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Time of India
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Vinod Khanna would come to LA and meet me when he yearned relief from Osho's aashram,' reveals Kabir Bedi: ‘He used to tell me gossip'
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. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now However, did you know that it was actually who introduced him to the spiritual guru. Khanna's spiritual detour remains one of the most talked-about chapters of his life. At the height of his popularity, he stepped away from the arc lights, choosing instead to immerse himself in the teachings of his spiritual guide, Osho Rajneesh. Veteran actor , while speaking to Siddharth Kannan, offered fresh insights into this transformative phase of Khanna's journey. 'He was a very special person. Besides being an actor, he also had a spiritual dimension. Once he met Osho, started learning meditation and gaining experience, his life began changing,' Bedi shared. As Osho relocated to the United States to set up his ashram in Oregon, Khanna followed him, leaving his Bollywood career behind. Bedi, who was in California during that time, recalled their occasional meet-ups. 'When Osho had to leave India, go to the US and build an ashram in Oregon state, Vinod left everything behind and joined him... So, whenever Vinod yearned for some relief from the ashram, he would come to Los Angeles, and we would meet and talk. He used to tell me all the gossip from the ashram because there would always be some drama in every organisation,' he said. While Bedi acknowledged the value of Osho's teachings, he also pointed out the controversy surrounding his community in Oregon. 'Although I respect Osho and his philosophy, his disciples in Oregon did certain things that the Netflix documentary (Wild Wild Country) also shined light on. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now However, the Netflix documentary did not show Osho's entire life. It failed to explore his importance, significance and teachings. It only focused on the Oregon incident,' Bedi remarked. Vinod Khanna eventually returned to India and got back to his life again. He had to start again from scratch. 'Eventually, Osho had to flee the US as well as the authorities there began cracking down on him, particularly due to visa violations for trying to build a town while on a tourist visa. With that, Vinod returned to India and started his life again. He rented a small one-bedroom flat and began working on his life. And he did that well; the industry accepted him. He eventually built a successful career,' Bedi concluded.
Indian Express
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Vinod Khanna would visit me in LA when he needed relief from Osho ashram, recalls Kabir Bedi: ‘After Rajneesh fled US, Vinod started life again in a rented house'
It's not easy to handle the pressure of being a celebrity and the demands of glam culture. The number of people who have withered away, often unnoticed, in the bustling world of cinema is far greater than those who have made it big and reached the top. Even for those who attain massive stardom and wear their fame like a badge, life can be difficult at times, especially when it comes to finding mental peace. Even Vinod Khanna, widely regarded as one of the most popular actor-stars in the history of Hindi cinema, struggled with the same. In fact, Khanna's life often drew significant attention, and one of the most prominent choices he made was taking a five-year hiatus from Bollywood to follow his spiritual guru Osho Rajneesh. Recently, veteran actor Kabir Bedi spoke about Khanna's spiritual journey and how he eventually returned to the film industry after his time with Osho. 'He was a very special person. Besides being an actor, he also had a spiritual dimension. Once he met Osho, started learning meditation and gaining experience, his life began changing,' Bedi observed during a chat with Siddharth Kannan. 'When Osho had to leave India, go to the US and build an ashram in Oregon state, Vinod left everything behind and joined him. I was in California during those days. So, whenever Vinod yearned for some relief from the ashram, he would come to Los Angeles, and we would meet and talk. He used to tell me all the gossip from the ashram because there would always be some drama in every organisation,' he added. 'Although I respect Osho and his philosophy, his disciples in Oregon did certain things that the Netflix documentary (Wild Wild Country) also shined light on. However, the Netflix documentary did not show Osho's entire life. It failed to explore his importance, significance and teachings. It only focused on the Oregon incident,' he mentioned. Highlighting that Khanna had given up everything he owned to follow Osho, Bedi explained that when he eventually returned to the film industry, it wasn't easy to pick up where he had left off, but he managed to achieve it. 'Eventually, Osho had to flee the US as well as the authorities there began cracking down on him, particularly due to visa violations for trying to build a town while on a tourist visa. With that, Vinod returned to India and started his life again. He rented a small one-bedroom flat and began working on his life. And he did that well; the industry accepted him. He eventually built a successful career,' Bedi pointed out.
