Much has been written about the dramatic turn in the life of late star Vinod Khanna, who, at the peak of his Bollywood career in the early 1980s, walked away from fame to follow spiritual leader Osho and join his commune in Oregon, US. Now, decades later, his wife Kavita Khanna has revisited that chapter, shedding fresh light on the emotional and political turmoil that marked his time there.
Speaking on her YouTube channel, Kavita recalled how the atmosphere at the Oregon commune—later chronicled in the Netflix docu-series Wild Wild Country—was far more complex than it appeared from the outside. According to her, Osho had gradually retreated into prolonged silence during that period, leaving administrative and strategic control largely in the hands of his secretary, Ma Anand Sheela.
“As he became more withdrawn, his secretary (Ma Anand Sheela) took complete control and charge of what was happening,” Kavita said. “They built a city, and I think they even wanted to win elections. Just crazy things were happening there. They had their own army with, I think, AK-47s or the equivalent. No one could understand what was going on.”
The commune, known as Rajneeshpuram, had effectively turned into a self-sustained township in Oregon, drawing both fascination and controversy in equal measure. Kavita suggested that the increasingly militant and politically ambitious environment deeply unsettled Vinod. Though he had gone there seeking spiritual growth and detachment from stardom, the reality proved to be far more turbulent.
Recalling the emotional toll of those years, Kavita shared that Vinod often wept, missing his children from his first marriage. “He would cry remembering them,” she said, describing him as torn between spiritual pursuit and paternal longing. At the time, Vinod had not yet met Kavita; she came into his life later, after he returned to India.
In a startling revelation, Kavita also claimed that Vinod once fell seriously ill after consuming poisoned water during the turmoil that engulfed the commune. The period saw internal power struggles and escalating tensions with local authorities in Oregon. While she did not go into specific details about the incident, she indicated that the atmosphere of mistrust and chaos had become overwhelming.
She further revealed that Osho had once asked Vinod to take over the ashram. “Osho asked him to take over the ashram, but he refused,” she said, suggesting that he did not see himself stepping into a leadership role amid such upheaval.
Vinod eventually returned to India and resumed his acting career, though the hiatus had significantly altered its trajectory. Over time, he rebuilt his position in the industry and later transitioned into politics, serving as a Member of Parliament.
Kavita’s recollections add a deeply personal dimension to a chapter that has often been sensationalised. For her, it was not just a story of spiritual experimentation gone awry, but one of vulnerability, emotional conflict, and survival.
Also Read: Kalpana Iyer recalls Vinod Khanna’s presence on ‘Kudrat’, highlights his warm demeanor
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