Narendra Singh Negi (Hindi: नरेन्द्र सिंह नेगी) is one of the most prominent folk singers of the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. In Uttarkhand it is a famous saying that if you want to know about Uttarakhnd, its people, society, life, culture, traditions and politics then either refer to books of scholars or listen to the songs of Nrendra Singh Negi. An institution by himself Shri Negi is amongst the most popular artists of Uttarakhand. He is not a mere entertainer but he is an artist, a singer, a composer and a poet, who is sensitive to his surroundings.

Background[link]

Born on 12 August 1949 in Pauri Village in Pauri Garhwal District (Uttarakhand) ~~ पौड़ी जिले का पौड़ी गाँव (उत्तराखंड), Negi Ji started his career from Pauri and now he has performed almost in all the major countries of the world. This renowned singer of Garhwal (Uttarakhand) believes in quality rather than quantity and that's the reason why people like his song very much. With time lots of singers got introduced to Garhwali Music Industry but despite of these new voices, his voice is still being heard by entire Uttarakhand with same respect and affection.The main cynosure of Negi's song is his lyrics and intense emotional for Uttarakhand and people of Uttarakhand.He has covered all the sorrows , cheerfulness and aspect of Uttrakhandi peoples life only through his lyrics and voice.He has sung all kind of Uttarakhndi Lok Gheets(Folk Song) without altering the emotion and dignity of those folk song. He is one of the most popular singer among inhabitants as well as non residents, the Folk Genome Tank of Uttarakhand has got many of his hit songs in their collection with number of followers pertaining individual songs.^[1]

Family[link]

He has a family of four members with two kids Ritu and Kavilas. Ritu, his daughter is working in one of the MNC in Delhi whereas his son Kavilas has successfully completed the MBA course. Like Negi Ji, his wife Usha Negi is also serving Uttarakhand through her delicious Garhwali/Uttarakhandi Dishes that she promotes in various occasions and platforms. For this she also got recognized in Himalayan Estate Food Festival held in Palampur (Himachal Pradesh). Negi Ji served as a District Information Officer in Information and Public Relation Department till July 2005. Right now he is concentrating on his family and on his upcoming songs..

Music career[link]

Negi Ji started his music career by releasing "Garhwali Geetmala". These Garhwali Geetmalas came in 10 different parts. As these Garhwali Geetmalas were from different companies he was finding it difficult to manage them. So he finally switched into releasing his cassettes by giving them separate titles. His first album came with the title called "Buraans". Buraans is a well-known flower found on hills.

This renowned singer from Garhwal has sung more than 1000 songs till now. He has been awarded in various occasions from public round the world. Long time back Akashwaani, Lucknow recognized and awarded him as the most popular folk singer among 10 other artists. This was based on the number of mails that they received for "Farmayashi Geet" (Songs on Demand).

Till now Negi ji has performed in various countries like USA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Muscat, Oman, Bahrain and U.A.E. etc. Garhwali & Kumauni Societies, which are run by Garhwali-Kumauni NRIs regularly calls him to perform abroad. Garhwali-Kumauni families living abroad and in India enjoy his songs very much. "It is their love that still I am continuing with my singing", says Negi ji.He only believe in reality of the Uttarakhand's culture,that is why his all the songs are reality based and that is why negiji is so close to the people of Uttarakhand.Being a garhwali singer he is also most populer singer of kumaoni people,all kumaoni people don't understand garhwali but they all like and injoy negiji's songs.

He likes the work of Gulzar sahab. "His work, old or new has a deep meaning". Besides singing Negi Ji is also into writing. Till now his 3 books have published. His first book "Khuch Kandi" (meaning cane bucket used to carry Arsa and Roat) got published in 1992. His second book "Gaadiyoun Ki Ganga, Saniyoun Ka Samudar" (meaning Ganges of imagination and sea of lust) got published in 2000. His third book "Muth Boti Ki Rakh" (meaning tighten your palm and hands and be ready) got published by Shekhar Pathak. This book has got the collection of all his "aandolan" songs. His fourth book will shortly be available in the market.

In years past, he has also sung sad elegies to Tehri town, recently inundated by the Tehri dam, as well as fiery protest songs during the Uttarakhand separate state movement.

