Mera Gaon Mera Desh is a 1971 Indian film made by Raj Khosla

Raj Khosla

Raj Khosla was one of the top directors, producer and screenwriter in Hindi films from the 1950s to the 1980s. He was known for bringing in ‘neo-noir’ and style in Indian cinema since black & white times, and also as a "women's director" because he showcased actresses at their best. He is often...

, starring Dharmendra

Dharmendra

Dharmendra Singh Deol |Punjab]]), better known as Dharmendra, is an award-winning Hindi film actor who has appeared in more than 247 Hindi-language films as of 2011. In 1997, he received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Hindi cinema and also another Lifetime...

 in the lead role and also Vinod Khanna

Vinod Khanna

-Early life:Khanna was born to Kamla and Kishanchand Khanna, a textiles, dyes and chemicals businessman of Hindu Punjabi Khatri origin, on 6 October 1946, in Peshawar, British India . He has three sisters and one brother...

 as the villain.

Performances

Dharmendra

Dharmendra

Dharmendra Singh Deol |Punjab]]), better known as Dharmendra, is an award-winning Hindi film actor who has appeared in more than 247 Hindi-language films as of 2011. In 1997, he received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Hindi cinema and also another Lifetime...

 plays a reformed criminal who helps a one armed retired army man [( Jayant )] protect a village from the dacoits. Asha Parekh

Asha Parekh

Asha Parekh is a Bollywood actress, director, and producer. She was one of the top stars in Hindi films from 1959 to 1973.-Early life:...

 played Dharmendra's love interest. As a bandit, Vinod Khanna's role gave him visibility and made him a star.

The film is particularly noted for a rural setting, and it became a super hit, taking second place at the box office for 1971. It is also said to have many elements that inspired one of the box office champs of all time, Sholay

Sholay

Sholay is a 1975 Indian action-adventure film produced by G.P. Sippy and directed by his son Ramesh Sippy. It is considered among the greatest films in the history of Indian cinema. Released on 15 August 1975, it stars Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Sanjeev Kumar, Jaya Bhaduri and...

(1975).
The climax fights are still remembered for the realism and are very convincing although a single man is fighting a horde of bandits.

Cast

Dharmendra

Dharmendra

Dharmendra Singh Deol |Punjab]]), better known as Dharmendra, is an award-winning Hindi film actor who has appeared in more than 247 Hindi-language films as of 2011. In 1997, he received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Hindi cinema and also another Lifetime...

 .... Ajit

Asha Parekh

Asha Parekh

Asha Parekh is a Bollywood actress, director, and producer. She was one of the top stars in Hindi films from 1959 to 1973.-Early life:...

 .... Anju

Vinod Khanna

Vinod Khanna

-Early life:Khanna was born to Kamla and Kishanchand Khanna, a textiles, dyes and chemicals businessman of Hindu Punjabi Khatri origin, on 6 October 1946, in Peshawar, British India . He has three sisters and one brother...

 .... Jabbar Singh

Laxmi Chhaya

Laxmi Chhaya

Laxmi Chhaya was an Indian actress and dancer who appeared in upwards of 55 Bollywood films in the 1960s and 1970s, including Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Teesri Manzil and Duniya. She may be best known in the United States as the masked dancer in the dance segment Jaan Pehechan Ho from the 1965 movie...

 .... Dacait/Dancer

Jayant

Jayant

-Personal life:Jayant was married and her children were Amjad Khan, Inayat Khan and Imtiaz Khan. He was the grandfather of Shadaab Khan, Ahlam Khan, Seemaab Khan and Ayesha Khan and father-in-law of Shaila Khan and Krutika Desai Khan.-Death:...

 .... Hawaldaar-Major Jaswant Singh

Asit Sen (actor) .... Motumal (Drunk)

Sudhir .... Police Inspector

Bhagwan .... Chotumal (Drunk)

Uma Dutt .... Judge

Mohan Choti

Birbal .... Nai (Barber)

Manmohan

Dulari .... Mrs. Ramdin Patel (Anju's mother)

Awards and nominations

Dharmendra

Dharmendra

Dharmendra Singh Deol |Punjab]]), better known as Dharmendra, is an award-winning Hindi film actor who has appeared in more than 247 Hindi-language films as of 2011. In 1997, he received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Hindi cinema and also another Lifetime...

 received a Filmfare

Filmfare

Filmfare is an English-language tabloid-sized magazine about Indian cinema. Published by The Times Group, India's largest media services conglomerate, in Mumbai , it highlights the doings of the Bollywood film scene...

nomination as Best Actor, the only one for the film.