Actor-politician Vinod Khanna passes away

Mumbai: Veteran actor-politician Vinod Khanna, who was suffering from cancer, has passed away. He was 70.

A Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Gurdaspur district of Punjab, Vinod, was admitted to Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre in Girgaon, Mumbai on March 31 this year. A shocking photo of the ailing actor during his treatment in the hospital had gone viral on social media recently. The photograph in question was extremely shocking because none had seen him in such a condition. His family wanted people to respect their privacy. 

Khanna began his acting career by essaying negative characters. Eventually he went on to play the lead role in films. He featured in some of the biggest Bollywood hits like 'Mere Apne', 'Insaaf', 'Parvarish', 'Muqaddar Ka Siqandar', 'Qurbani', 'Dayavaan', 'Mera Gaon Mera Desh', 'Chandni', 'The Burning Train' and 'Amar Akbar Anthony' among many others.

Khanna was first elected from Gurdaspur in 1998. He was re-elected in the 1999 and 2004 general elections. He lost narrowly in 2009 to Pratap Singh Bajwa (Congress).

He avenged his defeat in 2014 by winning from Gurdaspur for the fourth time.

A Punjabi born in Peshawar (now in Pakistan), Khanna remained popular in the constituency despite accusations that he remained absent from the area most of the time.

He is survived by sons - Akshaye, Rahul, Sakshi, daughter Shraddha and wife Kavita.

His last rites will be performed at the Banganga crematorium at 4.30 pm today.

(With IANS inputs)