In 2007, the Calcutta-based Telegraph^[2] called him the "Dylan of the Hills" for his 2006 protest song, Nauchami Narain, against the then Chief Minister ND Tiwari and the entire political class of Uttarakhand.

Tribune News Service, Haridwar, November posted that Negi has a smooth, sweet voice that transcends barriers of language. His songs in the nineties during the Uttarakhand state movement inspired the hill folk to stand up and fight for the cause of a separate state.

Music releases[link]

• Ab kathga khelyo
• Ankhi supnyali whe geni
• Aijadi bhagyani
• Beti bwari
• Burans
• chakrachal
• Chali be motor chali
• Cham ghungru
• Chibraat
• Chuyaal
• Dagdya
• Ghasyari
• Haldi haath
• Hosiya umar
• Jai dhari devi
• Kai the khojyani holi
• Khud
• Maya ko mundaro
• Nauchammi narena
• Nayu nayu byo cha
• Rumuk
• Salyaan Syali
• Samdola ka dwi din
• Syani
• Thando re thando
• Tu holi beera
• Tumari maya ma
• Utha jaga uttrakhand

See also[link]

• Garhwal division
• Garhwali language
• Garhwali people
• Kumauni People
• Kumaon Division
• Kumaoni

Sandhya

References[link]

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (September 2008)

Meena Rana is one of the folk singer of Uttarakhand, who can be heard on many Garhwali and Kumaoni music albums.^[1]

Early Life

Her schooling was done from Bathla Memorial Girls Senior Secondary School, Rajpur Road, Delhi till 9th standard and then from Girls Inter College (GIC) Mussoorie.

After getting married to Sh. Sanjay Kumola they settled in Delhi. Her husband is a Music Director by profession and runs a music studio Surabhi Multi Track Sound Studio named after their daughter.

She has an elder sister Uma who ismarried to Sh. Ram Lal ji and stay in Mussoorie, and a brother Mohan.

She started singing at a very early age when she a student. She got her first chance to perform in Akashwani Club. Mukesh Lal Kumola, was the president of that club.

During her early time she was not so fluent in Garhwali(dialect) so she performed a Hindi song 'Naino Mein Badra Chhaye'. That went so good that for this I got so much appreciation from the people and media.

Mani Bharti and Puran Singh Rawat took note of her and after a few days they contacted Sh. Ram Lal and asked him if he can allow me to sing for them. Everything got sought after his permission and so she came to Delhi for her first recording. It was her first break for the movie 'Nauni Pichadi Nauni'. She was in class 10th that time.

In the year 1993 she got her first break after which initially she sang for many albums with her elder sister Uma Rana. She got so many chances and sometimes got rejected too, reason being, voice was not so matured at that time.

In the year 1996 Pritam Bartwan gave her a chance to sing in one of his album. Then Narendra Negi gave her chance to sing with him. As of now now she has performed with almost all the renowned singers of Uttarakhand like Narendra Singh Negi, Pritam Bharatwan, Fauji Lalit Mohan Joshi, Gajendra Rana, Anil Bisht and other famous Uttaranchali singers. Her own releases include "Raajuli" and "Saruli".She is the most active female singer in Uttrakhand in this time. She can be seen almost every Uttrakhandi Songs Album as a female singer.

Accordind to an interview in 2010, given by her, she has sang more than 11,000 songs for 2,000 albums or more in languages like Garhwali, Kumaoni, Jaunsari, Jaunpuri, Bhojpuri, Rajasthani, Kargali, Balti and in Hindi. It also includes more than 500 songs which she have sang in Ladhaki.

References[link]

This article about an Indian singer is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

http://www.aboututtarakhand.com/Talents/Singers/Exclusive-Interview-With-Meena-Rana.html

Sardar Ali Takkar (Pashto: سردار علي ټکر, born 15 July 1956) is a Pashto music singer, who is mostly famous for singing the revolutionary poetry of Ghani Khan. A mechanical engineer by profession, Takkar is a graduate of the University of Engineering and Technology in Peshawar, Pakistan. In recognition of his services to the field of music, the President of Pakistan had bestowed upon him the Pride of Performance Award.