Forbes
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The Cult Content Boom: What's Behind Our Obsession?
Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, 1985. (Photo by Matthew NAYTHONS/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images) Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images From streaming documentaries to bestselling books and theatrical productions, cults are trending. The groups have become a dominant force in contemporary media, reflecting deeper societal anxieties and a search for meaning in a world that can often feel disconnected. The International Cultic Studies Association estimates that up to 3% of people are involved in a cult at some point in their lives. Accurate data is scarce, given that members of groups rarely self-identify. The definition of a cult can also vary widely. Is cult membership increasing, or has awareness and reportage of the groups climbed? What is measurable is the exponential growth in public interest around cults. Streaming platforms have released dozens of high-profile productions in recent years, reflecting audience demand. The stories are compelling, often blending sure-fire elements of true crime, psychology (primarily the surrender and loss of self, replaced with a groupthink mentality), deception, betrayal and all manner of drama. Netflix has cornered the cult documentary genre, releasing productions like Wild Wild Country (2018), which examined the Rajneeshpuram commune headed by Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. Also, Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives. (2022) and How To Become A Cult Leader (2023). Mass Marriage Blessing Ceremony performed by the Unification Church at Madison Square Garden circa 1982 in New York City. (Photo by PL Gould/IMAGES/Getty Images) Getty Images The number of shows goes on, produced by Netflix and other streamers. The shortlist: Bad Faith (Amazon Prime, 2024); Born in Synanon (Paramount+, 2023); The Family (Netflix, 2019); Breath of Fire (HBO, 2024); Heaven's Gate: The Cult of Cults (HBO, 2020); Desperately Seeking Soulmate: Escaping Twin Flames Universe (Amazon Prime, 2023) and Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath (A&E, 2016). The mass suicide of the People's Temple in the jungles of Jonestown, Guyana, where 912 people died on November 17, 1978 (photo by Tim Chapman). Getty Images Further back, there are numerous documentaries about the world's most well-known cult, the Peoples Temple, led by Jim Jones, given the mass murder-suicide of more than 900 of its members in Guyana in 1978. The standout documentary mini-series on the cult was recently released in 2024, reflecting renewed interest: Cult Massacre: One Day in Jonestown (Hulu). The three-episode production includes rare archival footage and recordings of Jones, along with survivor and eyewitness interviews. 'I Would Never Join A Cult' Think Again What's behind the fixation with cults? 'The fascination with cults fundamentally rests in the idea that people believe that they can't be drawn into one,' says Dr. Mara Einstein, author of Hoodwinked : How Marketers Use the Same Tactics as Cults (Prometheus, 2025). 'The first step in the recruitment process is to find vulnerable people. We are all vulnerable at some point in our lives—we've moved to a new town, gotten a divorce, lost a loved one—which means we could all be lured into a cult.' The definition of cult has broadened, fueling greater interest. About 50 years ago, a cult was equated with the word 'dangerous.' Think Jim Jones, the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas and the Manson Family cult led by Charles Manson. 'Because of digital media, the definition has expanded to be closer to the 17th century one, when cults were groups that venerated a person or ideology,' says Einstein, who is a professor at Queens College, City University of New York. From Analysis To Memoir: Books Dissect The Phenomenon Beyond documentaries, the book market has weighed in: academic analyses, books on how to identify cults and help loved ones, along with memoirs. The New York Times bestselling memoir Stolen Innocence by Elissa Wall (William Morrow, 2008) relays life inside Utah's FLDS polygamist sect. The author's courtroom testimony helped convict sect leader Warren Jeffs in 2007. Uriah Wesman performs his solo show, "Three Cults Walk Into A Bar," at the Lyric Hyperion near Hollywood. Damu Malik Journalist Mike Rothschild wrote The Storm Is Upon Us: How QAnon Became a Movement, Cult, and Conspiracy Theory of Everything (Monoray, 2021). The Financial Times called the book 'timely and chilling.' 