Mahesh Bhatt Shares Vinod Khanna Was 'Broken' Post 'Sanyas' At Osho's Ashram, 'He Was Too Far Gone'

Today, April 27, 2025, marks the eighth death anniversary of the legendary Bollywood actor, Vinod Khanna. The actor, popularly known for his roles in Chandni, Amar Akbar Anthony, Parvarish, and Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, passed away at only 70 years of age after battling advanced bladder cancer. At the peak of his success, Vinod left acting and pursued a path of spirituality. He flew to Oregon, USA, for enlightenment and became a follower of Osho Rajneesh, residing at the Rajneeshpuram commune. 

Mahesh Bhatt remembers Vinod Khanna on his eighth death anniversary

Vinod Khanna’s untimely death left a void not just in the film industry but also in the heart of his best friend, Mahesh Bhatt. In a conversation with SCREEN, Mahesh Bhatt shared how, even after so many years of his passing, he still feels the presence of his dear friend. Mahesh said:

“It’s been eight years since he left. But I still hear him — like the sea inside a shell — not because it speaks, but because I am stitched together with memories that stir whenever someone whispers his name. When he died, it was like the way stars vanish when the sun rises — quietly, unapologetically — as if even the light had grown tired of pretending.”

Mahesh Bhatt recounts Vinod Khanna’s transition from acting to spiritualism

Mahesh and Vinod’s bond dates back to the days of shooting Lahu Ke Do Rang in 1979. Since then, the two have shared not only a professional but a deeply personal connection. However, as the years passed, a series of personal losses took a toll on the Chandni actor, and he gradually took to alcoholism and depression. 

After losing his mother, he was accompanied by Bhatt to seek refuge in Bhagwan Osho Rajneesh’s ashram in Pune. While Bhatt could later turn away, Vinod was not ready to return. In his spiritual quest and searching for answers, the actor travelled to the USA and became a disciple of Osho in Oregon at the Rajneeshpuram commune. Mahesh Bhatt shared:

"After his mother’s death shook him, he began searching for answers. And I, broken by my own failures, took him to Bhagwan Rajneesh’s ashram in Pune. We would drive from shoots in his Mercedes, stay at the Blue Diamond, seeking some refuge in that mystical air… When I turned away, he stayed—and then disappeared to Oregon. I even flew to America once, to try and bring him back. But he was too far gone."

Vinod Khanna was a ‘broken’ man after returning from the USA

To bring his friend back, Mahesh Bhatt even flew to the States once, but it was too late. When Vinod returned to India, it was clear that he was not the same person. Revealing how the man once known for his vibrant personality had become withdrawn, struggling to regain his footing in the film industry, Bhatt said:

“When the Rajneesh dream collapsed, he returned, broken. I met him again in a small flat opposite Jaslok Hospital. He spoke little. The old fire was gone. He tried to find his footing in the movie world again, but the dizzying heights he had once scaled remained just beyond reach. He drifted into politics; I stayed with my stories.”

Vinod Khanna’s magic in acting was gone, and after failed attempts to resume his career, the superstar drifted further into politics. His conversations with Mahesh, though increasingly distant, would still happen late at night.

What do you think about Mahesh Bhatt’s heartfelt memories of late Vinod Khanna?

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