Vinod Khanna

Was engaged to IS Johar' s daughter Ambika ( Neelam) Johar in the 1960's.

Vinod Khanna debuted in Sunil Dutt's 1968 film Man Ka Meet as a villain. Sunil Dutt's brother Som Dutt was the hero. The film was a big hit.

At the start of his career, he played supporting or villainous characters in films such as Purab Aur Paschim, Sachaa Jhutha, Aan Milo Sajna, and Mastana in 1970, and in Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Elaan and Aan Milo Sajna in 1971.

He got his first break as the solo lead hero in the film Hum Tum Aur Woh (1971), which was followed by the 1971 multi-hero film 'Mere Apne' directed by Gulzar. It was the melodious R. D.

Burman composed Rafi-Asha "Sasoan Mein Kabhi" from the film Parchaiyaan in 1972 and from Hum Tum Aur Woh - the Kishore Asha duet Do Bataon Ki Mujhko Hai Tamanna and the solo song Priye Praneswhari where his romantic skills got noticed among audiences.

In 1973, his performance as an army officer facing death row in another film scripted and directed by Gulzar, Achanak, was critically acclaimed. The song-less film echoed the true life story of K. M. Nanavati vs. State of Maharashtra and Khanna portrayed Kawas Nanavati, the real life Navy officer.

Between 1973 and 1982, Khanna played the lead role in in a number of solo and multi starer movies. In films with 'Rajesh Khanna' as the lead hero, Vinod Khanna always had either the antagonist role or supporting role and not even the parallel lead. These film were Sachaa Jhutha Aan Milo Sajna, Prem Kahani, Kudrat and Rajput. Vinod accepted his roles in Kudrat and Rajput even after he had become a successful solo lead hero himself just due to rapport he shared with Rajesh Khanna.

His successful films as solo lead hero include 'Farebi' with Moushumi Chatterjee;Qaid in 1975 and 'Zalim' in 1980, both together with Leena Chandavarkar; and Inkaar in 1978 opposite Vidya Sinha followed by Aap Ki Khatir, Hatyara, Main Tulsi Tere Angan Ki, Khoon Ki Pukar, Taaqat, Jail Yatra, Raajmahal. His successful multi hero films, with him also playing the main lead hero, were Shankar Shambhu,Chor Sipahee and Ek Aur Ek Aur Ek Gyarah, where he appeared together with Shashi Kapoor; in Hera Pheri, Khoon Pasina, Amar Akbar Anthony and Muqaddar Ka Sikandar where he played lead hero with. Amitabh Bachchan; and in Haath Ki Safai and Aakhri Daku where he played lead hero with Randhir Kapoor. He later appeared as lead hero with Sunil Dutt in ,Daku Aur Jawaan.

The two hero films, with him also playing the main lead hero, like Shankar Shambhu (1976), Chor Sipahee (1977) and Ek Aur Ek Gyarah (1981) with Shashi Kapoor, Qurbani (1981) with Feroz Khan and Parvarish (1977), Zameer (1980), Hera Pheri (1976), Khoon Pasina (1977), Akbar Amar Anthony (1978) and Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978) with Amitabh and Haath Ki Safai (1974), Aakhri Daku (1978) with Randhir Kapoor were super-hits at the box office.

Starred in the shelved film Sameer Productions "Birju Sarju" (1978). Starring Sunil Dutt, Vinod Khanna, Rekha, Bindu, Ranjeet, Amjad Khan, Prem Nath Music by Kalyanji Anandji, Directed by Chand.

Starred in the shelved film "Ganga Ka Beta" (1979) directed by Kanak Misra. Starring Sunil Dutt, Vinod Khanna, Saira Banu, Reena Roy, Shakti Kapoor.

In films with Rajesh Khanna as the lead hero, Khanna always had either the antagonist role or supporting role and not even the parallel lead. These film were _Sachaa Jhutha Aan Milo Sajna_ (1980)_, Prem Kahani (1975), _Kudrat (1980)_ (qv( and _Rajput (1980)_. All the five films were super-hits. Vinod accepted his roles in "Kudrat" and "Rajput" even after he had become a successful solo lead hero himself just due to rapport he shared with Rajesh Khanna.

