Vinod Khanna, a Bollywood legend, has died at the age of 70, according to a recent hospital statement. The actor died Thursday morning from advanced bladder cancer. The actor is considered the “original heartthrob” of Indian films and has been fighting cancer for years, according to reports.
A photo of the actor went viral last month when he was seen in a hospital gown. The actor looked frail in the photo and was hospitalized in Mumbai, according to the Hindustan Times. He was admitted for complications due to bladder cancer as well as severe dehydration.
India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, gave praise to the late actor on Twitter, posting, “Will always remember Vinod Khanna as a popular actor, dedicated leader & a wonderful human. Pained by his demise. My condolences.”
Khanna’s career spanned over 100 movies and over 40 years.
The actor, born in 1946, made his break into Bollywood, starring in A Pairing of Hearts. The actor played the villain in the film and continued to take parts where he portrayed a villain. The actor would play the role of a villain for three years before starring in Me, You and Them, where he played a hero.
Khanna’s career as an actor led him into politics, where he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 1997. He was elected to the lower house of parliament and served four terms in Punjab.
He famously abandoned his career in 1982, leaving for years to follow his spiritual leader. Critics of the actor state that this hiatus caused him to never reach his true acting potential. Khanna moved to his guru’s compound in Oregon, where he helped with gardening and dishes. The guru, better known as Osho, was deported from the United States in 1985 on charges of immigration violation.
Khanna returned to India, too, resuming his acting career.
Khanna leaves behind his wife Kavita, daughter Shraddha and sons Akshay, Rahul and Sakshi.
