There was a significant era in Bollywood where several prominent stars were devoted followers of Osho Rajneesh. This list included major industry figures, ranging from Vinod Khanna to Mahesh Bhatt. Recently, Pooja Bhatt opened up about her family’s connection to the spiritual movement and the complicated circumstances that led to their eventual departure. She shared that her father was a committed disciple for a time, but a moment arrived when his disillusionment reached a breaking point, leading him to flush his Osho mala down the toilet.
The incident that triggered the escape
During a recent podcast appearance, Pooja Bhatt detailed the severe consequences that followed Mahesh Bhatt’s decision to sever ties with Osho and his movement. The choice was so explosive within the community that the repercussions forced her entire family to seek refuge in a safe house. Pooja recalled that her father had been a devoted member of the Rajneesh movement, but one day he simply decided that his association was over. He took the beads from around his neck and disposed of them in the toilet, an act that resulted in his immediate expulsion from the group.
Vinod Khanna delivered the ultimatum
The situation escalated quickly after the rejection of the mala. Pooja Bhatt noted that she vividly remembers a warning sent to her mother via Vinod Khanna. The message contained a chilling threat that 'Bhagwan' (Osho) was deeply furious with Mahesh Bhatt and would destroy him. Although she was quite young at the time, the intimidation tactic created an atmosphere of terror. The family was so frightened for their safety that they had to be moved in the middle of the night to a safe house located in Pune.
The reason behind the departure
Years earlier, during a chat show interview, Mahesh Bhatt explained his own reasoning for moving away from the movement. He stated that he had been searching for spiritual paths when he first encountered Osho and became a follower. He had even worn saffron robes and started meditating five times a day. However, he eventually realized that he still harbored internal struggles like jealousy and ego. He felt that he was merely putting on a facade of spirituality while his inner reality did not match his outward appearance. Bhatt stated that he refused to live a lie, prompting him to abandon the path.
