Veteran actor and sitting BJP MP from Gurdaspur in Punjab Vinod Khanna died today morning in HN Reliance Foundation and Research Centre in Mumbai after a difficult battle with cancer.
Khanna, who was married twice, is survived by his two sons, Rahul and Akshaye, with first wife Geetanjali, and son Sakhsi and daughter Shraddha with second wife Rahul and Akshaye, with first wife Geetanjali, and son Sakhsi and daughter Shraddha with second wife Kavita.
Khanna had won the Gurdaspur seat four times on a BJP ticket. He also served as the Union Minister for Culture and Tourism and Minister of State for External Affairs. The actor was part of several Bollywood hits like Amar Akbar Anthony and The Burning Train over the course of his career.
A photo of the actor in which he looked extremely frail had been doing the rounds on social media and had shocked his fans and fellow film stars. A statement by his son Rahul claimed that he had been hospitalised for dehydration, but later reports said he was being treated for bladder cancer. Rahul claimed that he had been hospitalised for dehydration, but later reports said he was being treated for bladder cancer.
As a mark of respect, the premiere of blockbuster Baahubali: The Conclusion, scheduled for tonight in Hyderabad, has been cancelled. Bollywood director Karan Johar, whose production house Dharma Productions is co-producing the film, made the announcement today afternoon.
Vinod Khanna was born on October 6, 1946. He has acted in over 140 films between 1968 and 2013. Khanna was the lead in several popular films, including Mere Apne, Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Gaddaar, Jail Yatra, Imitihaan, Inkaar, Kuchhe Dhaage, Amar Akbar Anthony, Rajput, Qurbani, Kudrat, Dayavan, Kaarnama, Suryaa: An Awakening and Jurm.
He made his debut in 1968 with Mann Ka Meet and went on to win numerous awards, including the Filmfare award for best supporting actor for Haath ki Safaai and the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999.
He had a role in both Salman Khan's Dabangg movies and his last screen appearance was opposite Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in 2015's Dilwale.
Coincidentally, today is the death anniversary of Feroz Khan, a close friend and fellow actor of Vinod Khanna.