Education[link]

Takkar was born in 1956 at Takkar village (Takht Bhai) in Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He passed his matric examination from his village school. He did his intermediate from Government College Mardan. He completed his graduation in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar. Aside from this he has also attended special courses in U.K and Canada.

Early Singing Career[link]

His university life provided him more chances to exhibit his hidden talent. Initially he presented his skills before his friends, in different musical programmes in the University. But in 1982 when Yar Muhammad Maghmum, a professor at the historic Edwardes College Peshawar, wanted to celebrate an evening with the legendary philosopher and poet Ghani Khan, but was unable to find a singer who was ready to meet the challenge of putting Ghani's poetry to music. When Takkar became aware of this, he agreed to sing in that programme. Some people also recorded this programme on audio cassette, which got so much prominence that music stores started selling it on a regular basis. In this way, his debut album (solely based on Ghani khan's poetry) touched the market incidentally.

Pakistan Television[link]

It was in those days when a program for youths named "Zalmey Kool" (Young Generation) used to broadcast from the Radio Pakistan. Takkar for the first time not only played different instruments but also sang two ghazals in that program. After that, he also had the opportunity to record a program at the Peshawar Center of Pakistan Television Vision (PTV).

Soviet War in Afghanistan[link]

In 1984, Takkar left for Afghanistan. His stay in Afghanistan helped him become able to sing the poetry of those poets who were banned in Pakistan and his singing from Afghanistan also brought him prominence back at home. In recognition of his unforgettable services to Pashto music, the government of Pakistan awarded him with the Pride of Performance. He is also a recipient of numerous awards and certificates from a number of cultural organizations.

References[link]

• A Profile of Sardar Ali Takkar

Sardar Ali Takkar Songs (pukhtosongs.com)

Meena Kumari (1 August 1932 – 31 March 1972), born Mahjabeen Bano, was an Indian movie actress and poetess. She is regarded as one of the most prominent actresses to have appeared on the screens of Hindi Cinema. During a career spanning 30 years from her childhood to her death, she starred in more than ninety films, many of which have achieved classic and cult status today.

Kumari gained a reputation for playing grief-stricken and tragic roles, and her performances have been praised and reminisced throughout the years. Like one of her best-known roles, Chhoti Bahu, in Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962), Kumari became addicted to alcohol. Her life and prosperous career were marred by heavy drinking, troubled relationships, an ensuing deteriorating health, and her death from liver cirrhosis in 1972.

Kumari is often cited by media and literary sources as "The Tragedy Queen", both for her frequent portrayal of sorrowful and dramatic roles in her films and her real-life story.^[1][2]

Early life[link]

Meena Kumari was the third daughter of Ali Baksh and Iqbal Begum; Khursheed and Madhu were her two elder sisters. At the time of her birth, her parents were unable to pay the fees of Dr. Gadre, who had delivered her, so her father left her at a Muslim orphanage, however, he picked her up after a few hours.

Her father, a Shia Muslim, was a veteran of Parsi theater, played harmonium, taught music, and wrote Urdu poetry. He played small roles in films like Id Ka Chand and composed music for films like Shahi Lutere.

Her mother was the second wife of Ali Baksh. Before meeting and then marrying Ali Baksh, she was a stage actress and dancer, under the stage name, Kamini.

Career[link]

Early work[link]

When Mahjabeen was born, Ali Bakhsh aspired to get roles as an actor in Rooptara Studios. At the urging of his wife, he got Mahjabeen too into movies despite her protestations of wanting to go to school. Young Mahjabeen is said to have said, "I do not want to work in movies; I want to go to school, and learn like other children."

As Mahjabeen embarked on her acting career at the age of 7, she was renamed Baby Meena. Farzand-e-Watan or Leatherface (1939) was her first movie, which was directed for Prakash Studios by Vijay Bhatt. She became practically the sole breadwinner of her family during the 1940s. Her early adult acting, under the name Meena Kumari, was mainly in mythological movies like Veer Ghatotkach (1949), Shri Ganesh Mahima (1950), and fantasy movies like Alladin and The Wonderful Lamp (1952).

