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Vinod Khanna filmography

Overview

Vinod Khanna (1946–2017) was an Indian actor and politician who appeared in Hindi cinema for nearly five decades. He began his career in 1968 with Sunil Dutt's Man Ka Meet, in which he played the antagonist, and rose to become one of the leading stars of the 1970s and 1980s. After a brief retreat from films in the mid-1980s during which he spent time at the ashram of Osho Rajneesh in Oregon, United States, he returned to acting in 1987 with Insaaf. In later years he played character roles, including extended appearances in the Dabangg series.

Key facts

Name Vinod Khanna
Born 6 October 1946, Peshawar (British India)
Died 27 April 2017, Mumbai
Debut film Man Ka Meet (1968)
Final film release Dabangg 3 (2019, posthumous)
Active years 1968–1982; 1987–2015
Notable genres Action, drama, multi-starrer ensemble films
Frequent collaborators Feroz Khan, Gulzar, Manmohan Desai, Raj Khosla, Yash Chopra

Background

Khanna was spotted by producer Sunil Dutt while still studying at Sydenham College, Mumbai. After his villainous turns in films such as Man Ka Meet (1968), Purab Aur Paschim (1970) and Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971), he transitioned to lead roles by the early 1970s. Gulzar's Mere Apne (1971) and Achanak (1973) were significant in establishing him as a leading man.

Filmography

1968–1972: Early career and villain roles

  • Man Ka Meet (1968) — debut, antagonist
  • Aan Milo Sajna (1970)
  • Purab Aur Paschim (1970), directed by Manoj Kumar
  • Sachaa Jhutha (1970)
  • Mastana (1970)
  • Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971), directed by Raj Khosla
  • Hum Tum Aur Woh (1971)
  • Mere Apne (1971), directed by Gulzar
  • Elaan (1971)
  • Patthar Aur Payal (1972)

1973–1979: Stardom

  • Achanak (1973), directed by Gulzar
  • Kachche Dhaage (1973)
  • Imtihan (1974)
  • Haath Ki Safai (1974), opposite Randhir Kapoor; won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor
  • The Burning Train (1980, ensemble)
  • Qaid (1975)
  • Farebi (1975)
  • Aandhi (1975), directed by Gulzar
  • Hera Pheri (1976), with Amitabh Bachchan, directed by Prakash Mehra
  • Shankar Shambhu (1976)
  • Adha Din Adhi Raat (1977)
  • Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), directed by Manmohan Desai
  • Khoon Pasina (1977)
  • Inkaar (1977), directed by Raj N. Sippy
  • Parvarish (1977), directed by Manmohan Desai
  • Chor Sipahee (1977)
  • Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978), directed by Prakash Mehra
  • Aap Ki Khatir (1977)
  • Lahu Ke Do Rang (1979), directed by Mahesh Bhatt
  • Muqaddar (1978)
  • Khoon Ki Pukaar (1978)

1980–1982: Final phase before sabbatical

  • Qurbani (1980), directed and produced by Feroz Khan
  • The Burning Train (1980), directed by Ravi Chopra
  • Aap Ki Khatir (1980)
  • Kudrat (1981), directed by Chetan Anand
  • Dayavan dialogues notwithstanding, his last release before sabbatical was Insaaf (1987)
  • Rajput (1982)
  • Taaqat (1982)
  • Daulat (1982)

1987–1999: Comeback and senior leading roles

  • Insaaf (1987), directed by Mukul Anand
  • Satyamev Jayate (1987)
  • Dayavan (1988), directed by Feroz Khan
  • Mahaadev (1989)
  • Chandni (1989), directed by Yash Chopra
  • Jurm (1990), directed by Mahesh Bhatt
  • Lekin... (1990), directed by Gulzar
  • Police Aur Mujrim (1992)
  • Humshakal (1992)
  • Ek Hi Raasta (1993)
  • Eena Meena Deeka (1994)
  • Himalay Putra (1997)

2000s onwards: Character roles

  • Kroadh (2000)
  • Leela (2002)
  • Risk (2007)
  • Wanted (2009), directed by Prabhu Deva
  • Dabangg (2010), directed by Abhinav Kashyap, as Prajapati Pandey
  • Players (2012), directed by Abbas–Mustan
  • Dabangg 2 (2012), directed by Arbaaz Khan
  • Koyelaanchal (2014)
  • Dilwale (2015), directed by Rohit Shetty
  • Dabangg 3 (2019, posthumous)

Significance

Khanna was among the few actors of his generation who successfully transitioned from villain to leading man and then to senior character actor. During the 1970s he was often paired with Amitabh Bachchan in multi-starrers including Hera Pheri, Amar Akbar Anthony, Parvarish and Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, and was widely regarded as one of the few stars of comparable stature. His sudden departure from films in 1982 to become a disciple of Osho remains an unusual episode in Hindi cinema history. He received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999 and was posthumously awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2018.

References

  • Filmfare Awards archives
  • Government of India, Padma Awards announcements (2018)
  • National Film Archive of India listings