Javed Akhtar (right) spoke about attending Osho's (right) sermons in Pune. (Photo: Express ARchives)Back in the 1970s, the spiritual leader Osho, then known as Bhagwan Rajneesh, was starting to develop quite a following. Many notable personalities from Bollywood were drawn to his teachings. Film star Vinod Khanna actually gave up his Bollywood dreams and moved to the US to live in Osho’s commune. Even director Mahesh Bhatt dabbled in Osho’s teachings. Before his move to Oregon, Osho used to preach out of his ashram in Pune, and it was here that screenwriter Javed Akhtar would also attend his sermons.In a recent chat with The Lallantop, Javed was asked if he had every visited any ashrams associated with godmen or those who claim to spiritually heal people. Javed shared that he had only visited one ashram in his lifetime and spoke about his time in Pune. “I have only been to one ashram. I used to stay in a hotel called Blue Diamond in Pune and behind that… he wasn’t Osho at the time, he was Rajneesh and he used to have a sermon from 8 am to 9:30 am. I would go there to write dialogues and it would take me about 20-22 days. Every morning, I would go buy a ticket for Rs 10, and listen to his sermon,” he recalled.Javed, who has declared himself to be an atheist, spoke about his experience listening to Osho and said, “I am not his follower but I understand him because he wasn’t promoting a particular ‘ism’. He didn’t have a central philosophy. He was a learned man, he was a professor. He would speak really well on the topic he chose. Sometime he would say completely different things on different days but he was a great speaker.” He then specifically mentioned that he even remembers some of Osho’s sermons by heart.ALSO READ | ‘I was jobless, my clothes didn’t fit me and I was getting trolled’: Neha Dhupia shares how husband Angad Bedi supported her through tough timesTalking about other spiritual teachers and godmen, Javed shared that he has previously met Baba Ramdev at Hema Malini and Dharmendra’s daughter’s wedding. “I just greeted him from afar,” he said.He also spoke about meeting Sadhguru, “I met Sadhguru Jaggi twice but haven’t met him since then. Someone was telling me that he doesn’t want to attend an event if I am invited, that’s what I have heard. If that’s not true then we might meet again. I have no problem, will be too happy to meet him.”Click here to follow Screen Digital on YouTube and stay updated with the latest from the world of cinema.© IE Online Media Services Pvt LtdTags:javed akhtarosho