TLDR: On his 78th birth anniversary, Vinod Khanna recalled how he was the only true competitor to Amitabh Bachchan during Bollywood's golden era! Despite media-created rivalry, Khanna emphasized that they were friends and colleagues, sharing iconic roles in blockbusters like Amar Akbar Anthony and Hera Pheri. While he stepped away from films to follow spirituality, Khanna acknowledged games were being played in Bollywood to favor certain camps, but he was never ambitious enough to care. 🎥✨
On Vinod Khanna’s 78th birth anniversary, his past rivalry with Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan is being remembered with awe! 🌟 Khanna, who was seen as the only serious contender to Amitabh’s throne, once expressed his views on the much-talked-about competition between the two legends. 🧐💥
Vinod Khanna’s film journey started in the late 60s alongside Amitabh, and soon both were cast in some of Bollywood’s biggest blockbusters. 📽️ While Amitabh stormed the industry with his “angry young man” image, Vinod Khanna made waves with his versatile performances, ranging from antagonist roles to playing the hero in movies like Mere Apne and Purab Aur Paschim. 💪🎬
Critics began comparing them after their successful collaborations in films like Hera Pheri and Zameer. Both had impressive performances, and the media hyped up the competition, leading to debates about who was better! 🎤🤔
Khanna famously stated, “The media created the rivalry,” adding that there was no bitterness between them. 🙅♂️ According to him, the fan clubs and journalists were more invested in pitting them against each other than they were. 🤷♂️ Despite the rivalry rumors, Vinod and Amitabh remained close friends throughout their careers. 🤝
As his fame peaked, Khanna made a surprising decision to leave Bollywood in the late 70s to join Rajneesh’s ashram in the USA. 🧘♂️ While he was away, Amitabh solidified his top position in Bollywood. But when Vinod Khanna returned to India in the 80s, he came back stronger than ever with hits like Insaaf and Satyamev Jayate! 🔥💥
He once admitted that while there were “games being played” in the industry to favor certain actors, he was never driven by ambition. 🕴️ He didn’t belong to any film camps, and though he faced stiff competition, he always felt like he received his due share of success. 🏆💪
Amitabh Bachchan, in an emotional tribute after Vinod Khanna’s passing in 2017, fondly recalled their early days in Bollywood. 🕊️ “No one walked the way he did. No one had the presence he had. There is no one like him,” Amitabh said, remembering his friend. 💔
MediaFx Opinion: Vinod Khanna’s passing 5 years ago was a massive loss for the film industry. 😢 But whether it’s Khanna, Amitabh, or any other actor, rankings don’t matter. Each one has contributed uniquely to Indian cinema, and that’s what truly counts. 🙌 On his birth anniversary, it’s a great time to remember the impact of Vinod Khanna—a legend who left an indelible mark on the world of entertainment. 🎬❤️
What’s your favorite Vinod Khanna movie? Comment below! 💬👇
