Remembering Vinod Khanna: Rare and unseen pictures of the star

The sad demise of veteran star Vinod Khanna on April 27, 2017 jolted the film industry and his family alike. Khanna, who was suffering from advanced bladder carcinoma, breathed his last on Thursday morning. Now, few hours before his prayer meet, his son Rahul Khanna shared a throwback picture saying, "You showed me how to be a gentleman and yet fight to the finish like a warrior. Bye Dad. 1946 - 2017." The 'Qurbani' actor had Rahul and Akshaye, 42, from his first marriage with Gitanjali but got divorced in 1985.

Bollywood actor Vinod Khanna passed away at 70 on Thursday morning. He was reportedly suffering from cancer. The actor had been admitted to Sir HN Reliance Foundation hospital in Mumbai since the first week of April. At that time, his elder son Rahul Khanna had stated that the actor was suffering from severe dehydration. His health became a cause of concern in the recent weeks when a photo of him looking frail and weak started doing rounds on social media and had a number of Bollywood stars and fans sending across their wishes.

Here’s taking a walk down the memory lane to see some of his rare pictures over the years.

Having made his Bollywood debut in 1968, Vinod Khanna was best known for his films like ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’, ‘Qurbani’, ‘Achanak’, ‘Mere Apne’ and ‘Dayavan’. He was also an active politician and was the sitting MP from Gurdaspur (between 1968 and 2013). Besides being appreciated for his acting, Khanna was also known for his rugged good looks. The actor’s urbane appeal and easy charm made him the heartthrob of millions. He was considered one of the most handsome actors in Bollywood, along with Dharmendra, Rajesh Khanna and Shammi Kapoor.

Vinod Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan appeared in many films together like ‘Khoon Pasina’, ‘Parvarish’ and ‘Hera Pheri’ among others. The most iconic films of the duo include ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’ and ‘Muqaddar Ka Sikandar’. This rare picture that sees the two actors with Rakhee is one for the keeps.

If there was any actor who could match Vinod Khanna in the style quotient, it was Feroz Khan. The two have worked together in few films including ‘Dayavan’ and ‘Qurbani’. Turns out, Feroz had offered ‘Qurbani’ to Amitabh Bachchan but the superstar had date issues. Feroz then went to Vinod Khanna, who signed the film. One of the most stylish films of 1980, it became a super hit.

Vinod Khanna married Geetanjali in 1971 and the couple had two sons, Rahul and Akshaye Khanna. This gem of a picture sees the deep bond of the late actor with his two sons. In 1982, Khanna took a break from film industry to become a follower of spiritual leader Rajneesh Osho. However, he returned to Bollywood in 1987 and did a string of films. Vinod Khanna married Kavita in 1990 – they have a son Sakshi and a daughter named Shraddha.

This rare picture sees Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna, Waheeda Rehman, Sunil Dutt, Nargis and Amrish Puri spending some quality time together. Khanna continued to work through the 80s and early 90s. In 1999, he received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the industry for over three decades. He was last seen in Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Dilwale’.