'Rothschild is brilliant at outlining the process by which people who were not previously drawn to political extremism come to see themselves as 'patriotic researchers,' able to see patterns in the information that is fed to them,' the review continued. Sean Prophet, son of Elizabeth Clare Prophet who headed Church Universal and Triumphant before she died in 2009, recently penned My Cult Your Cult : How Cults Destroy Truth and Bolster Authoritarian Power (Amika Press, 2025). Born into the cult, Prophet draws comparisons between the group's apocalyptic dogma (braced for a Soviet nuclear strike, the church built extensive Montana bomb shelters in the early 1990s), and Christian Nationalism, QAnon and the MAGA movement. David Reinert holds up a large "Q" sign, representing the conspiracy group QAnon, while waiting in line to see President Donald J. Trump at his rally on August 2, 2018 (Photo by) Getty Images The resurgence in cult interest represents a 'deeper shift in how humans process belonging, belief and betrayal in a world saturated with uncertainty,' says Dr. Christopher Kaufman, a business consultant and professor at Southern California State University. 'The delivery systems have gone exponential,' he adds, citing the apps, subreddits, monetized livestreams and Discord servers that lure people in. 'This isn't just happening in sects. It's visible in brand loyalty, political tribes, startup cultures and influencer fandoms.' Kaufman posits a new question, in contrast to asking why people are fascinated with cults. 'What happens when every institution starts to look like one?' Taking It To The Stage Theatrical productions have also delved into the allure of cults, or at least the broad idea of them. The Cult of Love by Leslye Headland opened on Broadway in 2024. It explored religion and the widely divergent beliefs within families. The overarching theme? Families can also feel cultish. In 2018, the Phoenix Theatre Ensemble premiered Topher Cusumano's The Cult Play, which detailed the 'Soul Scouts,' a religious cult shepherded by a charismatic mystic. Members of the Osho Ashram in Pune, India, celebrate the 1st anniversary of the death of their leader Bhagwan Rajneesh, later known as Osho (photo by Getty Images The Pros & Cons of Killing Your Cult Leader , presented by Weird Sisters Theatre Project, is a satirical comedy that tracks five women hierarchs in a cult. The production examines patriarchal systems and themes of manipulation, control and the search for belonging. The play premiered at Atlanta's Aurora Theatre in 2023. In Los Angeles, Uriah Wesman's solo show, Three Cults Walk Into A Bar , details his life growing up in three different cults, the primary being Church Universal and Triumphant, which, as a young man, I also was a part of. Wesman's unique perspective is that he was born into the group (I joined at age 21 and stayed for six years). During his show at the Lyric Hyperion near Hollywood, the comedy actor summed up the cult I knew so well, although from a later era: the leader's fiery dictations (messages she channeled via the 'ascended masters'), the climate of paranoia epitomized by various 'astral entities' that were forever hungry for members' souls, and so forth. Uriah Wesman performs his solo show, "Three Cults Walk Into A Bar," at the Lyric Hyperion near Hollywood. Damu Malik In such groups, fear is central to keeping members in check. I remember meeting an ex-member of Yogi Bhajan's group, 3HO (Healthy, Happy, Holy Organization). After discovering we had both been in a cult, I asked him what would happen should he leave the organization, betting that I would get a good answer. Elizabeth Clare Prophet headed the Church Universal and Triumphant. Denver Post via Getty Images 'If we left, we were told that we would spend our next 9,999 lifetimes as a cockroach,' he replied. I responded: 'If we left, we were told we would not reincarnate for 10,000 years, and then it would be on some hellhole of a planet in a distant galaxy.' I told him that he had the better deal, given that his cockroach incarnations would be over at the exact time I would finally be able to reincarnate, and then only on some horrid planet. Finding another cult brother is rare; we became fast friends. Yogi Bhajan in 1974. Denver Post via Getty Images Hearing Cult Stories Can Deliver A Psychological Thrill Indeed, humor is the way that Wesman dealt with the psychologically twisted mess of his childhood; he's also a stand-up comedian. Hearing stories like the ones Wesman relays can give people a 'psychological thrill,' says clinical psychologist Avigail Lev, director of the Bay Area CBT Center. 'Cult content provides voyeurism wrapped in moral distance. We get to explore the darkest edges of human behavior while safely positioning ourselves as the rational outsider. 'I would never fall for that,' we think—while binging eight hours of content about people who did.' But part of that thrill is 'the realization that maybe we aren't so different,' she adds. 'That under different conditions—enough grief, enough doubt, enough loneliness—we too might have been drawn in. That's why the fascination sticks. Cults don't just tell us something about 'them.' They tell us something about us.'
