There is a kind of beautiful sadness connected with a Vinod Khanna performance. Khanna exudes an existential melancholy that one could mistake for quiet resignation if not for the very evident fire smoldering behind his smoky eyes. Introspection is a true part of his characters, the searching gaze, the million questions behind the face that barely conceals the pathos within.

In the 70s Vinod Khanna was the 'thinking' angry young man. He and Amitabh Bachchan (the 'angry' angry young man) where the two giants of Bollywood cinema. They acted together in a string of hit films battling the frustrations of the era arm in arm, brothers to the same causes of social justice and matters of the heart. Their film pairing culminated in the Hindi film classic, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar" (1979). In that film Vinod portrayed a karate kick throwing lawyer of consciences who fulfills the dreams and hopes (both socially and psychologically) that the Amitabh character is unable to achieve. It was one of his finest performances.

Incredibly at the height of his acting career Khanna retired from films and became a monk. He turned his back on Bollywood to follow a spiritual path and lived in an ashram commune in Oregon for over 5 years. As a follower of the guru Osho (also known as Rajnish) he worshipped and worked as a common member of the community. From the period 1982 to 1986 Vinod was absent from the film world.

Vinod reentered films in 1987 to the open arms of the industry and is still acting as well as producing to this day. He also has a new incarnation as a politician and is actively involved in charity, peace, and relief work. In 1999 Vinod Khanna was awarded the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement award.

His son is Akshaye Khanna who is a top Bollywood film star. One can see many shades of Vinod in the acting style of Akashay.

links:

rediff.com profile of Vinod Khanna

Planet Bollywood feature story on Vinod Khanna

A russian fan site devoted to Vinod Khanna. www.luyaru.narod.ru/

recent gmagazine.com interview with Vinod

Vinod Khanna talks breifly about his spiritual development.