Vinod Khanna was struggling with alcoholism at Osho Ashram, reveals Ma Anand S

In 1982, Vinod Khanna, then at the peak of his acting career, made a surprising move by leaving Bollywood to join Osho's commune in Oregon. He pursued deep meditation, leaving his family in Mumbai. Ma Anand Sheela, Osho's close aide, revealed that Khanna was dealing with marital problems and alcoholism during this period.








Talking to Pinkvilla, Sheela said that Vinod Khanna had everything back home but was unhappy, and his alcohol consumption only worsened the situation. She treated him like any other 'sannyasi' in the commune, unaffected by his status as a superstar in India.








She noted that marital problems are common and can either make or break relationships. She believed that Khanna was struggling with such issues, based on her understanding. However, since she never spoke directly with him, she couldn't confirm whether he eventually found a solution to his problems.







Vinod Khanna's reflection on his move








Earlier, while talking to Simi Garewal, Vinod Khanna opened up about his move to Rajneeshpuram and said, “My mind was thinking too much. I was too hyper. My thoughts were all over the place. I was very angry. I’d reached a saturation point. People can press your buttons and make you react. Everything is not under your control. But I would see that when I meditate, these things weren’t affecting me at all."








He added, “You have to become the master of your own mind, and these were the things that drove me to say that I’ve had enough, I’ve made enough money… Now, if I want to go deeper into meditation, I have to give my full time to it. I have to live in an ashram, I have to live at the feet of my guru. So, obviously, there was a need within me."







Return to Bollywood








Following the distribution of the commune, Vinod Khanna returned to Mumbai, where Mahesh Bhatt assisted him in reviving his acting career with the film 'Jurm.'