Archive · 6 Oct 2026
Akshaye Khanna Reflects on Vinod Khanna’s Ashram Decision
Vinod Khanna was a famous Bollywood actor who chose to spend time at a spiritual ashram.
His son Akshaye was five when his father left, so he says he could not understand the choice then.
Akshaye later said people should try to live honestly and make choices that help them feel happy.
Vinod’s wife Kavita said he had been interested in spirituality since he was young.
She said several deaths in the family, including his mother’s, came before he went to the ashram.
While there, he meditated and also finished making some films he had already agreed to do.
After about five years away, he returned to films in 1987.
He later acted in many successful movies.
Vinod Khanna left Bollywood in 1982 to pursue a spiritual path at Osho’s ashram in Oregon.
His son Akshaye Khanna said he was too young to understand the decision at the time.
Akshaye said people should live for themselves and called that choice courageous.
Kavita Khanna said Vinod’s interest in spirituality began early and deepened after several family deaths, including his mother’s.
He continued filming some previously signed movies while living at the ashram, returned to films in 1987, and later appeared in successful movies.
- Who
- Vinod Khanna, his son Akshaye Khanna, and his wife Kavita Khanna.
- What
- Akshaye reflected on his father leaving Bollywood for a spiritual life at Osho’s ashram.
- When
- Vinod left films in 1982 and returned in 1987; the article marks his 80th birth anniversary.
- Where
- The ashram was in Rajneeshpuram, Oregon; Kavita said Vinod’s base was Pune.
- Why
- Kavita said Vinod went to the ashram after his mother died and amid a period of multiple family deaths; she said he later left when he felt spiritually fulfilled.
- Departure from films
- Vinod Khanna left Bollywood in 1982.
- Ashram
- He joined Osho’s ashram in Rajneeshpuram, Oregon.
- Akshaye’s age
- Akshaye said he was five when his father left.
- Work during ashram years
- Kavita said Vinod continued shooting films he had already signed, including Hera Pheri and Qurbani.
- Return to films
- After a five-year break, Vinod returned in 1987 with Insaaf.
- Later hits cited
- The article names Suryaa and Chandni (1989), and Wanted, Dabangg, Dabangg 2, and Dilwale.