Vinod Khanna - Career

Career

Vinod Khanna was extremely popular and successful as a lead actor in the seventies and the eighties. He is considered to be one of the most good looking actors in Bollywood. Khanna debuted in Sunil Dutt's 1968 film Man Ka Meet as a villain. At the start of his career, he played supporting and negative characters in hit films such as Purab Aur Paschim (1970), Sachaa Jhutha (1970) and Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971).

Because of his charming personality, he became popular with the audience and soon got offers for lead roles. He is one of the few Bollywood actors who could successfully transition from negative roles to positive lead roles. His big break was in the 1971 film Mere Apne directed by Gulzar. His performance as an army officer facing death row in another Gulzar scripted and directed 1973 film Achanak was critically acclaimed. The songless film echoed the true life story of K. M. Nanavati vs. State of Maharashtra and Khanna portrayed Kawas Nanavati, the real life Navy officer.

From the mid seventies to early eighties, Khanna starred in numerous successful solo and multi starrer movies. During this period, he was one of the most successful actors in Bollywood, competing with Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Rajesh Khanna, Shahtrughan Sinha & Jeetendra.

Some of his successful movies in the mid 1970s include Parvarish, Amar Akbar Anthony, Hera Pheri, Inkaar, Lahoo Ke Do Rang, Muqaddar Ka Sikander and "Aap Ki Khatir". In 1980, he starred in Feroz Khan's Qurbani (1980) which turned to be the biggest hit of the year. The movie's music and songs becoming a rage all over the world ushering in the "disco revolution" in India. Having peaked in Bollywood, he became a follower of the spiritual teacher Osho (Rajneesh) and abruptly quit the film industry by 1982 for five years.

In 1987, he returned to Bollywood with his comeback movie Insaaf opposite Dimple Kapadia. The movie was a big hit and proved that the audience still accepted him as a lead actor. From 1987 to 1994, Khanna again worked as a hero in several solo and multi starrer movies. In his second innings, his performance was appreciated in movies such as Satyamev Jayate (1987), Rihaee (1988), Chandni (1989), Jurm (1990),Kshatriya (1993) and Eena Meena Deeka (1994).

In 1997 he donned the role of producer to launch his second son Akshaye Khanna in the film Himalay Putra; he also starred in the film. In 1999 he received a Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the film industry for over three decades. He has since acted in fewer films playing character roles. His most recent films were Deewaanapan (2002), Risk (2007), Red Alert: The War Within, Wanted (2009) and Dabangg (2010).

He also ventured into television playing the male lead role of "Kashinath" in the Smriti Irani-produced Hindi serial Mere Apne, which aired on the channel 9X.