Vinod Khanna was a star while Mahesh Bhatt was going through his struggling days.
Those were the days when Vinod Khanna also took care of Mahesh Bhatt's expenses. The same had been confirmed by Mahesh Bhatt in an interview. His brother Mukesh Bhatt had also worked as Khanna’s secretary. Mahesh’s first hit film, Lahu Ke Do Rang had Vinod Khanna in the main lead.
Khanna was deeply affected by his mother's death when Mahesh took him to Rajneesh’s Ashram in Pune. He eventually moved to the commune in Oregon.
After Rajneeshpuram in Oregon was disbanded due to legal issues and conflicts, Khanna returned to India and was keen to make a comeback in Bollywood.
During that time Mahesh Bhatt wanted to make a film with Vinod Khanna. The film was Jurm and Mukesh Bhatt was the producer. The film got delayed as the Bhatt brothers were hesitant to pay Khanna his full fee. After the release of the film, the Bhatts called Khanna unprofessional for the delays.
The financial dispute and subsequently public comments by Mahesh Bhatt led to the bitterness. Later, when the two encountered in a studio, Khanna lost his cool and reportedly slapped Mahesh Bhatt multiple times. Some reports suggest that he slapped producer Mukesh Bhatt.
After this incident, there was a rift in their friendship and they never worked again.
Born to refugees from Pakistan who were involved in dye business
Came to Mumbai in the 1950s studied and completed his schooling in Delhi was very popular with the girls
Completed class twelve from prestigious Sydenham College
He was an avid cricketing fan and had said had he not been an actor he would've been a cricketer using his cricketing skills with Amitabh Bachchan
Watched Mughal E Azam multiple times which ignited the spark within him to be an actor
Vinod Khanna according to me was hugely inspired by Dilip Kumar and Dharmendra
Met Sunil Dutt during one of his parties and was cast as a villain
in Man Ka Meet it was supposed to be Som Dutt’s launch pad but became Vinod Khanna's ticket to fame
Started out as a quintessential baddie in movies like Aan Milo Sajna with Rajesh Khanna
& Mera Gaon Mera Desh with Dharmendra
Anokhi Ada with Jeetendra
He even cheekily said that In real life Rajesh Khanna and Jeetendra wouldn't have been able to beat him up
Vinod Khanna succeeded as a villain
Whereas his competitor Amitabh Bachchan failed miserably as a villain in Parwana
Even did a supporting role with Rajesh Khanna in Sacha Jhootha
Gulzar’s Mere Apne transitioned him into a main lead
Salim Javed's Haath Ki Safai solidified his position as a main lead
Even in this interview famous acclaimed villain Shakti Kapoor said Vinod Khanna was his favourite villain & knew he would become a hero Shakti Kapoor tried the same but didn't work
In the 1970s after Rajesh Khanna's downfall and Manoj Kumar's decision to do lesser movies
Vinod Khanna became the main competition for Amitabh Bachchan as per tabloids
In movies like Parvarish
Khoon Pasina
In Muqaddar Ka Sikandar he was taken because the director wanted some one better looking than Amitabh Bachchan
Vinod Khanna perhaps was the only actor to stand toe to toe with Amitabh Bachchan height wise Khanna's 6′1″ to Bachchan’s 6′2″
When Feroz Khan couldn't get Amitabh Bachchan for his movie Qurbani he choose the next best available alternative in Vinod Khanna
None the less the movie became a huge blockbuster
Even Jeetendra who was a sedate in the 1970s came into his own in the 1980s after Vinod Khanna's departure
The shock Vinod Khanna was always a man who wanted to live his life on his own principals he had a huge fight with his father on his decision to enter the movies and shocked the entire industry on his decision to retire and go to Osho ashram
He was called the sexy Sanyasi
A picture of his time in Oregon
Movies like Rajput
& Kudrat were completed and sold on his name as it had actors like Dharmendra and Rajesh Khanna who were facing career fluctuations
Due to his decision of leaving bollywood he lost big blockbuster Naseeb Manmohan Desai wanted to repeat the Amar Akbar Anthony trio
And huge hit Kaalia
In osha ashram Vinod Khanna cleaned toilet,did gardening and all sorts of menial work
It's said had the commune not been disbanded by the United States govt he would have stayed there for the entirety of his life
Vinod Khanna had a very easy comeback even Salim Khan said he left when he was not 2 he came back and became no 2 again Salim Khan made a lot movie with Amitabh Bachchan
Movies like Dayawan became a moderate success
It's his son Akshaye Khanna's favourite movie more remembered for the kissing scenes with Madhuri Dixit
Satyamev Jayate on the other hand became a huge hit
By the time 1990s came in Vinod Khanna spiralled into doing character roles in Nishchaay with Salman Khan
& Hulchul with Ajay Devgan
A 49 years old past his prime Khanna looking for hero like than 26 year old Ajay Devgan
As Said Vinod Khanna was a man of his principles he joined the BJP
not the all concerning BJP of today
The rebranded one from Bhartiya Jana Sangh to Bhartiya Janta Party which was a very weak political party in the 1980s with just 2 seats
Although Vinod Khanna could never go past Amitabh Bachchan as a leading superstar he did perform much better than Bachchan in the political arena even Salman Khan came to support for his 4th term re election
When Sunny Deol was given his constituency people told Sunny Deol too look after them like Vinod Khanna obviously he couldn't recreate Vinod Khanna's performance
Inspite of being a commercial leading dashing actor Vinod Khanna regularly from time to time indulged in risky art house fair
Movies like Parichay where he has a cameo
Movies like Rihaei one of the very few movies where the husband forgives the wife for her infidelity
Inkaar
Chandni
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Vinod Khanna saved the career off Mahesh Bhatt
In the late 1990s Vinod Khanna's career took a backseat because of his son's launch and political commitment
Barring comedic exploits where Contemporaries like Amitabh Bachchan and others like Dharmendra, Jeetendra, Rajesh Khanna resigned supreme
Vinod Khanna had all the aspects required for a leading hero
Action
Romance
Dance
Looks
Villany
In the 2000s Vinod Khanna took a break from active politics and returned to Bollywood in a big way he did wanted
& Dabangg with Salman Khan
& Dilwale his last release with SRK
Khanna breathed his last in 2017
Just imagine the virile he-man Khanna became a pale shadow of his former self the ugly truth of life
Vinod Khanna’s unconventional traits rubbed on two his family also
His elder son instead of becoming a leading superstar and getting dream launch started with MTV
& Later made his debut in art house drama 1947 earth.
The younger son happily flaunted his balding apperance
When the rest of Bollywood was fixated with wigs and hair transplant
