By Sanjeev Kumar Patro
Bhubaneswar: Dashing looks, stunning and expressive eyes, built like a tank, winsome smile and charismatic above all, Vinod Khanna ruled the Hindi Cinemadom with Amitabh Bachchan from 1976 to 1981.
The 'Amar' of AAK (Amar Akbar Anthony) had a hallow that never glows dull, even when Amitabh Bachchan was opposite him. Rather, the tall and debonair actor outshined Amitabh Bachchan at the hustings – be it Amar Akbar Anthony or Parvaarish. The great actor was born on October 6, 1946.
VINOD KHANNA OUTSHINES AMITABH BACHCHAN
VK’s immortality epitaph is evident in the scene when grabbing Amitabh Bachchan by collar and delivering a lightning slap on Big B cheeks, smilingly, and in a tone of composure said “Oh Tu Yahan Ka Dada hai... The scene attained a cult frame in bollywood. No director or producers were willing to picturise Amitabh Bachchan thrashed by another actor on screen. Doing so meant taking risk of flopping at the Box office counters.
But the late showman of Bollywood Manmohan Desai did the scene, and the big thing had been that masses lapped it up with glee. Such is the persona of Vinod Khanna. Even in Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, none would have dared Amitabh Bachchan to die at last, had Vinod Khanna been not the other lead star.
Be it Prakash Mehra’s Hera Pheri or Manmohan Desai’s Parvaarish, Vinod Khanna outshone Amitabh Bachchan in many scenes. Acting comes naturally to Vinod Khanna. He was not a trained actor. Acting has been his instinct.
An actor with god-gifted talent, cinema action was not Vinod Khanna’s first love. Rather, young Vinod Khanna aspires to be cricket player.
CRICKET – VINOD KHANNA’S FIRST LOVE
In an interview to the Illustrated Weekly Of India in 1979, when his stardom was at its peak, the gifted actor had said, “There was a time when I played fair cricket with (Test player) Budhi Kunderan.. but settled for films the moment I realised I couldn't be a Vishwanath! Even so, cricket, not films, is my first love."
Budhi Kunderan was an explosive Test batsman for India. A right hand batsman cum wicketkeeper, Kunderan played 18 test matches scoring 981 runs with two centuries and 3 fifties. His memorable innings was 192 against England at Chepauk in Chennai.
The VK declaration is crystal clear. He wanted to become a wristy batsman like Gundappa Vishwanath, whose square cuts/late cuts those days had no answer.
As Cricket has been his first love, he idolizes Gundappa Vishwanath, top orderIndian batsman, who was being seen as a true artist with his willow, and he also happened to be the brother-in-law of Sunil Gavaskar. This legendary batsman and idol of Vinod Khanna played 91 tests scoring 6080 runs with 14 centuries and 35 fifties.
VINOD KHANNA SUPERSTARDOM
The handsome actor rocked the dizzying heights in bollywood. Ironically, he was once rejected by Bollywood kingmakers as one with 100 per cent handsomeness but 0 percent acting skills. Undeterred by the biggies’ assessment, VK remained firm on his vision and went on to become the highest-paid star of Bollywood in the late 70s and early 80's.
Vinod Khanna bagged his first leading role in Gulzar's maiden directional venture Mere Apne in year 1971, though he debuted in B-town in 1968 in a supporting role. The film received positive response from critics and it went on to become a hit.
In the same year, the actor delivered his first blockbuster in Raj Khosla's action drama Mera Gaon Mera Desh, opposite Dharmendra and Asha Parekh. The film is remembered in bollywood as mother of the all time hit movie Sholay.
Mera Gaon Mera Desh changed the course of Hindi film industry to make a shift to action from romantic films. The film was an All Time Blockbuster at the box office, and Vinod Khanna received rich laurels for menacing portrayal of a treacherous bandit.
The star hit headlines with big success in the highly acclaimed crime drama of Gulzar's Achanak in 1973, based on true story of the K. M. Nanavati v. State of Maharashtra case. The portrayal of Navy commander KM Nanavati with finesse, VK proved his mettle in the B-town.
The huge box office success of Haath Ki Safai in1974 and which was followed by three more successful films, Imtihan and Patthar Aur Payal, the same year and Qaid the next year, propelled Vinod Khanna to the big leagues, when Amitabh Bachchan was still a star in making, after Zanzeer hit show.
When Amitabh Bachchan achieved superstardom in 1977, Vinod Khanna was on par with Big B. In 1981, Vinod Khanna’s Qurbani was the highest grossing movie of that year, when Amitabh Bachchan had a string of big releases like Lawaris, Silsila, Kaalia, Satte Pe Satta, Bemisaal and Desh Premee.