Indian Express
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Vinod Khanna would get bored of Osho's ashram and gossip about it with Kabir Bedi, was broke when he return to India: ‘He started afresh from a one-room flat'
Kabir Bedi and Vinod Khanna shared more than just a professional rapport, they shared a deep mutual respect, a spiritual curiosity, and a warm personal bond. In a recent interview with Filmfare, Kabir opened up about their friendship, rooted in their common admiration for the spiritual teacher Osho, whom Vinod followed with great devotion. 'Vinod had a very philosophical bent,' Kabir recalled. 'He was very interested in Osho, became one of Osho's great devotees. Definitely, I had enormous respect for Osho. I just didn't go and see him, which I regret deeply, because people were expected to wear a certain colour and something when they went to see him. I said, 'Nobody's going to tell me what to wear.' It was an ego thing, and I regret it, because I would have met one of the greatest minds and philosophers.' Kabir described how, despite never having visited Osho himself, he was deeply influenced by the guru's teachings. 'I read his books, I heard his tapes,' he said. 'And when Osho was driven out of India, literally, by Morarji Desai at the time, and he came to America, he went to a place, a state called Oregon, and he set up his ashram out there… Vinod left India and went with him. He gave up his entire career in Bollywood.' Vinod's spiritual commitment led him to walk away from a flourishing film career at its peak. But his bond with Kabir endured even during this unconventional chapter of his life. 'When he got a little bored or tired of the ashram, he would come down to me in Los Angeles, and we'd spend some wonderful times together,' Kabir reminisced. 'And I knew all the gossip that was going on at the thing. In fact, there's a documentary called Wild Wild Country, which is on Netflix, which talks about that phase of Osho's life, which is very interesting. But it really doesn't give you a sense of who Osho was and what he meant as a teacher and as a philosopher. It was very unfair to him in that sense. But certainly, many of the bad things that happened at that ashram as a result of some of his followers were true. And I knew all about it because Vinod had told me what was happening. In fact, he [Osho] was a great builder, a great creator, a great philosopher, a great man.' Also Read | Vinod Khanna came to Osho as he was struggling with marital problems, says Ma Anand Sheela: 'He was big star but was just another sanyasi for me' Reflecting more deeply on Vinod as a person, Kabir painted the portrait of a deeply introspective and emotionally rich individual. 'A very thoughtful person,' he said. 'He didn't talk too much. He thought a lot. But a man who felt a lot. He was a man of his heart. And he just related to you on a heart level. So if he liked you, he liked you, and he would do anything for you.' Kabir also recalled how Vinod described the profound spiritual experiences he had during meditation: 'And when you asked him to describe the experiences that he had with your shots, he said, 'I can't, Kabir, I can't. Something just takes over. It takes me to another level. It makes me feel divine. I cannot talk about this. I can't explain what happens.' So he wasn't a very verbal person, but a very feeling person.' In later years, Kabir said their interactions were mostly limited to social events. But his admiration for Vinod only grew stronger with time, particularly after witnessing the resilience with which he restarted his life post-Osho. 'I really had great admiration for Vinod,' he said, 'Because I know when he came back from the Osho ashram, he had no money, and he really started his career all afresh—from a single one-room, one-bedroom flat in Bombay. He restarted his life, and he went on to buy one of the biggest flats on Malabar Hill and marry a wonderful girl. He didn't let his professional ambitions get in the way of his philosophical quest. And he followed his guru, giving up everything. And when his guru finally started his journey around the world, Vinod came back and started from scratch. And… yeah, he still always swore by Osho. And I have the greatest of respect for him.' Vinod's association with Osho was well documented, he famously left the film industry in the early 1980s to join the spiritual commune in Oregon, a decision that shocked Bollywood. But he later returned to acting, successfully rebuilding his career. Kabir and Vinod also shared screen space in several films, including The Burning Train, Farz Aur Kanoon, and Kshatriya, among others.
