Latest news with #Osho
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Javed Akhtar reveals he would pay Rs 10 to attend Osho's sermons in Pune: 'I would go there and write dialogues...'
In the 1970s, Osho, attracted Bollywood stars like Vinod Khanna. Screenwriter Javed Akhtar attended Osho's Pune sermons, paying Rs 10 daily. Akhtar, an atheist, valued Osho's teachings for their lack of rigid ideology. He also mentioned brief encounters with Baba Ramdev and a possible rift with Sadhguru Jaggi, expressing willingness to meet him again. In the 1970s, the spiritual leader Osho, then called Bhagwan Rajneesh, began gaining a big following. Many famous Bollywood stars were attracted to his teachings. Actor Vinod Khanna even gave up his film career and moved to the US to live in Osho's commune. Director Mahesh Bhatt also explored Osho's ideas. Before moving to Oregon, Osho preached at his ashram in Pune, where screenwriter Javed Akhtar used to attend his sermons. Paying Rs 10 Daily to Attend In a recent interview with The Lallantop, Javed Akhtar revealed that he has visited only one ashram in his life. He talked about his time in Pune when Osho, then known as Rajneesh, held morning sermons from 8 to 9:30 am. Javed used to stay at a hotel nearby and would attend the sermons daily, buying a ticket for Rs 10 each time, while working on writing dialogues over about 20-22 days. The ace screenwriter who identifies as an atheist, shared that while he is not a follower of Osho, he appreciated his teachings because Osho did not promote any particular ideology. He described Osho as a learned professor who spoke eloquently on various topics, often changing his views from day to day. Javed also mentioned that he remembers some of Osho's sermons by heart. Brief Encounters with Baba Ramdev Akhtar also mentioned that he has met Baba Ramdev before, briefly greeting him from a distance at the wedding of Hema Malini and Dharmendra's daughter. Meeting Sadhguru and Possible Rift Javed Akhtar also talked about meeting Sadhguru Jaggi twice but hasn't met him since. He heard that Sadhguru might avoid events if Javed is invited, though he isn't sure if it's true. Javed said he has no problem and would be happy to meet him again. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Indian Express
3 days ago
- 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.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
How to ease migration pressure on India's cities
For some years now, Goa has been reeling under an influx of settlers who found Indian metros unlivable and now work in the gig economy or are retired. While this trend picked up post-2000, the trickle intensified into a flood after the pandemic, leading to a surge in the cost of living for locals including housing costs and other social and economic repercussions that are still being dealt with. A similar reverse migration to Uttarakhand and, to a smaller extent, Himachal Pradesh was seen in the last decade, with the former seeing a bigger influx as land ownership rules there are more flexible than the latter. While these states are learning to live with this influx, the factors driving people out from cities remain unchanged: Despite the Smart Cities Mission, many of the metros and larger cities are reaching their breaking point. Given that there are no quick-fix solutions to reducing the load on cities and ensuring that the steady trickle of exits doesn't turn into a flood, it might be a good idea for the government to actively look at ways to stem the migration of rural youth to cities in search of livelihood and employment. On my trips to Kumaon, I have come across at least three initiatives on reducing migration from the hills to the cities. Since 2009, B2R, a rural BPO in Uttarakhand started by BITS-Pilani alumni, has led to remarkable changes in the social fabric of the region, with women employees marrying later and even choosing partners in societies that have traditionally frowned upon such progress. Although the journey has been far from smooth, with many ups and downs over the last 16 years, B2R now employs 600 locals at its five centres in the state, most of whom would have been leading wretched lives as migrants and urban poor in India's metros. While their pay packages may be a fraction of what their metro counterparts might earn, their standard of living is higher, with cleaner air and cooler temperatures a natural perk. Another enterprise, Udhyam (set up in 2017), is helping curb migration by identifying new businesses and providing seed capital, working capital loans, and mentorship to the local youth who then set up the businesses they feel passionate about. Starting with a small cohort of 20-25, the enterprise has touched the lives of over 400 entrepreneurs over the last few years, with more than 200 of them active at any given point. The enterprise was set up to counter a few worrying trends: The number of educated but unemployed youth in the hills was rising, agriculture if practised was mostly for subsistence, and even as many were returning from the plains disillusioned, there were no industries or companies that could hire them. What then does a young, educated person do? Many were sitting idle and unhappy, leading to increased crime rates in the region. An exemplary model in the Almora region is that of SOS Organics, a tiny natural cosmetics and health foods enterprise started by two former Osho followers with its ~25 female employees (only four are men), the primary breadwinners with minimal disruption to their traditional roles. Work shifts are six-and-a-half hours a day with an hour for lunch. All employees walk to work, are paid well above the average wage in the region with a starting salary of ₹9,000, and workers and their family members are fully medically insured. The space created by the founders is worth a visit, not just for its natural beauty but also for how little it demands from its surroundings in terms of resources. Rainwater is harvested, solar power generated, keeping the space off the public grid as far as possible. Almost all materials used in the workshop are locally sourced, eliminating even the pollution caused by trucks ferrying inputs. At a more countrywide and macro-scale, there are at least three big operators — DesiCrew, RuralShores and iMerit Inc., all of whom are providing local employment and reducing migration. While DesiCrew has a total of 1,480 employees and works with native language speakers from 15 states, iMerit Inc., with over 4,000 employees, is doing cutting edge IT using AI from remote locations for several Silicon Valley firms by employing a primarily female workforce — no mean accomplishment for a country with low female labour force participation rates. So, the question to ask now is what precisely policymakers can do to support and help scale up such initiatives. Two low-hanging fruits stare policy makers in the face. One is to outsource some of the poorly run government services to such rural companies, just the way passport issuance services were outsourced to TCS, resulting in a three-way win for the authorities, the citizens and the vendor. Two, provide incentives to encourage Indian corporates to outsource some of their back-end work to such outfits, thereby reducing costs and enhancing efficiency. Perhaps a good start would be to set up a special task force or committee (the government's expertise) to look more keenly into this sector and come up with a more comprehensive policy to encourage demand. The idea — a National Policy for Rural BPOs — has been toyed with by past governments but is yet to see the light of day. Anjuli Bhargava writes about governance, infrastructure and the social sector. The views expressed are personal.
India.com
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet Czech Model Who Met Her Ex-Husband At Osho Ashram, Her Sensuous Bollywood Dance Number Made Her Overnight Star, She Quit Films, Is Now Living In...
Yana Gupta is a Czech model turned Bollywood actress, who started off her modelling career at the age of 16, in Japan after graduating in Park Architecture and Gardening. When in India, she was at Rajneesh ashram (Osho) in Pune. According to Wikipedia information, Yana met artist Satyakam Gupta at the ashram and later the two got married there in 2001. However, the couple got divorced in 2005.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Mohanlal reveals how spiritual guru Osho helped him during a health crisis 30 years ago: 'I was deeply disturbed'....
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.
