Mahesh Bhatt: I Was Instrumental In Taking Vinod Khanna To Rajneesh
Mahesh Bhatt gets into a freewheeling chat with SpotboyE.com on Vinod Khanna, who is battling health issues. The filmmaker goes down memory lane and you'll love to read all that he pours out
Vinod Khanna's picture from the hospital that went viral
stunned everybody...
I was shocked to see that picture. I couldn't believe that it was Vinod Khanna.
My last memory of Vinod was a very warm and energised individual. He was always
blooming, but has now apparently withered. Even those who know him remotely
were stunned by that image.
Image Source: instagram/showbizbazaar
You know him quite well...
Well, we began our careers together in a way. Vinod played the villain in Mera
Gaon Mera Desh (1971), and I was the Production Manager on that film. What a
stunning impact he made with his portrayal! And then we did Lahu Ke Do Rang
(1979) which I directed. And then we were together at the Rajneesh ashram.
Frankly, I was instrumental in a way for Vinod Khanna joining the Osho commune.
He had seen me donning the saffron robe and expressed a desire to join
Rajneesh.
Image Source: recontalk
And then?
I came back in a little over 2 years, but he stayed on.
In fact, he even followed Rajneesh to the US and aborted his successful film
career. That really shocked everybody; he had almost touched his peak just
around that time.
Why did you come back?
Oh, that's a different story.
Image Source: newmovies
Tell us...
I was disillusioned.I couldn't get what I had sought out
to search. I thought I could get the gyan I was given at the Osho commune from
books. I didn't want to fool myself anymore. I gave my heart to it, but didn't
find it rewarding enough.
Rajneesh ashram collapsed after some time and Rajneesh
was handcuffed and jailed. The Osho show was over. Vinod returned but he
couldn't get the momentum he had in Bollywood. Things had changed in the
industry. But we did a film together- Jurm (1990).
Image Source: punjabigram
Even Mukesh Bhatt knows Vinod Khanna well...
Yes, Mukesh started his career as a secretary to him for
many years. After that, Mukesh got into film production and Vinod went into
politics. We did meet once soon after that, and I realised that he had views on
God, spirituality, religion and many other aspects of life which were radically
different from how I saw life. He was still stuck on the Rajneesh style of
thinking and I had moved on.
Was he married at that time?
Yes, he had married for the second time. I met Kavita
too.
Image Source: ravepad
Wasn't the Rajneesh ashram a land of free sex?
There was a permissive space in that ashram, where the
morality was different. There were a set of people whose inclinations were
different and they were given a certain kind of therapy.
Was Vinod Khanna a part of that space?
No, I don't think so.
Image Source: punjabigram
Go on...
Vinod called me sometime back. We spoke warmly. I had
heard that he was not well, I asked him about that and he said that he was
'okay'. I think he had announced in Gurdaspur that he is suffering from cancer.
He didn't hide it.
This time out, he is down with dehydration. That's what I
am told by Mukesh, who was told this by Vinod's brother on phone. Mukesh had
called the Khanna family a few days ago to inquire about his health.
Image Source: fanworld
The interview will be incomplete without dwelling on the
Amitabh Bachchan Vs Vinod Khanna duel in yesteryears...
These are hypothetical questions which have no answers,
but yes Vinod's lucrative career which had bloomed big time was brought to a grinding
halt by his tenure at the Rajneesh ashram. He came back to do a few films but
couldn't rise to what he had created for himself prior to his departure. 
Image Source: udaipurkiran
Had you heard that Vinod Khanna was the most potent
threat to Amitabh Bachchan's No.1 slot?
Of course, and the media thrives on such things. But yes,
coming back to your question, Amitabh and Vinod were definitely the top two
contenders for the No.1 slot in the Bollywood of bygone days.
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