Akshaye Khanna, who is currently enjoying widespread praise for his performance in Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar, has always been known for maintaining one of the most private personalities in the film industry. Yet, in one of his rare candid interviews years ago, the actor opened up about a deeply personal chapter of his early life when his father Vinod Khanna walked away from stardom, his marriage, and his young children to join Osho’s ashram.
At the time, Vinod Khanna was one of Bollywood’s most sought-after stars, delivering hit after hit. But at the peak of his fame, he made a decision that shocked the industry and his family alike. He renounced worldly life, took sanyaas, and moved to Rajneeshpuram in Oregon to follow Osho. His departure left behind his wife Gitanjali and their two sons, Rahul and Akshaye, who were still very young.
Recalling the emotional impact of that period, Akshaye had told Mid-day, “To not only leave his family, but to take ‘sanyaas’. Sanyaas means giving up your life in totality, family is only a part of it. It’s a life-changing decision, which he felt that he needed to take at the time. As a five-year-old, it was impossible for me to understand it. I can understand it now.”
Akshaye said he believes something profoundly transformative must have occurred within his father to push him toward such a radical life choice. As he put it, “Something must have moved him so deeply inside that he felt that that kind of decision was worth it for him. Especially when you have everything in life. A very basic fault line/earthquake has to occur within oneself to make that decision.”
Also Read: From Akshaye Khanna to Bobby Deol, actors who redefined their second innings in Bollywood
He noted that Vinod Khanna’s commitment to the path was unwavering. “One can make the decision and say this doesn’t suit me, let’s go back. But that didn’t happen. And circumstances in America with Osho and the colony, friction with the US government, that was the reason he came back.”
When asked if his father returned due to disillusionment, Akshaye dismissed that idea, saying, “From whatever memories I have about my father talking about that time in his life, I don’t think that was a reason at all. It was just the fact that the commune was disbanded and destroyed, and everybody had to find their own way. That’s when he came back. Otherwise, I don’t think he would’ve ever come back.”
Despite the upheaval that followed, Vinod and Gitanjali’s marriage ended in 1985, Akshaye revealed he still feels a strong connection to Osho’s philosophy. “I’ve read a lot of Osho’s discourses and seen hundreds of thousands of videos; I love him. I don’t know if sanyaas is something that I could do. But that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy his discourses and respect his intellect, oratory skills, and way of thinking. I have deep respect for him.”
Vinod Khanna eventually rebuilt his life, returning to films and later marrying Kavita Daftary. But for Akshaye, his father’s spiritual detour remains a complex but deeply human story, one he now views with empathy, clarity, and a sense of understanding that was impossible for him as a child.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
