Vinod Khanna’s journey had a spiritual twist — Here’s what you didn’t know

At the height of his career in the early 1980s — when he was a top-billed actor alongside Amitabh Bachchan — Vinod Khanna shocked the industry by quitting films to join Osho Rajneesh’s ashram in the U.S. He worked as a gardener and cleaner, renounced worldly pleasures, and was even renamed Swami Vinod Bharti. For five years, he lived away from the spotlight in spiritual retreat.

Khanna’s spiritual departure created a rift in his personal life. His first wife, Geetanjali, was left to raise their two sons, Rahul and Akshaye, during his absence. His detachment caused years of emotional strain and estrangement, which he tried to mend later in life after returning to Mumbai and films.

Before his on-screen debut, Vinod Khanna worked behind the camera. He was hired as a production assistant on a film set, where he learned the workings of the industry. His good looks caught attention, and he soon transitioned into villain roles before emerging as a leading man.

Khanna didn’t debut as a romantic hero but as a villain. His breakout was in Purab Aur Paschim (1970) and Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971), where he played the antagonist. His intensity in negative roles helped him gain early recognition before he turned into a full-fledged hero with Achanak and Amar Akbar Anthony.

Vinod Khanna successfully transitioned to politics in the 1990s, becoming a four-time Member of Parliament (MP) from Gurdaspur, Punjab. He even served as Minister of State for External Affairs. Despite his glamorous past, he was respected for his dignity, discipline, and commitment in Parliament.