Vinod Khanna was born in Peshawar, India (now in Pakistan). After partition, his family migrated to Punjab, India. His family, first settled in the holy city of Amritsar after partition and later moved to Ludhiana. He graduated from Mumbai's Sydenham college. He married in the late 1960s and his first son Rahul Khanna was born in 1972. His second son Akshaye Khanna was born in 1975.

If you had spoken to the stuntmen during the days of 'Mera Gaon Mera Desh' (1971, they would frankly say that Vinod Khanna was tougher than his senior, Jat hero Dharmendra.

Few people know that Vinod readily agreed to be harshly beaten and bloodied in a fight scene with Dharam. Khanna made his debut in 'Man ka Meet' (1969), a film Sunil Dutt produced to launch his brother Som Dutt. Som was the hero and Vinod the villain. Yet, very soon, the handsome villain was being pursuaded to become a hero, after he established his credentials in the negative roles he did in 'Sacha Jhootha' and 'Aan Milo Sajna'.

He got an identity in 'Mere Apne' (1972) and 'Achanak' (1973). His piercing eyes and tough looks came across well. Though he played a gang-leader in 'Mere Apne' and the killer of his wife and her lover in 'Achanak', he was seen as a hero material and soon made a winning team with Amitabh Bachchan in films like 'Hera Pheri', 'Amar Akbar Anthony', 'Parvarish', 'Khoon Pasina' and 'Muqaddar ka Sikandar'. He might have even toppled Amitabh, the reigning King, but found himself straying towards the godman Bhagwan Rajneesh, in search of the answers he needed. Answers to a mind troubled by his mother's death. He deserted his work, films, wife , two sons and lifestyle, joining the band of Rajneesh-ites in an attempt to find peace of mind.

Yet, when he returned after a few years producers were ready with film offers and sacks of money. The second innings began with a hit, 'Insaaf' (1987), but though he did several films, his heart did not seem quite into it. He met and married Kavita Daftary from the eminent Daftry family and has a daughter by her.

In 1997, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and was nominated from Gurdaspur, East Punjab in the next year's Lok Sabha poll.

The star-factor helped him oust five time Lok Sabha member Sukhbans Kaur Bhinder. Bhinder's perceived inability to develop the area outweighed the "outsider" tag applied to Khanna. The latter became union minister for culture and tourism in July 2002.

Six months later he was moved to the more important ministry of external affairs (MEA) as minister of state.

He was the highest taxpayer in Mumbai in 1990-91. Presently, he continues to participate in the film business based out of Dubai.

ABOUT HIM SELF :

Date of Birth: 6 October 1946
Height: 6'1" or 1.85 m
City: Peshawar
Country: British India
Mother: Kamla Khanna
Father: Kisnanchand Khanna
Children: Sons Akshaye Khanna, Rahul Khanna, Sakshi Khanna, daughter Shraddha
Marital status: Married
Spouse: Kavita
Ex-spouse: Gitanjali
Education: St.Xaviers High School, Bombay; Delhi Public School; Lord Bannes High School, Devlali
Occupation: Bollywood actor/Film producer/Indian politician
Debut Film: Man Ka Meet

FILMOGRAPHY:

Pehchaan
Leela
Kranti
Deewaanapan
Dhaal: The Battle of Law Against Law
Himalay Putra
Muqadama
Janam Kundli
Hulchul
Pyaar Ka Rog
Eena Meena Deeka
Ekka Raja Rani
Kshatriya
Insaniyat Ke Devta
Parampara
Humshakal
Nishchaiy
Waqt Ka Badshah
Dharam Sankat
Farishtay
Khoon Ka Karz
C.I.D.
Lekin...
Maha-Sangram
Jurm
Masangram
Muqaddar Ka Badshaah
Pathar Ke Insan
Batwara
Chandni
Mahaadev
Suryaa: The Awakening
Ustad
Dayavan
Rihaee
Aakhri Adaalat
Faisla
Insaaf
Jallianwalla Bagh
Satyamev Jayate
Daulat Ke Dushman
Raj Mahal
Daulat
Insaan
Rajput
Taaqat
Ek Aur Ek Gyarah
Jail Yatra
Khuda Kasam
Kudrat
Qurbani
Zalim
Bombay 405 Miles
The Burning Train
Gharam Koon
Do Shikaari
Yuvraaj
Lahu Ke Do Rang
Meera
Sarkari Mehmaan
Muqaddar Ka Sikandar
Aakhri Daku
Daku Aur Jawan
Khoon Ka Badla Khoon
Khoon Ki Pukaar
Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki
Aap Ki Khatir
Adha Din Adhi Raat
Amar Akbar Anthony
Chor Sipahi
Hatyara
Inkaar
Khoon Pasina
Maha Badmaash
Parvarish
Hera Pheri
Lagaaam
Nehle Pe Dehla
Shankar Shambhu
Shaque
Zameer
Prem Kahani
Qaid
Sewak
Kunwara Baap
Chowkidar
Farebi
Haath Ki Safai
Imtihaan
Patthar Aur Payal
Achanak
Anokhi Ada
Dhamkee
Gaddar
Kuchhe Dhaage
Paanch Dushman
Pyaar Ka Rishta
Parichay
Do Yaar
Ek Bechara
Ek Hasina Do Diwane
Ek Khiladi Bawan Pattey
Sub Ka Saathi
Preetam
Dost Aur Dushman
Elaan
Hum Tum Aur Woh
Hungama
Jaane Anjane
Memsaab
Mera Gaon Mera Desh
Mere Apne
Rakhwala
Reshma Aur Shera
Aan Milo Sajna
Mastana
Purab Aur Pachhim
Sachaa Jhutha
Nateeja
Man Ka Meet