Vinod Khanna was extremely popular and successful as a lead actor in the seventies and the eighties. He is considered to be one of the most good looking actors in Bollywood. Khanna debuted in Sunil Dutt's 1968 film Man Ka Meet as a villain. At the start of his career, he played supporting and negative characters in hit films from 1968-1972 such as Purab Aur Paschim (1970), Sachaa Jhutha (1970) and Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971)Mastana, Elaan and Aan Milo Sajna.

Because of his charming personality, he became popular with the audience and soon got offers for lead roles. He is one of the few Bollywood actors who could successfully transition from negative roles to positive lead roles. It was films like Mere Apne, Hum Tum Aur Woh and Parchaiyaan, between 1971-72, which displayed that Vinod Khanna could play the main lead heroes role too. Mere Apne and Hum Tum Aur Woh were both superhits but Parchaiyaan was a box office flop.He got his first break as lead hero in the film Hum Tum Aur Woh (1971), a box-office hit which was followed by the 1971 film Mere Apne directed by Gulzar. It was the melodious R.D. composed Rafi-Asha “Sasoan Mein Kabhi” from the box office flop film Parchaiyaan in 1972, where his romantic skills got noticed among auidences. His performance as an army officer facing death row in another Gulzar scripted and directed 1973 film Achanak was critically acclaimed. The songless film echoed the true life story of K. M. Nanavati vs. State of Maharashtra and Khanna portrayed Kawas Nanavati, the real life Navy officer.[2]

From 1973-1982, Khanna starred in numerous successful solo and multi starrer movies. In films with ‘Rajesh Khanna’ as the lead hero, Vinod Khanna always had either the antagonist role or supporting role and not even the parallel lead. These film were Sachaa Jhutha Aan Milo Sajna, Prem Kahani, Kudrat and Rajput. All the five films were superhits. Vinod accepted his roles in Kudrat and Rajput even after he had become a successful solo lead hero himself just due to rappo he shared with Rajesh Khanna. Vinod Khanna had solo hero blockbusters in 1975-81 - Qaid in 1975 and Zalim in 1980 both opposite Leena Chandervarkar and Inkaar in 1977 opposite Vidya Sinha followed by Aap Ki Khatir, Khoon Ki Pukar, Yuvraaj, Gharam Koon, Lahu Ke Do Rang, Taaqat and Jail Yatra. The multi hero films, with him also playing the main lead hero, like Shankar Shambhu, Chor Sipahee and Ek Aur Ek Gyarah with Shashi Kapoor, Qurbani with Feroz Khan and Parvarish, Zameer, Hera Pheri, Khoon Pasina, Amar Akbar Anthony and Muqaddar Ka Sikandar with Amitabh and Haath Ki Safai, Aakhri Daku with Randhir Kapoor and with Sunil Dutt in Daku Aur Jawan were superhits at the box office. He continued to play supporting roles to stars like Rajesh Khanna and Sunil Dutt in period 1974-81, even after achieving star status in 1973, out of respect for them. He got to his credit, more solo hero films in period 1973-1981 and in 1989-1995.

In 1980, he starred in Feroz Khan's Qurbani (1980) which turned to be the biggest hit of the year. The movie's music and songs becoming a rage all over the world ushering in the "disco revolution" in India. Having peaked in Bollywood, he became a follower of the spiritual teacher Osho (Rajneesh) and abruptly quit the film industry by 1982 for five years.Though he had stopped acting in films in 1982, the films with him as the main lead released in 1982 like Raj Mahal, Taaqat and the multi star Rajput , where Vinod Khanna played supporting role to main lead heroes Rajesh Khanna and Dharmendra, were super hits at the box office but his other films like Insaan and Daulat were flops.

In 1987, he returned to Bollywood with his comeback movie Insaaf opposite Dimple Kapadia. The movie was a big hit and proved that the audience still accepted him as a lead actor. From 1987 to 1994, Khanna again worked as a hero in several solo and multi starrer movies. After he made comeback in 1987, his solo hero films released in 1987-88 like Satyamev Jayate , Insaaf , Mahaadev and Aakhri Adaalat were big hits. He was disappointed when his film Dayawan and Rihaee were box office flops but these two films were critically acclaimed.His first romantic role after his comeback in 1987 was in Jurm and Chandni. He was mostly being offered roles in action films from 1987.He got to his credit, more solo hero films in period 1973-1981 and in 1989-1995 period. In 90’s his solo hits include Muqaddar Ka Badshaah, C.I.D., Jurm, Humshakal (1992) and the multi hero films of Vinod Khanna to be successful in period from 1989-1995 include Farishtay, Khoon Ka Karz, Police Aur Mujrim, Kshatriya, Ekka Raja Rani and Eena Meena Deeka.

 

In 1997 he donned the role of producer to launch his second son Akshaye Khanna in the film Himalay Putra; he also starred in the film. In 1999 he received a Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the film industry for over three decades. He has since acted in fewer films playing character roles. His most recent films were Deewaanapan (2002), , Red Alert: The War Within, Wanted (2009) and Dabangg (2010).His performance as lead protagonist was critically acclaimed in films like Pehchaan: The Face of Truth (2005), Godfather: The Legend Continues (2007), Risk (2007).

Vinod Khanna did 55 solo hero films of which 27 were hits and did 48 multi-star cast films of which 31 were box-office success. He was in lead role in 103 films from Hum um Aur Woh in 1971 to Godfather: The Legend Continues in 2007.He played supporting roles in 35 films from Manmeet in 1968 to Ramaiya Vastavaiya in 2013. In period 1974-1982 Vinod Khanna was paid more than Jeetendra in the film Insaan and more than Amitabh Bachchan in 4 films like Parvarish, Hera Pheri, Khoon Pasina, Amar Akbar Anthony.In post 1987 period, Vinod Khanna was paid more than Rishi Kapoor, Govinda, Sanjay Dutt, Rajnikanth, Salman Khan in the films he did with them from 1987-1995. Only in the films he co-starred with Shashi Kapoor, Rajesh Khanna, Sunil Dutt and Randhir Kapoor in period 1968-1982, Vinod was paid lesser than them.

He also ventured into television playing the male lead role of "Kashinath" in the Smriti Irani-produced Hindi serial Mere Apne, which aired on the channel 9X.

 

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