Breakthrough[link]

Meena Kumari gained fame with her role as a heroine in Vijay Bhatt's Baiju Bawra (1952). This heroine always negated herself for the material and spiritual advancement of the man she loved and was even willing to annihilate herself to provide him the experience of pain so that his music would be enriched. She became the first actress to win the Filmfare Best Actress Award in 1953 for this performance.

Meena Kumari highly successfully played the roles of a suffering woman in Parineeta (1953), Daera (1953), Ek Hi Raasta (1956), Sharda (1957), and Dil Apna Aur Preet Parayi (1960). Though she cultivated the image of a tragedienne, she also performed commendably in a few light-hearted movies like Azaad (1955), Miss Mary (1957), Shararat (1959), and Kohinoor (1960).

One of her best-known roles was in Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962), which was produced by Guru Dutt. Kumari played Chhoti Bahu, an alcoholic wife. The film was a major critical and commercial success, which was attributed by critics to Kumari's performance, which is regarded as one of the best performances of Hindi Cinema.^[3] The role was famous for its uncanny similarity to Meena Kumari's own life. At that time, she herself was on a road to gradual ruin in her own personal life. Like her character, she began to drink heavily, though she carried on. In 1962, she made history by getting all the three nominations for Filmfare Best Actress Award, for her roles in Aarti, Main Chup Rahungi, and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam. She won the award for Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam. Upperstall.com wrote about her performance,

"While each of the performances are spot on, if there is one person who is the heart and soul of the film, it is Meena Kumari. Her portrayal of Chhoti Bahu is perhaps the greatest performance ever seen on the Indian Screen. The sequence where Chhoti Bahu dresses for her husband singing Piya Aiso Jiya Main is a poignant exploration of a woman's expectations and sexual desire. And later on when she has become a desperate alcoholic, you cannot help but cry with her in the sequence where she pleads with her husband to stay with her and then angrily turns on him to tell him how she has prostituted her basic values and morals to please him. However the common factors between the actress's life and Chhoti Bahu are too dramatic to be merely coincidental - The estranged marital relationship, the taking of alcohol, turning towards younger male company, the craving to be understood and loved - all elements evident in Meena Kumari's own life."^[4]

Later work[link]

For four more years, Kumari performed successfully in Dil Ek Mandir (1963), Kaajal (1965), and Phool Aur Patthar (1966), all of which earned her Filmfare nominations, with Kaajal garnering her a fourth and last win of the Best Actress award. However, after divorcing her husband in 1964, her addiction to alcohol became stronger, and she often dulled her senses with liquor. She also relied more and more on intimate relationships with younger men like Dharmendra. Her subsequent releases, including Chandan Ka Palna and Majhli Didi did not do well.^[1]

Kumari's heavy drinking had badly damaged her liver, and in 1968 she fell seriously ill.^[1][5] She was taken to London and Switzerland for treatment. Back home, she started settling her debts and made peace with her estranged sister, Madhu, whom she had not spoken to for two years.^[5] Because of her heavy drinking, she increasingly lost her good looks, and when she returned, she began playing character roles in movies like Jawab (1970) and Dushmun (1972).^[1]

She developed an attachment to writer-lyricist Gulzar and acted in his directorial debut Mere Apne (1971). Kumari presented an acclaimed portrayal of an elderly woman who got caught between two street gangs of frustrated, unemployed youth and got killed, her death making the youth realise the futility of violence.

Pakeezah, starring Kumari and directed by her ex-husband Kamal Amrohi, took 14 years to reach the silver screen. First planned by Amrohi in 1958, the film went on the studio floors in 1964, but the shooting came to a standstill after their separation in March 1964, when it was more than halfway complete.^[5] In 1969, Sunil Dutt and Nargis previewed some reels of the shelved film and convinced the estranged Amrohi and Kumari to complete it.^[1] Hindustan Times described the meeting which Dutt had organised between the two:

"Not much was said, but streams of tears were shed... Amrohi greeted her with a token payment of a gold guinea and the promise that he’d make her look as beautiful as the day she had started the film."^[5]

Gravelly ill, Kumari was determined to complete the film and, well aware of the limited time left for her to live, went out of her way to complete it at the earliest. Despite her rapidly deteriorating health, she gave the finishing touches to her performance. Initially, after its release in February 1972, Pakeezah opened to a lukewarm response from the public; however, after Meena Kumari's death less than two months later, people flocked to see it, making it a major box-office success. The film has since gained a cult and classic status, and Kumari's performance as a golden-hearted Lucknow prostitute drew major praise. She posthumously received her twelfth and last Filmfare nomination.

