The recent spotlight on actor Akshaye Khanna has inevitably led fans and media to reminisce about his legendary father, the late Vinod Khanna. The superstar, who famously left the film industry at the height of his career for a spiritual life, remains a figure of fascination. In a fresh wave of nostalgia, director duo Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK (Raj & DK) have opened up about their unique and nerve-wracking experience of directing the icon in their 2009 cult comedy film '99'.
The Daunting Task of Directing a Legend
In a candid chat, Raj recalled the palpable anxiety on set. The team had only a tight two-day schedule with Khanna, who was juggling multiple commitments. "We just got two days with him to shoot," Raj told Screen, highlighting the time constraint. He admitted the team was intimidated, thinking, "‘Oh God, how do we direct?’ The fact that the word itself, you know, you have to go direct Vinod Khanna, doesn’t sound easy." The nervous wait ended when Khanna called them into his van to discuss the scene, and the directors noticed he was already tipsy.
A Tipsy Performance That Added Gravitas
Krishna DK clarified the sequence of events, explaining that they shot three scenes in order. The first scene was completed with Khanna fully sober. After the second scene, however, the actor called them back to his van and made an unusual request. "‘Listen, I’m going to play it tipsy. I’m going to be a little drunk,’" Khanna told them. By then, he already had a glass in hand, leading the directors to believe he had pre-decided on having a few drinks.
Raj admitted this decision initially made the team very nervous. "We were very nervous because usually when actors get drunk, they do the same sort of typical acting that we have seen far too many times in Hindi movies," he said. However, their fears were unfounded. Vinod Khanna's performance was subtle and effective. Raj concluded, "But Vinod ji played it really well, and that decision of him being a bit high also added some gravitas to the scene." The film '99', though a modest release, has since achieved a dedicated fan following.
Vinod Khanna's Spiritual Pivot: A Response to Personal Loss
Parallel to these film memories, a deeper insight into Vinod Khanna's life-altering decision to embrace spirituality has emerged. In a separate conversation, his second wife, Kavita Khanna, reflected on the transformative period that led him to Osho's ashram. She revealed that the journey began during a phase of profound personal grief. "I think he started listening to Osho’s discourses as they went through a terrible period in their lives, with five deaths in the family," she shared with Loveena Tandon.
The most pivotal loss was that of his mother. "When his mother died, he went to the ashram and took sanyas. That’s how that journey began," Kavita stated. This spiritual quest led him to step away from his colossal film career, a move that continues to define his legacy as much as his iconic on-screen roles. The confluence of these revelations—the playful, professional actor on set and the soul-seeking individual off it—paints a fuller picture of the enigmatic Vinod Khanna.
