When Vinod Khanna quit films to join Osho at the peak of his Bollywood career

Back in the late 70s, Amitabh Bachchan was undisputedly the biggest star in Hindi movies. However, many believed that there was only one star who posed any serious threat to Bachchan’s numero uno status then - Vinod Khanna. After beginning his career with villainous roles, Khanna gradually emerged as a successful hero figure in the mid-70s with films like Parvarish, Khoon Pasina and Amar Akbar Anthony among others. However, the actor shocked everyone by his decision in 1981 to quit films together, in order to join Osho at his Rajneeshpuram Ashram in America. 

Khanna spent 5 years washing dishes, cleaning toilets

The actor’s decision to quit cinema was particularly shocking because Khanna had been consistently delivering box office hits up until then. Reportedly, the news spread because of film producers who also confirmed that Khanna returned all the signing amounts he had accepted for some projects.

After communing to the Rajneeshpuram Ashram, Khanna reportedly spent 5 years doing menial chores at the communion like washing dishes, cleaning toilers and working as gardener. 

Something must have moved him so deep, Akshaye said about his father years later

This decision had also meant Khanna had abandoned his wife and children who were back in Bombay then. Just as Khanna to Oregon, Gitanjali decided to walk out of the marriage with their son Akshaye Khanna. A few years later, Akshaye Khanna spoke about his father’s decision was received by his family back, and it impact it left on everyone around. Akshay stated, “As a five-year-old, it was impossible for me to understand it, but something must have moved him so deep inside, he felt that that kind of decision was worth it for him. A very basic fault-line/earthquake has to occur within oneself to make that decision and stick by it. One can make the decision and say this doesn't suit me — let's go back. But that didn't happen.”

Around 1984 though, when the communion disbanded and disintegrated, Vinod Khanna was compelled to leave and return to Bombay, and to acting in films. While it took the actor some time to re-establish himself in the industry, the actor made a proper comeback statement with hits like Insaaf (1987) and Satyamev Jayte (1987). Khanna regularly worked in films as the lead actor for next years.