Today, veteran late actor Vinod Khanna would have been celebrating his 71st birthday. Unfortunately, the actor bid goodbye to the world on 27th April 2017 after battling cancer. Vinod Khanna had given many hit films like Amar Akbar Anthony, Parvarrish, Purab Aur Paschim, Dayawan and so on.
However, despite experiencing much success in his career, he took a shocking step in the late 80s. Yes, the actor had taken a decision to take retirement from the films and become a Monk for spiritual satisfaction. Reportedly, at that point of time, Vinod Khanna had conducted a press conference in which he told media that he had made up his mind to quit films and shift base and that he wanted to follow his heart.
After becoming a monk with Osho, the actor shifted to Rajneeshpuram, the city he built in America with Osho. But many people don’t know that Vinod Khanna had made up his mind to become a sanyasi in 1975. He had said, “I have always been a seeker. In the film industry, I had money, glamour, fame but wondered now what? Initially, I visited Osho’s ashram in Pune every weekend. I even diverted shooting schedules to Pune. I was finally initiated on December 31, 1975. When I announced my retirement from films, nobody believed me.”
While talking about his monk experience, Vinod Khanna had said, “I was Osho’s mali: I am one of the few Indians to have stayed with Osho in Rajneeshpuram, the city he built in America. I spent four years with Osho. I was his gardener, I cleaned the toilets, I did the dishes, and his clothes were tried out on me because we were, physically, of the same stature.”
Well, after spending many years as a monk, Vinod Khanna had again back in the films and made everyone stunned by his performances in the films Chandni, Dayavan and so on.
Happy Birthday, Vinod Ji!
You will always be remembered in everyone’s memories.