Throughout her life, Kumari had a love-hate relationship with movies, and besides being a top-notch actress, she was a talented poetess, and recorded a disc of her Urdu poems, I write, I recite with music by Khayyam.

Death[link]

Three weeks after the release of Pakeezah, Meena Kumari became seriously ill, and died on 31 March 1972 of liver cirrhosis. At her death, she was in more or less the same financial circumstance as her parents at the time of her birth: It is said that when she died in a nursing home, there was no money to pay her hospital bills. She was buried at Rahematabad Qabristan located at Narialwadi, Mazgaon, Mumbai.

Relationship with Kamal Amrohi[link]

In 1952, on the sets of one of her films, Meena Kumari fell in love with and married film director, Kamal Amrohi, who was fifteen years elder than her and was already married. She wrote about Amrohi:

"Dil saa jab saathi paya
Bechaini bhi woh saath le aaya"

(When I found someone like my heart
He also brought sorrow with him)

Soon after marriage, Kamal Amrohi and Meena Kumari produced a film called Daera (1953), which was based on their love story. They also planned another film, Pakeezah. However, it took sixteen years (1956 to 1972) before Pakeezah reached the silver screen. (The scenes in Pakeezah's popular song, Inhi logon ne, were originally filmed in black and white, and were later reshot in color.)

It is said that Amrohi did not want children with Meena Kumari because she was not a Syed. They raised Kamal Amrohi's son, Tajdaar, who was greatly attached to his chhoti ammi (younger mother).

Due to their strong personalities, however, Meena Kumari and Kamal Amrohi started to develop conflicts, both professionally and in their married life. Their conflicts led to separation in 1960, and ultimately divorce in 1964. Highly affected Meena Kumari, who, once a happy woman, became depressed and found solace in heavy drinking. They remarried, but Meena Kumari had become an alcoholic by then.

She expressed her sorrows prominently in her poetry. About Kamal Amrohi she wrote:

"Tum kya karo ge sun kar mujh se meri kahani
Bay lutf zindagi ke qissay hain pheekay pheekay"

(Why do you want to listen to my story:
Colourless tales of a joyless life)

At the time of the divorce, she wrote:

"Talaaq to day rahay ho Nazar-e-qehar ke saath
Jawani bhi meri lauta do Mehar ke saath"

(You are divorcing me with rage in your eyes
Return to me, also, my youth along with the alimony!)

Filmography[link]

