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Ma Anand Sheela stated that even though Khanna was a big star, she was unaffected by his stardom because for her, he was just another ‘sannyasin’.
Vinod Khanna joined Osho Ashram in the 1980s. (Photo Credits: Instagram)
Vinod Khanna, fondly remembered for his charismatic screen presence and versatile performances, left an indelible mark on Indian cinema. From his early antagonistic roles to his rise as a leading man in the 70s and 80s, Khanna captivated audiences with his intense portrayals in box-office hits, such as Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Amar Akbar Anthony, Qurbani and Muqaddar Ka Sikandar.
At the height of his career, he was seen as the only actor capable of surpassing Amitabh Bachchan’s popularity. However, his career took a surprising turn when he decided to leave Bollywood and join the Osho Ashram in the United States. He became a follower of spiritual leader Bhagwan Rajneesh, or Osho.
Well now, Ma Anand Sheela, who formerly assisted spiritual leader Bhagwan Rajneesh, or Osho, sat for an interview with an entertainment news portal. Being in the close circle of Osho Rajneesh, Ma Anand Sheela was pretty aware of Bollywood actor Vinod Khanna, who joined them in the 1980s.
During the interaction with Pinkvilla, Ma Anand Sheela stated that even though Khanna was a big star, she was unaffected by his stardom because for her, he was just another ‘sannyasin’. She also spilled that the actor was struggling with ‘unhappiness and alcohol’.
On being asked if she knew what the late actor was seeking despite having everything he wanted, she stated, “I know he had everything back home, but he wasn’t happy, and on top of it, you consume alcohol. It’s a bad combination – unhappiness and alcohol.”
“The marital problems are very prevalent in a world they can make or break. I think that was his struggle, from what I could understand,” she added.
In the same interview, Ma Anand Sheela revealed that she had no idea whether Khanna was able to finally find what he was looking for because she had never spoken with him about it. However, she was able to find serenity despite the environmental challenges and issues they were facing at the time.
“I was one of the lucky ones who had good access to Bhagwan, and he always freed me from trouble. When I had a conflict, he would resolve it,” she concluded.