Debutant director Gulzar provided the much-needed breakthrough, giving Vinod the role of a soul-troubled street desperado in his Mere Apne (1971).
Not content with being a sought-after model of male nastiness, Vinod yearned for more. Sporting a huge black tilak, a crumpled dhoti and bloodshot eyes, Vinod matched he-man Dharmendra shoulder to shoulder. A section of the audience was convinced that second leads Laxmi Chhaya and Vinod Khanna had stolen the thunder in this horses-and-bullets megahit. He had to pair with starlets like Bindu ( Nateeja) and Bharati ( Hum Tum Aur Woh) or be the unwanted hypotenuse in many a triangular tango ( Aan Milo Sajna, Ek Haseena Do Deewane) where all he was required to do was sneer and exude charisma.Īs a blackguard, Vinod was most memorable playing the dacoit in Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971). But few producers had the confidence to let a major film ride on his brawny shoulders.
Designed as a launch pad for Sunil's brother, Som Dutt, Man Ka Meet, ironically, made stars of its moon-faced heroine Leena Chandarvarkar and its tall and hunky anti-hero, Vinod Khanna.Īs a villain whose handsome face hid ugly designs and deeds, Vinod was lapped up by the audience. After all, a few years earlier, he had already worked the rare alchemy that let him manage the difficult crossover from 'villain' to 'hero.'Ī student of Mumbai's elite Sydenham college, he found acting more exciting than his family business and signed on Sunil Dutt's home production Man Ka Meet (1968). People should have learnt to expect the unexpected from Vinod Khanna. Nonchalantly, he determinedly embarked on a quest for spiritual fulfillment. He shocked filmdom and the public by announcing his retirement. After a long string of hits in 1977-1978, Vinod was Amitabh Bachchan's direct competitor in the superstar sweepstakes.
Vinod Khanna is possibly the only male star in the Hindi film industry who forsook fame at the height of success.
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