• Gomti Ke Kinare (1972) .... Ganga
• Pakeezah (1972) .... Nargis/Sahibjaan
• Dushmun (1971) .... Malti R. Din
• Mere Apne (1971) .... Anandi Devi/Auaji (Aunt)
• Jawab (1970) .... Vidya
• Saat Phere (1970)
• Abhilasha (1968) .... Mrs. Meena Singh
• Baharon Ki Manzil (1968) .... Nanda S. Roy/Radha Shukla
• Bahu Begum (1967) .... Zeenat Jahan Begum
• Chandan Ka Palna (1967) .... Shobha Rai
• Majhli Didi (1967) .... Hemangini 'Hema'
• Noorjehan (1967)
• Phool Aur Patthar (1966) .... Shanti Devi
• Pinjre Ke Panchhi (1966) .... Heena Sharma
• Bheegi Raat (1965)
• Jadui Angoothi (1965)
• Kaajal (1965) .... Madhavi
• Purnima (1965) .... Purnima V. Lal
• Maain Bhi Ladki Hun (1964) .... Rajni
• Benazir (1964) .... Benazir
• Chitralekha (1964) .... Chitralekha
• Gazal (1964) .... Naaz Ara Begum
• Sanjh Aur Savera (1964) .... Gauri
• Akeli Mat Jaiyo (1963) Seema
• Dil Ek Mandir (1963) .... Sita
• Kinare Kinare (1963)
• Aarti (film) (1962) .... Aarti Gupta
• Main Chup Rahungi (1962) .... Gayetri
• Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962) .... Chhoti Bahu
• Bhabhi Ki Chudiyan (1961) .... Geeta, Shyam's wife
• Pyaar Ka Saagar (1961) .... Radha/Rani B. Gupta
• Zindagi Aur Khwab (1961) .... Shanti
• Bahaana (1960)
• Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai (1960) .... Karuna
• Kohinoor (1960)
• Ardhangini (1959) .... Chhaya
• Chand (1959)
• Char Dil Char Raahein (1959) .... Chavli
• Chirag Kahan Roshni Kahan (1959) .... Ratna
• Jagir (1959)
• Madhu (1959)
• Satta Bazaar (1959) .... Jamuna
• Shararat (1959)
• Farishta (1958)
• Sahara (1958) .... Leela
• Savera (1958)
• Yahudi (1958) .... Hannah
• Miss Mary (1957) .... Miss Mary/Laxmi
• Sharada (1957) .... Sharada Ram Sharan
• Bandhan (1956)
• Ek-Hi-Rasta (1956) .... Malti
• Halaku (1956) .... Niloufer Nadir
• Mem Sahib (1956) .... Meena
• Naya Andaz (1956)
• Shatranj (1956)
• Adl-E-Jahangir (1955)
• Azaad (1955) .... Shobha
• Bandish (1955) .... Usha Sen
• Rukhsana (1955)
• Baadbaan (1954)
• Chandni Chowk (1954) .... Zarina
• Ilzam (1954)
• Daera (1953) .... Sheetal
• Dana Paani (1953)
• Do Bigha Zamin (1953) .... Thakurain
• Foot Path (1953) .... Mala
• Naulakha Haar (1953) .... Bijma
• Parineeta (1953) .... Lalita
• Aladdin Aur Jadui Chirag (1952)
• Baiju Bawra (1952) .... Gauri
• Tamasha (1952) .... Kiran
• Hanumaan Pataal Vijay (1951)
• Lakshmi Narayan (1951)
• Madhosh (1951) .... Soni
• Sanam (1951)
• Anmol Ratan (1950)
• Hamara Ghar (1950)
• Magroor (1950)
• Shri Ganesh Mahima (1950)
• Veer Ghatotkach (1949) .... Surekha
• Bichchade Balam (1948)
• Piya Ghar Aaja (1947)
• Bachchon Ka Khel (1946)
• Duniya Ek Sarai (1946)
• Lal Haveli (1944)
• Pratiggya (1943)
• Garib (1942)
• Bahen (1941) (as Baby Meena) .... Bina
• Kasauti (1941)
• Nai Roshni (1941)
• Ek Hi Bhool (1940)
• Pooja (1940)
• Leatherface (1939)

Filmfare Awards[link]

• Filmfare Best Actress Award – Won
  1953 Parineeta – Lalita
  1954 Baiju Bawra – Gauri
  1963 Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam – Chhoti Bahu
  1966 Kaajal – Madhavi
  

• Filmfare Best Actress Award – Nominated
  1956 Azaad – Shobha
  1959 Sahara – Leela
  1960 Chirag Kahan Roshni Kahan – Ratna
  1963 Aarti – Aarti Gupta
  1963 Main Chup Rahungi – Gayetri
  1964 Dil Ek Mandir – Sita
  1967 Phool Aur Patthar – Shanti Devi
  1973 Pakeezah – Nargis / Sahibjaan (posthumous nomination)^[6]
  

Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards[link]

Meena Kumari has won several awards at the Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards (BFJA)

• 1963 Best Actress (Hindi): Aarti
• 1965 Best Actress (Hindi): Dil Ek Mandir
• Special Award: Pakeezah^[7]

Biography[link]

One of the first biographies of Meena Kumari was written just after her death by Vinod Mehta in the year 1972. It was simply titled Meena Kumari.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Meena Kumari at the Internet Movie Database
• Meena Kumari at Manas: Culture of India
• Collection of verses by Meena Kumari

Vinod Khanna
Born	(1946-10-06) 6 October 1946 (age 65).[1] Peshawar, Pakistan
Occupation	Actor, Politician
Spouse	Geetanjali (1971–1985 divorced) Kavita (1990–present)
Children	3 sons and 1 daughter

Vinod Khanna (Hindi: विनोद खन्ना, Punjabi: ਵਿਨੋਦ ਖੰਨਾ born 6 October 1946) is an Indian actor, film producer and politician.

