Mohanlal reveals how spiritual guru Osho helped him during a health crisis 30 years ago: 'I was deeply disturbed'....

Time of India

25-05-2025

More than thirty years ago, acclaimed Indian actor
Mohanlal
went through a period of profound personal upheaval that altered the course of his life. In the early days of his cinematic journey, he faced not just a professional uphill climb but also an alarming
health scare
that left him both physically incapacitated and emotionally drained. What followed was not just a recovery of the body but a
spiritual awakening
that would leave a lasting impact on his worldview—an awakening deeply influenced by the teachings of spiritual leader
Osho Rajneesh
.
The Crisis: A Body in Distress, a Mind in Turmoil
Writing for a supplement of the popular Malayalam magazine
Mathrubhumi
, Mohanlal reminisced about how, at the outset of his acting career, he developed a debilitating back condition. Seeking medical help in Madras, a reputed physician informed him that the issue lay within his spine and could be corrected only through surgery involving the insertion of a bolt. The suggestion struck fear into him. Tampering with such a vital and sensitive area of the body left him deeply unsettled. Despite the doctor's strong warning that his condition would worsen within months if left untreated, he hesitated. Fear and uncertainty consumed him, making it nearly impossible to make a decision.
A New Path: Embracing Ayurveda and Solitude
In this moment of confusion, a guiding hand appeared in the form of renowned singer
KJ Yesudas
. Encouraging Mohanlal to seek a different route, Yesudas referred him to the Arya Vaidya Pharmacy in Coimbatore. There, under the care of P.V. Rama Varier and Managing Director P.R. Krishnakumar, he began a rigorous Ayurvedic healing process.
The therapy extended over forty days, conducted in two intensive phases. During this period, Mohanlal was instructed to avoid all forms of strain—no reading, no prolonged sitting or walking. After every meal, he was told to lie down in complete stillness, eyes closed. Every day, his caretakers would visit, but once they departed, he was left alone. These solitary hours became mentally taxing, filled with anxious thoughts about his future, his career, and his very existence.
A Spiritual Rebirth: Osho's Voice in the Silence
In the midst of this inner storm, a simple gesture transformed everything. One day, Krishnakumar handed him a cassette containing a speech by Osho Rajneesh. Alone in the quiet of his room, Mohanlal listened. That experience felt like a light breaking through darkness. Osho's voice, calm yet profound, offered perspectives that touched something deep within him.
Over the following days, he absorbed more of Osho's discourses. Gradually, the chaos in his mind began to settle. Questions that had once haunted him started to fade, replaced by a clarity he had never known. The teachings didn't just soothe him—they awakened something transformative, offering him a new lens through which to understand life, pain, and existence itself.
Who Was Osho?
Born as Chandra Mohan Jain on December 11, 1931, and later known to the world by various names—Acharya Rajneesh, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, and eventually simply Osho—he emerged as one of India's most enigmatic and polarizing spiritual figures. Until his death on January 19, 1990, Osho captivated millions with his radical ideas, challenging long-held religious traditions and stirring both admiration and controversy in equal measure.
Osho was never content to follow the well-worn paths of institutionalized faith. He openly rejected the rigid dogmas of organized religion, arguing that true spirituality could never be confined to rituals, temples, or doctrines. For him, enlightenment was a deeply personal experience—one that transcended systems and structures.
He carved a path of his own, one that fused deep introspection with modern sensibilities. As a mystic and thinker, he introduced the world to Dynamic Meditation—a technique that broke away from passive silence and embraced active catharsis, physical movement, and emotional release as gateways to inner peace.
Far from the traditional image of a renunciate lost in a cave, Osho urged his followers to live fully, love freely, and engage deeply with the world—without becoming attached to it. To him, detachment did not mean withdrawal, but rather a conscious way of being: to immerse in life without being bound by it.
Though his teachings inspired a vast following, they also sparked intense debate. His unapologetic stance on materialism, sexuality, and freedom of thought placed him at odds with both religious conservatives and political authorities. Yet despite—or perhaps because of—this storm of opposition, Osho's voice only grew louder, his message more enduring.
More than a teacher, he became a movement. The Rajneesh movement, born from his vision, attracted seekers from across the globe, all drawn to his promise of liberation beyond limits.