Chandra Barot first planned the film "Boss" in 1981 with Feroz Khan in mind. Zeenat Aman and Danny Denzongpa were signed for the other roles. But after Qurbani,Feroz Khan was untraceable and busy travelling. Due to the success of Qurbani, Feroz Khan could not commit to the film. Chandra Barot then signed Vinod Khanna. Due to Vinod's retirement, people thought Vinod would not do the film. Chandra Barot went to Los Angeles in 1981 and signed Vinod Khanna for the film. One of the reasons why Vinod agreed was that it would be shot in America and Africa. Plus it would be made very fast. Chandra Barot returned from America a very happy man. He acquired a American co producer for the film. His name was D.P. Cronin (The Black Room). Upon hearing the script, Cronin agreed to produce the film as a Hindi and English bilingual film. The English version would be with no songs and be 90 minutes. Aaron C.Butler would be writing the English script. The crew was to consist of American and Indian technicians. Bernie Abramson was to do the photography. Boss would be about a Indian tycoon settled abroad. The production values would be unheard of. Chandra Barot had rented a rich NRI's house for the film's shoot. He was a dentist by the name of Mr. Marwah. It was a ranch of Malibu beach. Not only would the stars shoot there but stay at the house also. A common friend of Vinod and Kabir Bedi's. named Meera Advani arranged for the shoot. The film would also be shot in Las Vegas at the Ceasar Palace . The final role left in the film was finally signed by Kabir Bedi. Vinod Khanna was given the Bombay and Punjab territory as his pay. Zeenat would play Vinod's rich wife who be shown as a young woman to old lady . But something went wrong and the film was shelved. Vinod went to Rajneesh and Chandra started "Krishna".Chandra Barot finally restarted the film in 1986. Jackie Shroff signed the film but was unable to shoot two songs in Kashmir due to being booked with Subhash Ghai's Karma. Jeetendra next was signed but he too left the film. Vinod was later resigned. The new cast was Vinod Khanna, Jaya Pradha, Danny Denzongpa. Chandra Barot blamed Vinod for the film being delayed and finally completed and unreleased. He said Vinod was not giving dates to finish the patch work for the film.

Khanna became a follower of the spiritual teacher Osho (Rajneesh) and left the film industry in 1982 for five years.

Though he had stopped ,acting in films in 1982, the films with him as the main lead released in 1982(film-s for which he had completed shooting by the end of the year 1981) like Raj Mahal, Taaqat and the multi star Rajput , where Vinod Khanna played supporting role to main lead heroes Rajesh Khanna and Dharmendra were successful. He returned to Bollywood with Insaaf where he played together with Dimple Kapadia, became a hit. After his comeback he played romantic roles in Jurm and Chandni, but he was mostly offered roles in action films.

After he made comeback in 1987, his successful solo hero films released in 1987-88 were Satyamev Jayate, Insaaf , Faisla, Mahaadev, Aakhri Adaalat.

Aruna Raje's Rihaee (1990) where he played an emancipated man who accepts his wife's straying and Gulzar's underrated metaphysical melodrama, Lekin (1991) are regarded as his great work. His on screen pair with Meenakshi Seshadhri was widely appreciated and the pair had hits like Satyamev Jayate, Mahaadev,Jurm, Humshakal and Police Aur Mujrim.

In the 1990s, Khanna successful solo hero films C. I. D.

(1990), Jurm and Humshakal.

Starred in the shelved film. Jalota Films "Sanam O Sanam"(1993) Starring Vinod Khanna, Reena Roy,Ronit Roy,Indrani Banerjee (Replaced Somy Ali),Javed Jaffri,Deepak Saraf,Harsha Mehraa,Shakti Kapoor, Bindu, Music by Nadeem Shravan,Prduced by Anup Jalota, Directed by Barkha Roy. Reels:13. Nadeem Shravan recorded a song for the film titled "Chain Aap Ko Mila" for the film. When the film became shelved , they took the song and included it 10 years later in the soundtrack of Footpath (Aftab,Bipasha,Emraan,Rahul Dev). They went on to rerecord the song with Shaan and included it in the film Hungama.

Starred in shelved movie Ashna Creations, Chakkar Pe Chakkar (1994) Starring Vinod Khanna , Raj Babbar, Rohit Roy, Kader Khan, Kiran Kumar, Shakti Kapoor, Mohnish Bahl. Music by Anand -Milind,Directed by Anant Balani. Reels:3.

Starred in the shelved film Karmveer (1995) starring Vinod Khanna, Sunil Shetty, Emraan Khan,Ashwini Bhave, Vaishnavi,Goga Kapoor, Gulshan Grover.

Vinod Khanna was going to produce and direct a film titled "Made In India". This was suppose to start in late 1997. The film was going to be made in English and launch son Rahul Khanna and Meghana Reddy. Vinod had started a massive talent search for actors for the film. After Himalay Putra flopped, the film was shelved due to financial reasons.

He appeared in multi-hero casts in films such as Khoon Ka Karz, Police Aur Mujrim, Kshatriya, Insaaniyat Ke Devta, Ekka Raja Rani, Eena Meena Deeka, and the 2002 film Kranti.