14 august 2024 : The late Vinod Khanna, a prominent figure in the Hindi film industry, caused a stir when he chose to abandon his flourishing career at its zenith to travel to the United States and join the spiritual leader Rajneesh, later known as Osho, along with his commune. This decision not only marked a significant departure from his professional life but also involved leaving his family behind in India as he embarked on a journey of self-discovery.
In a past interview with Simi Garewal, Khanna articulated his rationale for leaving his family, stating that he had reached a ‘saturation point’ in his career. When questioned about what motivated him to follow Osho, he remarked, “It was my own mind. I found myself overthinking, feeling hyper, and my thoughts were scattered. I was filled with anger. I had reached a saturation point. External factors can provoke reactions, and not everything is within one’s control. However, I noticed that during meditation, these disturbances did not affect me. Mastery over one’s mind is essential, and these realizations prompted me to conclude that I had achieved enough financially. If I wished to delve deeper into meditation, I needed to dedicate myself fully to it, which meant residing in an ashram and being close to my guru. Thus, there was an undeniable inner need driving my decision.”
