My dear friend Vinod Khanna… will miss you, RIP. My heartful condolences to the family,” Rajinikanth wrote.
His body was brought to his residence in Mumbai to perform the last rites and would be cremated at Mumbai’s Banganga crematorium, today.
Social Media Updates:
Will always remember Vinod Khanna as a popular actor, dedicated leader & a wonderful human. Pained by his demise. My condolences.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 27, 2017
Will miss you Amar. RIP. pic.twitter.com/WC0zt71R4J
— Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) April 27, 2017
My dear friend Vinod Khanna… will miss you, RIP. My heartfelt condolences to the family.
— Rajinikanth (@rajinikanth) April 27, 2017
#VinodKhanna ji had a magnetic charm & persona. Both on & off screen. He was kind, affectionate & helpful. Loved his panther like walk. 🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/q01Hmqxbdp
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) April 27, 2017