Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday condoled the death of veteran Bollywood actor-turned-politician Vinod Khanna.
In his message, Naidu recalled Vinod Khanna’s contributions to cinema and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“I am deeply saddened by the passing away of a great film personality and Member of Parliament Vinod Khanna. I am shocked at his untimely death. May his soul rest in peace,” Naidu said.
“His contribution to Indian cinema is tremendous and it will be very difficult to fill the void caused by his untimely death,” he added.
The minister said that people will always remember Vinod Khanna’s performances in movies such as “Mere Apne”, “Mera Gaon Mera Desh”, “Jail Yatra”, “Muqaddar Ka Sikandar”, “Inkaar”, “Amar Akbar Anthony”, “Rajput”, “Qurbani”, “Kudrat” and “Dayavaan”.
The actor was the BJP member of the Lok Sabha from Gurdaspur in Punjab. He was into his fourth term as MP from the seat.
Naidu said Khanna had been associated with the BJP for the past 20 years and served as a minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.
“His death is a great loss to the party and to the people of Gurdaspur,” Naidu said.
Khanna was admitted to Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital in the first week of April.
In a brief statement, the hospital said Khanna breathed his last at 11.20 a.m. on Thursday due to advanced bladder carcinoma.
