Vinod Khanna was at the peak of his career when he left movies and got into spirituality. He had joined Osho’s aashram in the early 1980s. He then returned to Bollywood after spending some years at the aashram. However, did you know that it was actually Mahesh Bhatt who introduced him to the spiritual guru.Bhatt had spoken about it in an interview with Arbaaz Khan on his show. He had said, “I was a normal guy. I made films such as Vishwasghaat and Manzilien Aur Bhi Hain that flopped. So, I was into the spiritual supermarket; I went to Osho Rajneesh, who was a charismatic guru from Pune. I went to him and devoted myself to him… ochre robes and meditation five times a day.”He further added, “I took Vinod Khanna to Osho Rajneesh. While I broke the (connection), he continued. I broke the mala and threw it down the commode. I thought that I still feel envious but I am saying holy words… I feel like a hypocrite. I can’t lie to the world and myself.”While Mahesh Bhatt came out of it soon, Vinod was still dedicated to him. He quit movies and went to the USA with Rajneesh. Bhatt and Osho however had a fall out and they both never liked each other after that because he had taken Bhatt’s betrayal personally. It was Vinod Khanna who told him about it. The ‘Arth’ director said, “Vinod called me from Filmistan and said Bhagwan is very angry. You broke the mala and threw it in the commode. I said ‘yes, I have done that. This is worthless; I am a damn fool.’ He said Bhagwan has said ask Mahesh to come back and hand over the mala in person, otherwise he said’, and Vinod lowered his voice, ‘he will destroy you’.”Osho had also spoken about his fallout with Mahesh Bhatt. He had said, “Just tell one thing to him: that if he has not been courageous enough to keep to the commitment of sannyas, he should be at least courteous enough to return it. And I knew that this was going to happen. I knew, because there were only two alternatives: either his girlfriend was going to become a sannyasin or he was going to become a non-sannyasin… and he was defeated by her. He will repent one day. He will feel and he will come… but he betrayed. He has broken something very sacred. And one day when he realises the whole phenomenon he will be surprised…”
