Celebrities and fans mourn a screen legend
BOLLYWOOD veteran Vinod Khanna’s death last Thursday has led to an outpouring of tributes from actors and fans on social media.
Khanna was hospitalised early last month at the Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre in Mumbai.
He suffered from dehydration, but was later diagnosed with bladder cancer.
The actor-turnedpolitician was born into a Punjabi family and graduated at the Sydenham College in Mumbai with a degree in commerce.
Soon after his graduation, Khanna made his debut in the 1968 Hindi movie Man Ka Meet.
The actor, whose career spanned five decades, starred in more than 100 films and won many awards, including two film-fare ones.
Khanna had also been involved in politics, having been elected many times in the Gurdaspur constituency in Punjab.
He was also one of the first Bollywood personalities to take up politics.
Amitabh Bachchan, a Bollywood legend, released a blog post which described the friendship between himself and Khanna.
He also dedicated a poem to him on Twitter.
Bachchan wrote: “His confident charm was infectious.
“There was always an optimistic swagger about him, a smile, a laugh, a casualness.”
He added: “No one walked the way he did. No one had the presence he had in a crowded room. No one could lighten up the surroundings he was in, like him. No one.”
Bachchan and Khanna worked together on many films, such as Muqaddar Ka Parvarish and Sikandar Hera Pheri.
Many leading Indian sports stars also took to social media to pay their respects to the 70-year-old actor.
India’s cricket team coach, Anil Kumble, tweeted: “A great artist #Vinodkhanna leaves us. He will be remembered as one of the finest actors in Bollywood.”
Virender Sehwag, former India opener, described him as charismatic.
He said: “Heartfelt condolences on the passing away of one of the most charismatic actors #Vinodkhanna ji. Om Shanti!”
Badminton player Jwala Gutta tweeted: “The most handsome dashing actor of his time!! RIP #Vinodkhanna. U will be missed.”