Early life[link]

Khanna was born in Peshawar to Kamla and Kishanchand Khanna, a textiles, dyes and chemicals businessman on 6 October 1946, in Peshawar, British India (now in Pakistan).^{[citation needed]} He has three sisters and one brother. Shortly after his birth, India was partitioned and the family left Peshawar and reached Mumbai (then Bombay).^{[citation needed]}

At Mumbai, he attended Queen Mary School, Bombay (Mumbai) until class II and then transferred to St. Xavier's High School, Fort. In 1957, the family again moved to Delhi where he attended Delhi Public School, Mathura Road. Although the family moved back to Mumbai in 1960, he was sent to Barnes School in Deolali, near Nashik. It was during his time at the boarding school that he watched the epic Mughal-e-Azam and fell in love with motion pictures. He graduated with a commerce degree from Sydenham College.^[1]

Career[link]

Vinod Khanna debuted in Sunil Dutt's 1968 film Man Ka Meet as a villain.^[2] He acted in multi-starrer films often playing supporting and negative roles in hit films such as Purab Aur Paschim (1970), Sachaa Jhutha (1970) and Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971).^[2] His big break was in the 1971 film Mere Apne directed by Gulzar. 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]

He went on to star in many hits throughout the mid 1970s and early 1980s, including "Inkaar", "Aap Ki Khatir", "Aarop", Parvarish (1977), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Khoon Pasina (1977), " Herapheri", Muqaddar Ka Sikander (1978), "((Zameer")), The Burning Train (1980) and Qurbani (1980). Having peaked in Bollywood, he became a follower of the spiritual teacher Osho (Rajneesh) and left the film industry in 1979 for eight years. At this time, he was one of the most successful actors in the Bollywood, competing with Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna (Kudrat), (Aan Milo Sajna) & Jeetendra. He rejoined the industry, eight years later in mid 1980s. He continued to appear in many notable films from the mid 1980s to the 1990s such as Dayavan (1988), Chandni (1989), Kshatriya (1993), Eena Meena Deeka (1994) and Ekka Raja Rani (1994).^[2]

His pairing with Amitabh Bachchan was both critically acclaimed and commercially successful.

In 1997 he donned the role of producer to launch his middle 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), Risk (2007), Wanted (2009) and Dabangg (2010).

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

Politics[link]

In 1997, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and was elected from Gurdaspur constituency in Punjab in the next year's Lok Sabha poll. In 1999, he was re-elected to the Lok Sabha from the same constituency. Later, he became union minister for culture and tourism in July 2002. Six months later, he was moved to the more important ministry of external affairs (MEA) as minister of state. In 2004 he won re-election from Gurdaspur. However, he lost out in the 2009 Lok Sabha poll.

Personal life[link]

Khanna married Geetanjali in 1971, and has two sons with her, Rahul Khanna and Akshaye Khanna; both are Hindi film actors. In 1975, Khanna became a disciple of Osho (Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh).^[1] In the early 1980s, he moved to Rajneeshpuram, Osho's commune in the United States, for four years, cleaning dishes and working as Osho's gardener.^[1] His absence from his family, who remained behind in India, caused friction between the couple, and the marriage ended in divorce.^[1]

In 1990, he married his second wife, Kavita.^[1] They have a son, Sakshi, and a daughter Shraddha.^[1]

Awards and nominations[link]

• 1975 – Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Haath Ki Safai
• 1977 – Filmfare Nomination as Best Supporting Actor for Hera Pheri
• 1978 – Filmfare Nomination as Best Actor for Shaque
• 1979 – Filmfare Nomination as Best Supporting Actor for Muqaddar Ka Sikander
• 1981 – Filmfare Nomination as Best Actor for Qurbani
• 1999 – Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2001 - Kalakar Awards Lifetime Achievement^{[citation needed]}
• 2005 – Stardust Awards - Role Model for the Year ^[3]
• 2007 – Zee Cine Award for Lifetime Achievement

Filmography[link]