The 1970s were dominated by stars like Rajesh Khanna and Dharmendra, but during this era, another actor also rose to prominence with his striking looks and impressive film choices—Vinod Khanna. Known for his versatility, he excelled in action and romantic roles and even ventured into negative characters. In that period, Vinod Khanna regarded only Amitabh Bachchan as his true competitor. On October 6, we celebrate his birth anniversary by taking a closer look at his cinematic journey.
Audiences loved watching Vinod Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan on screen together, and the pair appeared in 10 films, including Amar Akbar Anthony, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Batwara, Parvarish, Khoon Pasina, Hera Pheri, and Zameer, to name a few.
According to reports, Vinod Khanna’s entry into Bollywood began at a party where he met actor Sunil Dutt. At that time, Sunil Dutt’s younger brother, Som Dutt, was producing a film called Man Ka Meet and needed a new face to play his brother’s role. Sunil Dutt offered the part to Vinod, which marked his Bollywood debut.
Over his career, Vinod Khanna appeared in 144 films and delivered numerous hits. Vinod Khanna’s final appearance was in the film Guns of Banaras in 2020. Sadly, he had been battling advanced bladder cancer and passed away on April 27, 2017.
He will always be missed.